Latest remake: Fright Night
- Thread starter Probe Droid
- Start date
Solo4114
Master Member
It may not suck. It might be another fair-to-middlin' remake. My only objection is the obsession with remakes and branding. It smacks of cowardice to me.
I watched the original over the weekend. Decent film. Fun take on the Hammer Horror style. Hardly what I'd consider "sacred material," but regardless, what I don't get is why they can't take a tip from the film itself. What worked about that film was that they didn't remake a specific plot, but rather took a modern spin on certain common elements present in older films. And I suspect it worked pretty well in its time. So, how come Hollywood feels the need to do remakes, instead of "homages" to a given style? I'll tell you: branding. Crass, naked branding and marketing for the sole purpose of manipulating the public. And what pisses me off is that it works (or appears to, anyway).
I watched the original over the weekend. Decent film. Fun take on the Hammer Horror style. Hardly what I'd consider "sacred material," but regardless, what I don't get is why they can't take a tip from the film itself. What worked about that film was that they didn't remake a specific plot, but rather took a modern spin on certain common elements present in older films. And I suspect it worked pretty well in its time. So, how come Hollywood feels the need to do remakes, instead of "homages" to a given style? I'll tell you: branding. Crass, naked branding and marketing for the sole purpose of manipulating the public. And what pisses me off is that it works (or appears to, anyway).
the_batdemon
Sr Member
I heard about this last week. I can see most if not all of the casting choices work. Yelchin and Minz-Plasse are still relatively unknown despite having excellent roles in earlier movies. I can see the Red Mist as Evil Ernie.
now it's obvious there won't be certain undertones of the original and probably no kick arse sweater.:lol
on the side note....Hollywood does need to look elsewhere besides all the remakes....American Werewolf is up for a remake for gawd's sake.
now it's obvious there won't be certain undertones of the original and probably no kick arse sweater.:lol
on the side note....Hollywood does need to look elsewhere besides all the remakes....American Werewolf is up for a remake for gawd's sake.
allosaur176
Sr Member
AWIL is fine just the way it is 
darthgordon
Sr Member
THAT is in your basement?
the_batdemon
Sr Member
what's the difference? I consider the Paris movie a misuse of technology for technologiy's sake. the only thing it had in common with the original is the basic plot line right? An American tourist becomes a werewolf. so, maybe it's a remake. According to IMDB the London version is just in pre-production, so maybe it won't get made. If they have scenes of nazi werewolves and overturned double deckers, would that be a re-make?
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
Hey. When do the RPF form its own movie studio to make all-original movies, showing Hollywood the boot?
Solo4114
Master Member
I'm not sure there is a difference, really. "Remakes" seem to be less shot-for-shot reproductions, and more "general plotline" remakes. Much of the time, a tweak here or there could render the movie an "original" story that is merely "inspired" by previous works, but the studio seems to opt specifically for licensing the original product so that they can use the name and get a bit closer to the source material...while still staying distant enough that the new movie stands on its own and has something new to offer the older viewers who remember the original.
All of which is why it just strikes me as crass manipulation of audiences. The younger crowd doesn't know any better because they don't watch anything made more than 5 years ago. The older crowd either shrugs and goes to see it, or rants....and goes to see it anyway just because they can't stay their curiosity enough. And if the original is a popular franchise...fuggedaboutit. Built in audience, no matter HOW much they *****. The studios know this and work with it. It doesn't surprise me, but I do lament it.
Too Much Garlic said:
Well, my snarky response would be that I don't need to be a chef to know when food tastes like ****.
My more serious response is that it's not so much that I mind Hollywood making a buck, but rather that it strikes me that there MUST be interesting, new ideas out there....that simply aren't being made, or are being "massaged" into remakes for the sake of marketing/branding. Someone could have a kickass idea for a film, but it won't get made because we can't tie it in with an existing name from the 80s. It's just basic laziness and a lack of creativity or willingness to take risks.
Think about how many writers there are out there. Even if only 1 in 10 of those are actually talented, and even if only 1 in 10 of the talented writers writes a really good story, that's still a LOT of good stories out there waiting to be made into films. Except we'll never know about them because unless you can slap an 80s brand name on it and "massage" the product into a remake, it won't get greenlit. So I'm betting, anyway. I think that's a shame.
You want to know the other reason I find remakes annoying? BECAUSE I ALREADY SAW THIS MOVIE THE FIRST TIME. Show me something new already. This is why I haven't been to the movies in a theater since....actually I think since The Dark Knight came out. That was literally the last film I saw in the theaters that I can remember.
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
err... did you completely miss the point of my post or what?
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
Hey... it's Friday... so it's... wait... no it isn't...
Stop bitching, start the company. We got the talent. Show them suits thinking up remakes that there are other ways. Shove them out of business.
Stop bitching, start the company. We got the talent. Show them suits thinking up remakes that there are other ways. Shove them out of business.
Dunno...but found the pic!!!
:confused
The making of Ghostbusters book mentions a 'ghost' make-up that was too scary to use for the film - it was used in Fright Night, the Pic you posted...
motman241
Well-Known Member
I agree. Someone needs to shake things up.
You know what needs to happen... Hollywood needs to make more movies like the Grindhouse (fake) trailers, Creepshow, Masters of Horror, and any other movie that has different writers/directors. Short stories, smaller budgets, different writers and directors are given a chance, new people can get a foot in the door... I don't really see a downside.
rocketeer25
Sr Member
Absolutely true!
Similar threads
