8 Horror Movie Remakes That Are Better Than The Originals

One of George A. Romero's earlier films, 1973's The Crazies shows bags of potential, but it just never quite comes together.

Thematically and conceptually, it's fantastic. On the surface, The Crazies is about a modest American town succumbing to a virus that's accidentally released upon them, but look closer, and you'll find that it's actually about the government's poor attempts to resolve a dire situation they themselves created, a relevant topic considering The Crazies' Vietnam-era release date.

But that's about it. The original looks cheap, with laughable makeup and effects - and, because its story is told from a handful of perspectives, it's hard to root for any one cause. It feels like a free-for-all deathmatch.

The remake contains that aforementioned conceptual goodness, but gives the story a much-needed modern update that helps elevate almost every aspect of the production. The story is now told almost entirely from the perspective of the citizens, or more specifically, Timothy Olyphant and his family.

And the film benefits from this change immensely. As a viewer, you're never quite sure what's going on; you're scared, confused, and as much in the dark as the lead characters are, and this adds to the constant sense of dread that permeates each story beat.

The Crazies is a surprisingly effective remake, one that packs complexity and scares in equal measure. Its decision to hone in on one family adds emotional weight, and this was the factor that Romero overlooked when crafting the original over 40 years ago.