Re-animated: The contemporary American horror film remake, 2003-2013
Date
2014
Authors
Mee, Laura
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN
DOI
Volume Title
Publisher
De Montfort University
Peer reviewed
Abstract
This doctoral thesis is a study of American horror remakes produced in the
years 2003-2013, and it represents a significant academic intervention into an
understanding of the horror remaking trend. It addresses the remaking process
as one of adaptation, examines the remakes as texts in their own right, and
situates them within key cultural, industry and reception contexts. It also shows
how remakes have contributed to the horror genre’s evolution over the last
decade, despite their frequent denigration by critics and scholars.
Chapter One introduces the topic, and sets out the context, scope and
approach of the work. Chapter Two reviews the key literature which informs this
study, considering studies in adaptation, remaking, horror remakes specifically,
and the genre more broadly. Chapter Three explores broad theoretical
questions surrounding the remake’s position in a wider culture of cinematic
recycling and repetition, and issues of fidelity and taxonomy. Chapter Four
examines the ‘reboots’ of one key production company, exploring how changes
are made across versions even as promotion relies on nostalgic connections
with the originals. Chapter Five discusses a diverse range of slasher film
remakes to show how they represent variety and contribute to genre
development. Chapter Six considers socio-political themes in 1970s horror films
and their contemporary post-9/11 remakes, and Chapter Seven focuses on
gender representation and recent genre trends in the rape-revenge remake.
This thesis concludes with a discussion of the most recent horror
remakes, and reiterates the findings from the preceding chapters. Ultimately,
genre remakes remain prevalent because they are often profitable and cater for
a guaranteed audience. They are commercial products, but also represent
some of the more creative entries in horror cinema over the last decade, and
their success enables further productions. Rather than being understood as
simplistic derivative copies, horror remakes should be considered as intertextual
adaptations which both draw from and help to shape the genre.