10 Horror Movie Remakes That Toned Down The Brutality Of The Original Films

May 16, 2024, 5:50 p.m.

Movies

10 Horror Movie Remakes That Toned Down The Brutality Of The Original Films

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Summary Modern horror movie remakes often tone down excessive violence from original films for various reasons.

Some remakes, like Cabin Fever (2016) and Suspiria (2018), may lose impact by reducing gore.

The Last House On The Left (2009) remake, while polished, may lack the shocking brutality of the original.

Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual violence and disturbing themes

Although it's often assumed that audiences' tolerance for violence has increased over the years, many horror movie remakes prove that, in reality, earlier films can be even more brutal than later projects. While, in general, it's true that viewers have become more exposed to violence than they were when cinema was in its infancy, modern horror films do not have a monopoly on brutality. In fact, some of the most violent and shocking movies ever made have been substantially toned down in their remakes.

There are many reasons why a horror movie remake might moderate the violence of an original movie. In some cases, a story's interesting concept might have become obscured by extreme levels of gore. In others, a particular filmmaker may have a different interpretation of the source material and how best to explore the movie's wider themes. Whatever the reason, there are a surprising number of modern horror remakes that choose to tone down the excesses of the original – sometimes with unintended consequences.

10 Cabin Fever (2016)

Remake of Cabin Fever (2002)

Despite featuring some fairly graphic scenes of its own, the 2016 Cabin Fever is much less effective in its use of gore than the original body horror hit. Whereas the 2002 Cabin Fever included some genuinely innovative death scenes, with the movie's flesh-eating virus premise giving it an air of originality, the remake suffers from introducing nothing new to the story – thereby making the film's still excessive gore feel somewhat stale. While taken in isolation, the two movies' violent scenes are somewhat comparable, the first Cabin Fever feels much more brutal thanks to well-drawn characters and an inventive premise.

Cabin Fever Director Eli Roth Cast Joey Kern , Cerina Vincent , Jordan Ladd , James DeBello , Rider Strong Runtime 93 minutes

9 Suspiria (2018)

Remake of Suspiria (1977)

There are certainly aspects of Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria remake that are both shocking and brutal. Beyond the violence in the story, the psychological and less-explicitly bloody pain that the characters suffer makes some scenes a difficult watch. However, when it comes to traditional gore, the film can't hold a candle to Argento's blood-soaked original. The 1977 Suspiria is heralded for its over-saturated color scheme, which benefits from frequent excessive violence. By comparison, Guadagnino's remake is much more subdued.

Suspiria Director Luca Guadagnino Release Date November 2, 2018 Cast Tilda Swinton , Sylvie Testud , Mia Goth , Ingrid Caven , Jessica Harper , Malgorzata Bela , Dakota Johnson , Renée Soutendijk , Angela Winkler , Chloe Grace Moretz , Lutz Ebersdorf Runtime 153minutes

8 Inside (2016)

Remake of À l'intérieur (2007)

Although Inside addresses similar themes of revenge and obsession as the original, the muted 2016 remake is much less explicit than the critically acclaimed French original. Recognized as part of the so-called New French Extremity movement, À lintérieur is a gratifying blend of tension and genuinely brutal violence – mostly conducted with an assortment of home appliances. Although Inside keeps the basic premise of a woman trying to steal another's baby, the movie focuses on the cat-and-mouse game between the pair instead of the violence at the heart of their conflict.

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7 Toolbox Murders (2004)

Remake of The Toolbox Murders (1978)

As its name implies, director Tobe Hooper's Toolbox Murders revolves around a murderer with a penchant for unconventional weaponry – with often brutal results. Yet while the 2004 film boasts an impressive array of hammers, nail guns, and drills, its violence is actually much more restrained than the 1978 original. In fact, the first Toolbox Murders was deemed so brutal that it was banned in the United Kingdom as part of the video nasties panic, with Hooper's version today considered a less graphic, but ultimately more effective movie.

