Summary

• Modern slasher movie remakes often improve on original premises with updated technology and character development for a new audience.
• Films like "Sorority Row" and "Maniac" benefited from new technology, setting, and tone to create eerie and tense atmospheres.
• The 2020 remake of "The Invisible Man" expertly delves into themes of domestic violence, adding depth and critical acclaim to the original story.

Slasher movies are a staple in the horror genre, but over the years, remakes of these films have become arguably even better than their originals. Within the horror movie genre, some of the best horror movies are slashers that stand out for their use of extreme gore and memorable antagonists. With horror truly finding its feet in the early twentieth century, it's no surprise that in recent years, so many slasher movies have been given the remake treatment.

Over the years, cinema has seen more and more slasher movies receive critical acclaim, which has often led to full-blown franchises. Although the original versions of these remakes are staples in the horror genre, even helping define it, there's no doubt that modern reinterpretations of them can improve on the original premise, as well as introduce them to a new generation of audiences. While there have been many great slasher movies, only a few remakes can be considered the very best.

10 Sorority Row

Original: 1982, Remake: 2009

The 2009 film Sorority Row is a remake of 1982's The House on Sorority Row, bringing the story of the Theta Pi sorority sisters into a new age. While a lot of its main storyline doesn't defect from the original source, there were some details in Sorority Row that were improved upon. For example, Sorority Row was adapted for a more modern audience, with several high-tension moments involving texting, whereas such a thing didn't exist in the original. Sorority Row also does an interesting job with time jumps, which made the prank gone wrong even more impactful than 1982's version.

9 House Of Wax

Original: 1953, Remake: 2005

One slasher remake that differed from the original was the 2005 version of House of Wax. With a star-studded cast, including Paris Hilton and Jared Padalecki, House of Wax's remake leaned heavier on the action side of things rather than horror but still managed to do an interesting job of interpreting its story for a present-day audience. With such a large gap between the dates of the two releases, it's not surprising that the remake also saw significantly improved visuals and cinematography. Despite the sometimes odd choice in dialogue and over-the-top sequences, 2005's House of Wax was a solid remake.

8 Friday The 13th

Original: 1980, Remake: 2009

Over the years, the Friday the 13th franchise has seen over a dozen films, but the 2009 version of the first film stands out. This version is considered both a reboot of the original and a sequel, with the plot differing yet following a similar structure of Jason Vorhees (Derek Mears) visiting a cabin and going on a murderous rampage. However, what the 2009 version does add to the franchise is more information on its iconic killer, delving further into his backstory.

While improving upon the original was always going to be difficult, director Marcus Nispel's use of cinematography and contemporary adjustments gives the 1980 version of Friday the 13th a run for its money. The remake also doubled down on the use of gore and extreme violence, which came across in a more serious tone compared to the more campy original, as well as special effects. Although critics didn't necessarily rate the 2009 version to be as good as the original, there were still plenty of great elements to it.

7 Child's Play

Original: 1988, Remake: 2019

Child's Play introduced the world to one of the best evil dolls in horror movies, Chucky (Brad Dourif). He was just as chilling in the 2019 remake, where he was voiced by Mark Hamill. Rather than being a possessed toy, the 2019 interpretation brought Child's Play into the modern world, with Chucky reimagined as a high-tech doll powered by AI. Hamill's interpretation of the doll was particularly praised, especially for the humor he brought to the character, which made Chucky's development into the murderous entity even more spine-tingling. While there was plenty of new character development in Child's Play, the use of visual effects and eerie tone was also greatly improved on the original.

6 Halloween

Original: 1978, Remake: 2007

Halloween is another franchise with several films and multiple remakes. While the 2018 version is a sequel to the original, with Jamie Lee Curtis returning to play Laurie Strode, the 2007 version is actually a remake. Although 2007's Halloween wasn't rated as highly by critics compared to the original, it did have its improvements.

Because of the development in technology, Rob Zombie's remake of John Carpenter's classic had significantly better sound design and cinematography, two essential factors for a slasher movie to be able to build suspense. This version also saw some fascinating twists to the storyline. While the killer remains the same, 2007's Halloween was set in the modern day and even spent more time focusing on Michael Myers' (Tyler Mane) backstory.

5 Maniac

Original: 1980, Remake: 2012

2012's Maniac is a remake of the 1980 film of the same name, starring Elijah Wood as the murderous Frank Zito. Like many slasher movie remakes, Maniac benefited from new technology, providing more picturesque framing and an overall eerie tone to the film. The 2012 version's cinematography was particularly interesting compared to the original, with certain shots coming from the point of view of the killer, adding to an already tense atmosphere. Wood's interpretation of Zito was especially praised in Maniac, developing him into a more understandable yet compelling character overall.

4 The Last House on the Left

Original: 1972, Remake: 2009

2009's The Last House on the Left, a remake of the 1972 film, managed to be as sadistic and violent as the original, if not more so. Upon its initial release, the original was considered rather controversial for its time. However, the remake also did a great job of making audiences uneasy, even in an era where slasher movies are more popular. Both versions are easily considered some of the goriest horror films ever to grace the silver screen, but the 2009 interpretation manages to double down on this with its impressive visual effects and even more brutality throughout.

3 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Original: 1974, Remake: 2003

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the 2003 remake of Tobe Hooper's 1974 film, did a beautiful job of blending its original premise with a modern adaptation. Considered one of the defining titles in slasher movies, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was praised for displaying its goriest moments in full detail, compared to the original, which tended to avoid showing too much on-screen. While the performances both behind and in front of the camera in both movies were solid, returning cinematographer Daniel Pearl should be specifically praised for managing to improve on the original but also on his own work.

2 The Hills Have Eyes

Original: 1977, Remake: 2006

Yet another film by iconic horror director Wes Craven, 1977's cult classic The Hills Have Eyes was remade in 2006, this time with Alexandre Aja taking the director's chair. Aja's interpretation reprised many of Craven's famous elements in the film but also improved on them, with the remake praised for its pacing and gritty cinematography. The 2006 version was gorier, which added to its already heightened suspense. A notable example of this is in the design of the cannibals, who were more zombified due to their exposure to nuclear radiation, compared to their subtler, more human look in the original. It gave the remake a chilling visual that the original arguably lacked.

1 The Invisible Man

Original: 1933, Remake: 2020

While there have been many great slasher movie remakes, the 2020 version of The Invisible Man stands out as the best for many reasons. A reboot of the 1933 film of the same name, which was also an adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel, The Invisible Man received critical acclaim upon its release. The film was particularly praised for Leigh Whannell's direction and the deep discussion of themes of domestic violence and sexism, and while it differs greatly from the original, the contemporary reinterpretation worked brilliantly.

Although the original did touch on these themes, the 2020 remake allowed for these elements to be expanded upon. Women's fears in a domestically violent relationship are very much real, and while the premise is technically fictional, the themes are rooted in reality, which makes it even scarier. Elisabeth Moss' portrayal of the protagonist, Cee, was incredibly strong in the reimagined slasher movie, especially because of her realistic performance of the character's paranoia.