10 Horror Remakes That Are Better Than The Original

1. The Thing (1982)

Horror maestro John Carpenter always had a passion for Howard Hawks's sci-fi classic The Thing From Another World, even including shots of it on a television screen in his movie Halloween, so it came as no surprise when the director opted to helm a remake, simply titled The Thing. Expanding on the narrative of the original, Carpenter's The Thing follows a team of researchers at an Antarctic base who are under siege from an alien parasitic creature that assimilates and then impersonates other lifeforms. The nature of the alien creates unbearable paranoia among the scientists as they are slowly replaced and even Kurt Russell's central protagonist is under suspicion for the majority of the film. The Thing is a masterclass in tension thanks to Carpenter's precise direction and Rob Bottin's practical effects still set a high benchmark, even today. Despite flopping upon its initial release in cinemas, The Thing has steadily gained a cult following over the years and is now heralded as a classic among horror purists and academics alike. No matter how many times you've seen Carpenter's masterpiece, scenes featuring the severed spider head, the defibrillator and that blood test will always freak you out, even when you know what's coming. That's why The Thing stands head and shoulders above every other remake, taking its place as one of the seminal horror films of the past three decades. If anyone tells you otherwise, then they've probably been replaced by the alien creature, so you may want to a) ignore their review and b) run like hell. Are all of these horror remakes better than the originals? Can you think of any other additions to the list? And should horror movies even be remade in the first place? Remember to sound off in the comments section below.