Three varying takes on the subject
Before last night’s screening of William Malone’s Parasomnia, a few masters of horror – Mick Garris, Wes Craven, Tobe Hooper, Malone and Stuart Gordon – sat down for a panel discussion that touched on a variety of topics such as art, film…and remakes. Oh, the remakes. It was a subject that elicited a trio of responses, so here is Craven, Hooper and Garris in their own words. Look for a full transcription of the panel here on Shock very soon.
Wes Craven: “I have one coming out next week. And it’s a fine, wonderful film. I wouldn’t say that. It was one of those cases of, after 30 years, the guys who made the film got to own it again and we got to remake it. Total control. Final cut. Found a fantastic director. A Greek director who made a film called Hardcore. I said, don’t make my film over. He did a fabulous job, made it totally his own. The Maltese Falcon is the second or third remake of a previous film, so there’s nothing wrong with whether something deserves to be remade or not, it’s just whether it’s a damn good film or not.”
Tobe Hooper: “I think it’s inevitable and I think it’s a good thing. I think DeMille did one of his films three times and Hitchcock as well. In those days you couldn’t take the film home with you. When Chainsaw, the remake…I was going to direct it. I didn’t feel right. I asked Gus Van Sant his advice and he said, ‘I’d probably remake anything I’ve ever done.’ It’s what it is, man.”
Mick Garris: “I’d like to say one thing about the Chainsaw remake, it’s a product. A nicely made film, but Tobe’s movies really reflect Tobe’s personalities and sensibilities. I mean this as a compliment when I say the remake of Texas Chainsaw, what was wrong with it, is that it lacked the madness the original had. The madness was displayed through humor that was so dark, it was red. It was red humor. That, and the under-appreciated Chainsaw 2 which I think is a masterpiece of horror. It evolved. Wes has his Last House on the Left remake reflecting that filmmaker’s personality. Tobe’s work reflects his personality. If a remake has a personality that’s one thing, if it’s not just a product. And unfortunately, most of the crap out there is just product.”
Source: Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor
