Stephen King Calls This 42%-Rated Horror ‘The Most Brilliant Remake of the Decade’
The remake of Wes Craven's cult horror film not only honored the original, but also reimagined it, becoming a truly worthy successor.
Remakes are rarely better than the original, and are usually criticized for the very fact of their existence. However, it is wrong to pan all remakes at once – many of them are at least worth watching, and some of them are even better than their predecessors.
This is the opinion of Stephen King, the main master of horror of our time, who knows a thing or two about his favorite genre.
Stephen King Prefers The Last House on the Left Remake to The Original Movie
According to the author, The Last House on the Left, released in 2009, a remake of the horror classic by Wes Craven, turned out to be even better than the original. While listing his favorite movies, the author said:
“Easily the most brilliant remake of the decade, and not just because the 1972 original was such a cr*pfest. This beautifully photographed – but hard to watch – movie is the standard by which all horror/suspense films should be judged.”
While Wes Craven's original work is considered a classic of the genre and a major influence on horror, the remake that Craven himself produced deserves no less attention.
The 2009 Remake Successfully Corrects Some of the Mistakes Made in the Original Movie
Wes Craven's original film was groundbreaking for its time, but its low-budget limitations are obvious. The remake, on the other hand, benefits from modern filmmaking techniques.
Sharone Meir's cinematography creates a haunting atmosphere, and the violence, while still brutal, is more stylized.
In addition, the remake avoids some of the tonal inconsistencies of the original, which awkwardly mixed violent horror with comedy. The 2009 version is relentlessly dark, maintaining a consistent tone that heightens the discomfort.
2009's The Last House on the Left Is a Worthy Reimagining of the Classic Horror
The best remakes don't just copy the original – they reimagine it. This is exactly what Dennis Iliadis's The Last House on the Left does. It keeps the essence of Craven's vision while improving the execution.
While Wes Craven fans may always prefer the original version, the 2009 remake can definitely be called a worthy successor. It's a brutal, well-crafted horror movie that respects its source material while making significant improvements.
For fans of good old revenge horror, both versions are must-watch – but the remake proves that sometimes a new take can be just as good as the original.
