10 Remakes That Should Never Have Happened
8. The Wicker Man (2006)
Both incarnations of The Wicker Man have achieved cult status. The original 1973 film was one of the greatest horror films ever to be made, and has been labelled "the Citizen Kane of horror movies."
It has featured on Empire's list of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, and holds a critical rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Suffice to say, this film is absolute gold, and has gone down in cinematic history as a horror film of unparalleled quality.
The script is completely original and exceedingly well-written, maintaining tension and suspense throughout the film, and building up to an incredible climax. What made it stand out from other horror films of the time was the distinctive lack of terror throughout the film. The inhabitants of the remote island create unease, but never outright attempt to scare the audience. This atmosphere contributed towards creating a film that the late Christopher Lee would consider to be his best film.
You would think that remaking a film of such quality would require a director that wanted to pay homage to the original, but add his own spin. Well, in 2006 Neil LaBute released his remake, and his spin took the form of Nicholas Cage.
Instead of the tense, intelligent horror of 1973, audiences received a film so laughable that it became one of the greatest unintentional comedies ever made. The "Oh God, not the bees!" scene in particular has gone down in history as one of Cage's greatest moments of overacting.