Hellboy 2 director Guillermo del Toro has signed on to produce a remake of a TV movie frim 1973 called Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.
Comic book artist-writer Troy Nixey will make his feature directorial debut with the adaptation of ABC’s 1973 chiller, which gained a cult following through syndication and home video release. (It is known as “Nightmare” in Europe.)
Now since this movie came out on TV in 1973 (a year after I was born) I am not surprised I hadn’t heard of it before. But there is an apparent “cult following” of this movie, and though I don’t profess to know every corner of every fandom I tend to pride myself on being in tune with pop culture. I have yet to hear of any cult following for this movie.
But you know what? That is a good thing. If you are going to remake a movie, as TMB readers will know, we have our rules, and this certainly seems to fit the bill.
If it had a fan following I am assuming it had a decent story. Sounds like a good enough premise for a suspense horror. Also, being 35 years old, most of the target audience will have never seen this. As well, judging by the poster, this certainly could benefit from a modern retelling.
I have always thought if you were going to remake a movie, don’t piss on someone’s memory of an existing franchise, find something that was good in its time and was forgotten. Then remind people with a remake. There clearly are some exceptions to that rule, and some remakes I actually do enjoy even though they might violate “the rules” but those are rare.
And giving this lesser known minor film to a first time director? Great. Let him prove his worth with something that won’t break the studio if it fails. As a comic book writer AND artist, Troy Nixey has a leg up on visually telling a story so we hope this will translate to film.
@Luke, when I said “good in its time” I just figured that covered anything that wasnt total crap not worth doing twice.
I don’t think finding something that was garbage and trying to shine it up in a remake is going to be a good idea. If it was already garbage, then it will take a lot more than shining to make it a good movie, and by that point you don’t have a remake, you have a different movie.
One of our rules for considering a remake is that it has to benefit from a modern retelling. If its not broke and holds up to modern scrutiny, then leave it be. But maybe something great and dated could be made great again in a retelling.
Im thinking Tron is another good example.
OK guys, this is my personal all-time scared-the-shit-out-of-me-and-traumatized-me-for-life movie. I was 6 years old when this movie was on TV and the little creatures that terrorize the heroine of the film haunt me to this day. I get a wee bit nervous still at night around heating vents and those little doors that they use to clean out fireplace ashes (where the creatures live – not a spoiler). It’s pretty hokey by today’s standards, but as a 6 year old it freaked my shit but good.
I think a remake is fine in this case.. But when you said, “find something that was good in its time”. You lost me.. Why take something that is already good? I have always felt the exact opposite about remakes.. Take something that was garbage and give it a polish. Ever heard the saying, “If its not broke don’t fix it”?