Products You May Like
I’m partial to the Platinum Dunes variety of horror remakes largely because that’s the era of horror I grew up in. I certainly saw all the originals (thanks, Mom), but in terms of video rentals and cineplex visits, I was down bad for whatever horror classic was getting the gritty, digital remake treatment. And they’re not all bad, either. I disagree, but I think there’s an argument to be made that Marcus Nispel’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is as good as the original. Different, but just as effective.
I have fond memories of watching Jared Padalecki sleuth around Camp Crystal Lake in Friday the 13th, and I think Dave Meyers’ The Hitcher is one of the most underappreciated horror remakes of all time. Sure, the Platinum Dunes remakes are all cut from the same cloth, but it was pretty solid cloth to start with. My favorite among them, however, is no doubt Andrew Douglas’ The Amityville Horror. Unlike the other remakes popular at the time, I wasn’t exactly a big fan of the original Amityville. I still prefer the remake to this day, and if you’re curious as to why, I’ve got great news! The Amityville Horror is now streaming free on Tubi.
Per Tubi: Without realizing a murder took place within its walls, a family moves into a new house on the Long Island coast. Soon after, the hauntings begin.
For starters, The Amityville Horror is hot and horny. Where the original only gestured at the innate sexual energy of its haunting, the remake leans into it fully. You’ve got a ripped and shirtless Ryan Reynolds and a sultry, smoky Melissa George as the hottest parents you’ve ever seen. 28 days? Maybe stay a little longer. Possessed Ryan Reynolds does something for me.
More importantly, Douglas’ remake improves upon the foundation of the original. Sure, The Amityville Horror is a classic, igniting a franchise of its own while laying the foundation for every haunted house movie yet to come, but it hasn’t aged well. The promise is there, especially in its two leads (including the late, incredible Margot Kidder), but it’s a little too earnest, a little too canonized. Douglas’ remake is digital and messy, intentionally. It’s all the haunted house tricks from the early aughts crammed into one movie, and it’ll have you both laughing and screaming.
What do you think? Do you have any plans to check out The Amityville Horror on Tubi? If you do, let me know whether you prefer it to the original over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized:News