20 Surprisingly Great Horror Movie Remakes

If you didn't have your finger on the pulse of the horror scene in 2004, it cannot be overstated just how much hatred there was for the impending remake of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead.

Considered the greatest zombie film of all time by many, it simply seemed redundant and cynical to remake Dawn of the Dead, especially with the new version being written and directed by two mostly unknown upstarts by the names of James Gunn and Zack Snyder.

But the brilliance of Dawn '04 is that it's neither unrecognisable from Romero's version nor slavishly faithful to it, taking the core zombies-in-a-mall concept and delivering its own twisted spin.

It certainly helps that the film kicks off with one of the most brilliantly visceral openings to any zombie movie ever, ensuring this is a lean, no-fat ride while making the most of a cracking ensemble cast, which includes amongst its ranks a brilliant Ving Rhames.

Snyder's Dawn of the Dead hasn't erased Romero's film in anyone's mind, but pulled off the improbable feat of sitting alongside it as its cool younger brother.