One weird phenomenon of 2000s cinema that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough is Platinum Dunes and their attempt to revive so many old horror franchises with remakes. The production company was founded by Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form, though the latter two founders are not involved anymore. Though they don’t remake horror movies anymore, they’re still very active in producing some modern franchises likeA Quiet PlaceandThe Purge.
Originally, it seemed like they were out toreboot every horror franchiseof the 1970s and 1980s. Their first four films as a production company were horror remakes. While none of them received much critical success at all, there were some that were better received by fans. There were also some that stand as potentially the worst remakes of all time to this day.
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Best: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
This was the first film to come out of Platinum Dunes, and it’s definitely one of their best. Those with a severe attachment to the originalThe Texas Chain Saw Massacrefilm might not quite be obsessed, and it doesn’t hold a candle to the original, but it’s still pretty good.
The plot is very similar tothe original 1974 moviebut with some character changes. It’s no longer a brother and sister duo at the forefront of the story, but a romantic couple. They also aren’t going to see their family homestead, and are on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. The opening scene of the story does involve the group picking up a hitchhiker, but instead of it being a member of the villainous Sawyer family (renamed the Hewitts in this film) it’s actually a female victim of the group.
This opening scene sets the tone for the movie so well and contains some of the coolest horror camera work of the decade, it’s really cool. The movie isn’t perfect as a whole in terms of its characters and storytelling, but it’s an honorable remake and keeps the same sort of tone and charm as the original. Leatherface looks really cool, the family has some very interesting characters, and Jessica Biel isa worthy final girl.
One thing this remake is criticized for is its extreme gore, as the original film didn’t show much at all. However, some people love that aspect and it’ll really be up to the taste of the viewer.
Worst: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
Though the firstThe Texas Chainsaw Massacreremake is decent, and performed really well at the box office, the same can’t be said for the prequel that followed. It’s set a few years before the remake and follows two brothers and their girlfriends driving to enlist in the Vietnam War together. They have a few unfortunate run-ins, sadly including one with the Hewitt family, and end up having to fight for their lives.
This just doesn’t feel likeaTexas Chainsawmoviein so many ways, and it’s really boring. The story and characters are really hard to get invested in. Though there’s some decent gore, Leatherface isn’t in this movie as much as people want him to be. There was a different villain that seemed to be in the forefront, which took away from the vibe that the movie should have had.
Ultimately, this movie underperformed and resulted in Platinum Dunes not continuing with the franchise despite there being rumored plans to.
Best: Friday the 13th (2009)
Director Marcus Nispel seems to be the real winner here, as he’s behind bothThe Texas Chainsaw Massacrefrom 2003 andFriday the 13thfrom 2009. Though it was panned by critics, theFriday the 13thremake is both a solid movie and a great remake. It’s truly one of the best additions ofthe entireFriday the 13thfranchise.
What’s great about this movie is that it puts Jason at the forefront of the movie, showcasing his brutality and giving the audience some really well-done kills. The other storylines and characters are okay, typical 2000s horror teens that viewers just want to see die, but Jason is just awesome in this movie. It’s very fun to watch and fits in really well with the rest of the series, plus it holds up well for a 2021 viewer. It’s funny, it’s gory, and it’s intense.TheFriday the 13thremakeis absolutely worth a watch.
Worst: A Nightmare on Elm Street
The 2010 remake of Wes Craven’sA Nightmare on Elm Streetis probably the worst horror remake of all time. The combination of how iconic the original is, and how terrible this one is, just results in a hot mess. It’s a remake of the first film and follows the story relatively closely, but with some bizarre changes.
Robert Englund is notback as Freddy Kruegerand while Jackie Earle Haley doesn’t do a bad job, it’s just not the same. The dialogue is also really weird, the story changes are unnecessary, and the acting is laughable. In what is probably the worst offense of all, this movie looks terrible. The amazing practical effects of the original are gone and instead replaced with dodgy CGI. This movie isn’t even worth watching.
