10 Failed Horror Movie Remakes That Could've Been Amazing

10. Jacob’s Ladder (2019)

The original Jacob's Ladder from 1990 saw Tim "I Just Crawled Through A Sewer Pipe" Robbins play an American soldier in Vietnam who, after his platoon comes under attack, finds himself in an alternate version of New York. This leads to some bizarre and highly unsettling moments, all of which are tied together masterfully by director Adrian Lyne to create a film that is high concept without ever being confusing.

Though not a commercial smash, Jacob's Ladder has maintained a strong following. Its influence can be felt all over pop culture, with the Silent Hill video game franchise, the Asylum series of American Horror Story, and the song Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold all taking inspiration from Lyne's work.

So, when a remake was released in 2019, hopes were high that this hidden gem might finally get the mainstream recognition it deserved. Spoiler, it didn't.

The new Jacob's Ladder, which was directed by David M. Rosenthal and cast Michael Ealy in the Robbins role, was a jumbled, uncoordinated mess, lacking any of the tact that made the first film so compelling.

Less of a ladder, more of a child's step.