Remaking a classic has become a modern trend in this generation of films, with some releases being better than others, and some definitely don’t even deserve to receive one to begin with. However, today, we will take a look at 25 horror films that would definitely benefit from the touch of contemporary tropes, in one way or another.
25. Black Christmas (2019)
The 2nd remake of the 1974 classic of the same name, Black Christmas follows a group of female students who are stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break. That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy.
2019’s Black Christmas is already a remake of a proto-slasher classic of the same name from 1974, which also received another remake in 2006. The first remake wasn’t anything great however, it is undeniably gorgeous and incredibly brutal, the 2019 remake however is something of a disgrace that tarnishes the Black Christmas name.
Instead of remaking the classic, the 2019 film instead took a completely different approach in almost every single way, delivering us a film that’s unrecognizable from its predecessor. Remaking this remake would give the film a chance to improve upon its hamfisted message and lackluster kills.
24. Scary Movie (2000)
A film that parodies Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, it tells its story a year after disposing of the body of a man they accidentally killed, a group of dumb teenagers is stalked by a bumbling serial killer.
Okay, Scary Movie may not be an actual horror film but it does take the concept of the genre to create one of the most hilarious satirical takes of the tropes seen in the genre. After the massive releases of parody films in the late 2000s to early 2010s, parody films have died out and it would be incredible to see the Scary Movie franchise make a resurgence and parodies many of the modern classics of today.
23. Intruder (1989)
The overnight stock crew of a local supermarket finds themselves being stalked and slashed by a mysterious maniac.
Intruder packs in entertainment from start to finish, featuring a single location with so much bloody and creative kills to witness. The film’s story is ever more relevant today so remaking it would simply be a matter of creativity.
22. Chopping Mall (1986)
Eight teenagers get trapped in a shopping center after hours and three murderous security robots chase them.
No other film would greatly benefit from a modern remake than Chopping Mall. With such a ludicrous story that of a killer robot, you’d think the people from Hollywood would have remade this film by now. Remaking it with modern technology sounds simply perfect, considering the era that we are in.
21. Alice Sweet Alice (1976)
In 1961, a divorced Catholic couple's life is turned upside-down when one of their two adolescent daughters is suspected of her younger sister's brutal murder during her First Holy Communion and a series of subsequent stabbings.
Alice Sweet Alice has to be one of the creepiest proto-slasher films that you could ever witness. It's a film that tries to make your skin tingle from start to finish with its many eerie and uncomfortable scenes to watch. Remaking the film would probably be a bit controversial today however with the proper direction, we might just see a modern classic.
20. Dolls (1987)
A group of people stop by a mansion during a storm and discover two magical toy makers and their haunted collection of dolls.
Dolls is a chilling horror film that packs in tons of personality. Gluing you into your seat as you witness many of its outlandish murderous dolls kill in similarly outlandish fashion. With a modern remake, the scares that come from its many creepy-looking dolls could be more intensified, along with combining its child-like wonder to create one of the scariest horror movies for children to date.
19. Phenomena (1985)
A young girl, with an amazing ability to communicate with insects, is transferred to an exclusive Swiss boarding school, where her unusual capability might help solve a string of murders.
Phenomena celebrate its absurdity by being bizarre, hypnotic, and bloody. Delivering an experience like no other. It’s one of the most unique films that the genre has ever seen and remaking it would be a large task however it may just pay off and craft us one of the best horror films to date.
18. House (1985)
A Vietnam vet turned horror novelist returns to his boyhood home to find that it has been invaded by ghosts and ghouls.
Get ready for some thrills, chills, and a little bit of wacky humor in House. An incredible film that excellently combines horror with comedy to craft one of the most entertaining horror films that time had forgotten.
Its remake doesn’t necessarily have to change its absurd story to fit in with the modern era but it just has to improve the film’s visual effects to make it an instant classic. It’s a film filled with so many outlandish moments that simply describing the film’s charm is not enough.
