THE HORROR REMAKE BLOODY BRACKET

Round One

Our second match-up in Round One is a competition between two remakes of 1970s horror classics. The first is a zombie flick that has to take on the legacy of what is widely considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all-time, while the second is a modern re-telling of the immensely overlooked 1970s slasher centered around the most wonderful time of the year. Will the zombies eat their prey, or will Billy sleigh the competition? We here at Morbidly Amusing debate.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

VS

Black Christmas  (2006)

Dr. Morbid: Zack Snyder burst onto the scene with his slick Dawn of the Dead remake which, while entertaining, paled in comparison to the original. Black Christmas was gory but missed the bleakness the original film was known for. If you’re looking for Christmas horror view the remake of Silent Night instead. Zack Snyder continues on. Victor: Dawn of the Dead

Ross Tweedy: I have to go with Dawn of the Dead. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and pays solid homage to the original. The best parts of Black Christmas were the POV and the gibberish the killer talked throughout the film. The plot also lends itself well to a remake; people in a house die during Christmas, easy. Ultimately though, Dawn of the Dead is the better flick. Victor: Dawn of the Dead

That Other Raimi Brother: With George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead not only being one of my favorite horror films but also being one of my absolute favorite films of all-time, it’s safe to say that I was certainly uneasy at the prospect of what I felt was an unnecessary remake. When I actually sat down and gave the film a chance, I was surprised that I was not only enjoying myself, but admiring the completely different direction they took the film in. It’s not so much a horror film as it is an extremely polished action flick. From the amazingly well-crafted opening scene to one of the greatest opening credits sequences of recent memory, the update of Dawn of the Dead won me over immediately and kept me in my chair until the satisfying conclusion. While it doesn’t even come close to the original, it’s definitely one of the best recent examples of how to pull off a remake of a beloved classic. Black Christmas? Yeah, no. Victor: Dawn of the Dead

The Zombies enjoy a feast for the ages as Dawn of the Dead goes 3 for 3 in Round One.

Up Next:     The Hills Have Eyes  (2006)    VS.  The Wicker Man  (2006)