KANSAN.COM ARTS & CULTURE 7A Original vs. remake: Which classic horror flick did it best? CAMERON MCGOUGH cammcgough Hollywood has made a habit of remaking films or expanding on cinematic universes that have already been created. Like most genres, horror has seen its fair share of remakes. When put head-to-head, only one film can come out victorious - the original or the remake. Take a look at nine horror originals pitted against their more recent remake. 1. A Nightmare on Elm Street nightmare on Elm Street The original was released in 1984. The remake was released in 2010. The original film has a clear advantage from the very start; the late horror genius Wes Craven was at the helm. The remake copies many classics moments in the original and pastes them onscreen resulting in a lower quality film overall. The effort is commendable, but not good enough. WINNER: THE ORIGINAL 2. Texas Chainsaw Massacre The original was released in 1974. The remake was released in 2003. Both films portray the titular character as menacing and wild. The time period in which the original was made provides a more rugged, grainy aesthetic to the film that makes it all the more harrowing. The remake does a fantastic job of paying homage to the original, yet creating something fresh and exciting. For the sake of breaking a tie, the classic will always gain the greater advantage. WINNER: THE ORIGINAL 3. Dawn of the Dead The original was released in 1978. The remake was released in 2004. Both films take their own approach to a zombie apocalypse. The characters of both films seek refuge inside a mall. The original is more slow-paced and about character development, while the remake focuses more on scare tactics and suspense that leaves the audience truly frightened. In terms of a true, nail-biting horror, only one comes out on top. WINNER: THE REMAKE 4. Halloween The original was released in 1978. The remake was released in 2007. The killer Michael Myers is given a more human quality in the remake, which could either be good or bad. His notorious white mask is more worn and decrepit than the cleaner, more uniform look of the original. Although Rob Zombie does a great job of retelling the story, it just doesn't seem whole without Jamie Lee Curtis. The original was released in WINNER: THE ORIGINAL 5. Friday the 13th 1980. The remake was released in 2009. Believe it or not, Kevin Bacon is something that sets these two films apart. This is partly because he's not in the remake to begin with, but also because he adds a novelty factor to the original. Both films take on the massive, hulking Jason Voorhees, though the remake seems to add some much needed complexity to the masked killer. With the body count high in both films, they each take no prisoners. It's really a toss up. But for the sake of classic horror films... WINNER: THE ORIGINAL 6. Fright Night The original was released in 1985. The remake was released in 2011. Although both films contain similar characters, the plots vastly differ. In the original, it's mostly about the protagonist trying to lose his virginity and the antagonist, a vampire, is his biggest obstacle to achieving that goal. In the remake, it's less about sex and more about relationships between the protagonist and his loved ones. Although it is a bit raunchier in some aspects, the remake proves to have a more solid action and resolution. WINNER: THE REMAKE 7. Evil Dead The original was released in 1981. The remake was released in 2013. Both films are as creepy as hell, literally. The characters and events of the original and the remake seem like they were taken straight from Dante's Inferno. Both films are creepy and gory. Although the remake does a good job of bringing the story back to life, it didn't necessarily need to be brought back to life. Sam Rami's original is considered one of the best classic horror films of all time. Sometimes, you just shouldn't touch classies WINNER: THE ORIGINAL 8. Let Me In The original was released in 2008. The remake was released in 2010. This set of films is unique. They are just two years apart, and the original is a Swedish film, while the remake is an English film. Both are critically acclaimed stories of love and the horrors that may accompany it. Both films are incredibly thoughtful and entertaining; they engage the audience and create a unique story that effectively reimagines the horror genre. However, with the incredible star power of Richard Jenkins, Chloe Grace Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee, the remake gains an edge. WINNER: THE REMAKE — Edited by Amber Vandegrift 1The Lipper Award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years' Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12, 11/30/13, and 11/30/14 respectively. 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