17. Curtains (1983)
Entering an asylum to prepare for a movie role, a young woman is double-crossed and left behind by her director. With six new starlets auditioning for her role at a remote mansion, a masked murderer seeks revenge.
Everything about 1983’s Curtains screams unique. From its story, setting, and characters, to even scares. And seeing all of these amazing qualities be updated with contemporary flair would simply be spectacular. I highly recommend watching the original first before you get hyped.
16. Tourist Trap (1979)
A group of stranded teenagers falls prey to the demented owner of a roadside museum and his army of evil mannequins.
Tourist Trap is one of the most bizarre horror films that time forgot. It engages its audience with many nightmare fuel moments like with the many uncomfortable scenes with the moving mannequins or the basement scene. And with a unique killer presence and a gritty atmosphere reminiscent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tourist Trap is a surefire cult classic.
A modern remake would not only shed light on the forgotten film and bring it the audience that it deserves but its horrors would also be more polished, resulting in a more terrifying film in the process.
15. April Fools Day (1986)
Nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's Day weekend, but nothing is as it seems.
April Fools Day is one of those forgotten slasher films of the 80s with a really innovative approach to the sub-genre. Packing in a delightful cast of characters and a mystery with so many twists and turns. The film did receive its own remake back in 2008, though it has nothing to resemble it from its predecessor.
The film would greatly benefit from a modern remake, telling the same story but with a more zanier approach to its plot and characters. It would be a remake that’s worth watching in a heartbeat.
14. Night of the Creeps (1986)
After two fraternity pledges find a frozen body, they decide to use it to pull a prank which unleashes slug-like creatures upon the campus.
Cheesy, terrifying, and hilarious are just some of the words to describe this insane classic horror film from the 80s. From aliens, and zombies, to even ghosts, this film has it all, and everything about it still holds up perfectly to this day, however, receiving a modern interpretation of its story would simply be delightful for every horror fan.
13. The Burning (1981)
A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.
Awesome kills aplenty is what The Burning delivered back in 1981. Along with a truly terrifying slasher and a refreshing summer camp setting that rivals that of Friday the 13th’s Camp Crystal Lake. With a modern remake, all of this could be exemplified, and then some to deliver one of the most intense slasher films that we may just see.
12. Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Angela Baker, a shy, traumatized young girl, is sent to summer camp with her cousin. Shortly after her arrival, anyone with sinister or less-than-honorable intentions toward her gets their comeuppance.
Many of the slasher classics of the 80s, even those that were forgotten, had found their way to receive a remake, and it's suspicious how this infamous 80s classic never even received one, and it badly needs one. With a likable protagonist, memorable kills, and an even more memorable ending, Sleepaway Camp has all the recipes for an unforgettable remake.
11. Demons (1985)
A group of random people is invited to a screening of a mysterious movie, only to find themselves trapped in the theater with ravenous demons.
Lamberto Bava’s stylish demonic classic is a riveting horror packed with so many red herrings, bloody kills, and an alluring setting that won’t fail to hypnotize you. With a remake, its flaws, which are the needless sub-plots with the punk group, could be ironed out to deliver us one of the most engaging demonic horror films to date.
10. Event Horizon (1997)
It is the year 2047. Seven years have passed since the mysterious disappearance of Event Horizon, a spaceship that was sent to explore the outer limits of our solar system. Now, it is the time for a rescue mission that will find the ship and bring back the survivors; if any…
The film that brought pure hell experience to space, Event Horizon is a film like no other. And what else could further exemplify this experience other than remaking the film with better visuals and no restrictions. Just imagine being able to witness all of the horrors, most notably the infamous orgy scene, that its original had left out.
9. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Kids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.
Season of the Witch may be considered as the black sheep of the franchise but it does boast a strong and riveting story that can stand on its own, as well as a shockingly grim ending that will stick with you for quite a while. The Halloween movies that focus on Michael Myers have received a multitude of sequels, remakes, and reboots, but now is the perfect time to remake the franchise’s forgotten entry.