6 Maniac (2012)

Remake of Maniac (1980)

Written by graphic horror maestro Alexandre Aja, the 2012 Maniac certainly doesn't pull any punches with its violence. Following a protagonist who specializes in scalping victims and adorning mannequins with their hair, the movie is clearly brutal in its own right. However, compared to the 1980 Maniac, the 2012 version is surprisingly more restrained. A key factor is the involvement of legendary special effects guru Tom Savini, who is responsible for some of the most brutal gore in cinema history. The 2012 Maniac may have a better reputation, but its violence is slightly edged out by the original.

Maniac Director Franck Khalfoun Release Date June 21, 2013 Writers Alexandre Aja , Grégory Levasseur Cast Elijah Wood , Nora Arnezeder , America Olivo , Megan Duffy Runtime 89 Minutes

5 Funny Games (2007)

Remake of Funny Games (1997)

By some criteria, the 2007 Funny Games is on an exact par with Michael Haneke's controversial home invasion original, for the simple reason that it is an exact shot-for-shot remake. However, because the 2007 movie recycles the same scenes from the original without adding anything new, it must be considered a less brutal version of the story. Whereas the 1997 film was both innovative and shocking, featuring fourth-wall breaks alongside graphic torture, the 2007 version contains no surprises for an audience already familiar with the original. While both are incredibly violent and disturbing, the 1997 Funny Games' ingenuity is a key factor.

Funny Games (1998) Director Michael Haneke Release Date March 11, 1998 Cast Susanne Lothar , Ulrich Mühe , Arno Frisch , Frank Giering , Stefan Clapczynski Runtime 108 Minutes

4 Rabid (2019)

Remake of Rabid (1977)

Although the Soska sisters' take on Canadian director David Cronenberg's original cannibalistic horror offers its own gory moments, the movie understandably comes up short when compared to one of the masters of body horror. As in the original, the 2019 film follows the aftermath of a revolutionary surgical procedure, which inadvertently turns the patient into a bloodthirsty monster. However, where the Soska sisters' film features more traditional horror antagonists, Cronenberg's Rabid is brutally original with its death scenes, explaining why it is still considered a cult classic nearly five decades on from its release.

3 Martyrs (2015)

Remake of Martyrs (2008)

Given the original Martyrs' well-earned reputation as one of the most violent and brutal movies ever made, it was inevitable that a remake would fail to match it. So it proved with the 2015 American version. While both films focus on a sadistic cult that tortures its victims to learn more about the afterlife, the American version manages to be both much tamer and far less interesting. Although the extreme violence of the 2008 Martyrs made it incredibly polarizing, there's no doubt that it helped it stand apart from less ambitious projects, such as the remake.

Martyrs (2008) Director Pascal Laugier Release Date September 3, 2008 Cast Morjana Alaoui , Mylène Jampanoï Runtime 99 Minutes

2 I Spit On Your Grave (2010)

Remake of I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

Despite featuring multiple graphic, upsetting, and extremely controversial scenes, the 2010 I Spit On Your Grave remake is surprisingly less brutal than the 1978 original. While both movies have been criticized for their excess, the low-budget quality of the original gives its horrific scenes of rape and murder a realistic quality that remains extremely upsetting to this day. While the 2010 I Spit On Your Grave is just as graphic, its comparative production quality actually emphasizes the artifice and allows the film to show increasingly improbably death scenes, detracting from the grounded horror of the 1978 revenge film.

I Spit On Your Grave (1978) Director Meir Zarchi Release Date November 22, 1979 Cast Camille Keaton , Eron Tabor , Richard Pace , Anthony Nichols Runtime 102 Minutes

1 The Last House On The Left (2009)

Remake of The Last House On The Left (1972)

One of the most controversial movies ever made, Wes Craven's The Last House On The Left is notorious for its dark story, excessive violence, and uncompromising brutality. Given the context of its release, at a time when extreme cinema was a relatively new phenomenon, it's notable that the film still retains its power to shock to this day. By contrast, the 2009 version presents a more polished version of the murder and revenge storyline, but feels much more generic by comparison. A boundary-pushing landmark for all horror movies, The Last House On The Left is definitive proof that brutality is not the reserve of modern films.