The recent horror film The Invisible Man was a very loose remake of the 1933 film of the same name. This remake was so loose that few to no elements of the 1933 film were present, save for the title and premise. However, this is far from a negative, as the direction of the film allowed for the use of modern sensibilities and technologies to be used to convey horror rather than the pseudo-science of the previous film.
There are numerous horror movies of bygone eras that possess premises that could be tweaked and reshaped to create a fresh and compelling experience. So today we’re going to delve into horror movies of yesteryear that are deserving of the same treatment that Universal recently bestowed upon The Invisible Man.
The Creature From The Black Lagoon
The original Creature From The Black Lagoon is one of the most iconic of Universal’s classic monster horror films. The film details the discovery of a mysterious species in an unexplored region of the South American rainforest. The creature is explained in the film as being a relic of a bygone era, making it the equivalent of discovering a singular dinosaur.
This premise doesn’t hold up entirely well in the modern horror landscape. However, alterations and connections to relevant themes such as pollution, environmental collapse, and even genetic alteration could help to ground the film with a modern framework and serve as a solid base to build upon.
The Thing
While John Carpenter’s 1982 film, The Thing is often viewed as one of the most iconic and influential Horror films of all time, the film itself is an adaptation of the 1938 novella, Who Goes There by John W. Campbell Jr. This was not the first film adaptation of the novella, as it was also adapted in a very different fashion to the Carpenter film in 1951 as The Thing From Another World.
The framework of this novella has proven to capable of translating into contrasting final products that can serve as relevant examples of horror from a given era. We’re not calling for a sequel or prequel like was released in 2011, but a complete new reimagining that is completely disconnected from the most recent two film bearing the Thing title.
This Island Earth
Originally a 1955 film based upon a novel of the same name, This Island Earth is a significantly more science fiction oriented take on Monster movies of that era, focusing on the horrors beyond our stars rather than those based on Earth.
However, both science fiction and horror have come leaps and bounds from where they were in the 50’s, especially when comparing them to films such as Alien. Perhaps a loose adaptation of this premise could serve as the framework for a film like Annihiation that plays upon human uncertainty regarding the infinite vastness of space and the horrors it could possess.
Nosferatu
One of the strongest examples of a horror film from the 1920’s is without a doubt, Nosferatu. A silent film that utilizes haunting visuals rather than elements such as jump scares, the film itself is a loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Nosferatu could easily serve as the conduit for a modern horror film bearing its title, remodeling its plot structure and characters, while honing in on the strengths of the film and heightening them with relevant techniques and motifs.
The Old Dark House
A lesser known cult classic Universal horror film, The Old Dark House was released in 1932 and is a film the focuses on characters’ uncertainty and paranoia of the house in which they find themselves, as well as those who inhabit it.
Straight away, this concept is ripe for the picking when it comes to a psychologically driven horror film that preys upon the viewers’ paranoia. The Old Dark House is the perfect example of a film like The Invisible Man which can have a complete plot overhaul and be used to tell a relevant and engaging horror story.
The Blob
One of the most iconic horror films of the 1950’s, The Blob is straightforward in its premise; an blob descends from space, and begins to consume everything in its path, continuously growing in size. The film is incredibly “of its time,” but there is a great deal of potential in reexamining it with a modern lens.
Since The Blob was released, we’ve seen numerous impactful films from which it could draw from both visually and from a writing perspective such as John Carpenter’s The Thing and even Akira.
Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers
Another example of an iconic horror film from the 50’s, Invasion of the Bodysnatchers has already been an exemplary example of a reimagining of a horror film gone well. In 1978, the original film was adapted and improved upon in nearly every way imaginable and was targeted of audiences of that era.
Who’s to say that this can’t be done again? Invasion of the Bodysnatchers possesses a great deal of name recognition, and could easily be retooled with modern theming and could even draw from a films like 2019’s Us and 2017’s Get Out.
The Fly
Like Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, The Fly has already seen two incarnations, the first in 1958 and the second in 1986. Aside from their premise, there are very few plot similarities between these two films, with the first film presenting an immediate transformation, and the 1986 film showcasing a gradual metamorphosis over the course of the film.
The Fly is the perfect example of a film that could be adapted and reshaped, playing with preconceived notions, upending the expectations of a viewer.
Reanimator
1985’s The Reanimator is a cult classic loosely based upon a novelette by H.P. Lovecraft. The film employs a great deal of comedy, and deviates greatly from the source material.
A new Reanimator film would have two options, either opting to better portray the orginal story by Lovecraft, or even seek to deviate farther. As the concept of human reanimation is one which is very open ended, there are countless directions which it could be taken, potentially telling grim tragedies that relate to contemporary fears.
An American Werewolf In London
An American Werewolf in London is a prime example of a horror film that took works that had come before it such as 1942’s The Wolf Man, and moved forward to help form a strong and well-rounded horror film.
American Werewolf in London is not a film that needs a direct remake, rather it needs a modern equivalent to further build upon the foundation of werewolf-based horror films. The plot and characters can be altered to any degree and elements can be changed to better service a modern experience and continue to move the genre forward rather than backward.