8. House (1977)
Not to be confused with the 1985 film of the same name, 1977’s House follows a schoolgirl and six of her classmates who traveled to her aunt's country home, which turns out to be haunted.
Okay, we all know nothing can ever replicate Japan’s bizarre approach to its horror films but a remake of this hilarious cult classic is definitely something that we deserve to see even if it may not be able to live up to its predecessor.
House is filled with many charming characters despite their one-dimensional nature, but its pure standout trait would be its quirky death scenes from being eaten by a piano to being abruptly turned into a skeleton. Seeing these death scenes redone with modern visuals would be out of this world.
7. Battle Royale (2000)
In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
With such a crazy premise, you might think that an American remake had already got its hands on it, but for some reason, we still haven’t seen a single sign of it yet. Though while The Hunger Games exists, a film that’s almost a shot-for-shot remake of Battle Royale, a more approach to horror would greatly benefit its over-the-top premise.
6. Dead Alive (1992)
A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.
Dead Alive is packed full of ridiculous moments, as well some incredibly bloody kills complimented by creative practical effects work. The film’s strength, which is its extremely cheesy B-horror plot and a dirt cheap budget, also becomes the film’s weakness, and remaking this film with modern lenses might just prove that you don’t have to be cheap to provide entertainment.
5. Creepshow (1982)
Creepshow tells five grisly tales from a kid's comic book about a murdered father rising from his grave, a bizarre meteor, a vengeful husband, a mysterious crate's occupant, and a plague of cockroaches.
This marvelous anthology film along with its sequel gave us many terrifying and stylish stories. Its 3rd entry however, was simply too atrocious that it had basically killed the franchise. With a remake, not only will we receive many more bizarre stories but we might just see a return of this beloved franchise.
There’s only a few anthology horror films released these past few years now, with the V/H/S/ franchise being the only notable film from the genre, so it would be nice to see Creepshow resurrect its horror.
4. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.
Looking at The Return of the Living Dead it's undoubtedly a product of its time, featuring a myriad of tropes and characters that’s never seen in today's times. Seeing a modern remake of this film would be incredible, with an updated story and visual effects, as well as a rocking soundtrack. A modern remake of it would be a no-brainer.
3. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
After spending time in a mental hospital, a girl is reunited with her sister and returns home, only to see some truly strange events start to happen.
A Tale of Two Sisters did receive its own remake back in 2009 as The Uninvited, however, it isn't exactly the remake that this incredible film deserves. The Korean original is one of the most twisted Asian horror films, delivering many twists and turns that make viewing the film such a thrilling guessing game.
The type of remake that the film deserves is a simple translation that aims to mainstream the original setup without changing a single beat and make the more open-ended questions of its original be made more clearer without ever skimping on what makes its original great.
2. A Bay of Blood (1971)
The murder of a wealthy countess triggers a chain reaction of brutal killings in the surrounding bay area, as several unscrupulous characters try to seize her large estate.
Bloody, stylish, and intriguing, A Bay of Blood has all the ingredients to create one of, if not, the best whodunit mystery film of all time. The original is already a perfect film of its own, owing to its varied characters with strong motives and a strong mystery that will keep you glued to your seat. However, with a remake, all of this could be amplified and could give us a possible stronger outing.
1. Blood and Black Lace (1964)
A masked man with metal-claw glove stalks and kills models at a couple's (Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok) fashion salon in Rome.
Blood and Black Lace is one of the most visually stunning horror films that the genre has ever graced us. Delivering a hypnotic whodunit mystery with a glorious visual flair and many shocking deaths to marvel at.
While the original certainly still holds up to this day, it would be incredible to see its gripping plot be adapted in the contemporary era with many modern stylish flairs interspersed with it. Of course, though, nothing will still ever top this gorgeous masterpiece.
