10 Movies That Would Actually Benefit From A Remake

4. Killing Season (2013)

Killing Season was only released less than a year ago, so what it is doing on a list of movies that should be remade? Well, the original script is unique, atmospheric and visceral and would have made for an action movie unlike any other. Unfortunately, the end result bore little resemblance and was woefully miscast, poorly acted and directed with no discernible style, and was released to absolutely no fanfare before grossing a whopping $40,000 at the domestic box office. The plot sees Robert De Niro's military veteran living a quiet existence in the Appalachian Mountains when he encounters a Serbian tourist with ulterior motives played by John Travolta, which quickly evolves into a violent game of cat and mouse. Unfortunately, de Niro doesn't seem to be interested in the slightest and it is difficult to decide which aspect of Travolta's performance is worse; the beard or the accent. There are some squirm-inducing scenes of intense violence, but director Mark Steven Johnson (he of Daredevil and Ghost Rider infamy) shoots the whole thing like it's a three-camera sitcom. Originally titled Shrapnel, the breakthrough script from Evan Daugherty was on the 2008 Black List and at one point had John McTiernan attached to direct. Set in the 70's and featuring two grizzled World War II veterans, the story transposed the 'cabin in the woods' motif from the horror to action genre, and features a much stronger narrative and deeper characterization than the mess that hit cinema screens. If Killing Season had stuck closely to the original setting and script, and chosen better in front and behind of the camera it could have been a lo-fi action masterpiece. Instead, it has most likely already been forgotten by most. Think along the lines of Liam Neeson as the isolated ex-soldier and Gary Oldman as his German adversary bent on revenge and you'd have a hell of a movie.