Hi all!

Welcome back to a fun segment on my blog, where I pit an original horror film against its remake and discuss which one I personally believe is better. You can check out the dedicated category here. There will be a few factors to take into consideration: a.) Does the remake improve the original story, b.) Is the original already so superior, the remake is quite irrelevant and c.) Do both films exist side-by-side, complementing one another in horror cinematic history? For my tenth subject, I am tackling Paul Lynch’s, Prom Night from 1980 and Nelson McCormick’s reboot from 2008. These movies follow a group of high school seniors, targeted at their prom by a killer. Remember, it’s okay if we don’t agree. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Round #1 – Improvement

Did the remake improve upon the original story? Absolutely not. For one, it reveals the killer’s identity within the first five minutes. The version from 1980 keeps it a mystery until the very end. The unveiling of the murderer actually made me sad. It evoked emotion from me. The reboot did the exact opposite. By giving us that information upfront, the tension and suspense are immediately stripped away. Why do the franchise a disservice in that way? Not to mention the awful script writing, poor acting and non-existent gore. A woeful adaptation of the source material! 

Winner – Prom Night 1980

Round #2 – Relevance 

Was the original already so superior, the remake was irrelevant? Sadly, no. When I think iconic slashers of the 1980’s, Prom Night does not stand out to me. Jamie Lee Curtis is an incredible female lead but at that stage of her career, was already known as Laurie Strode from Halloween. You really cannot compare the two. A solid reboot from the early 2000’s could’ve put the franchise on the map. Instead, it made a mockery of something that was already subpar to begin with. What didn’t need re-doing was that disco dance scene. You know the one! 

Winner – Prom Night 1980 

Round #3 – Cohesion 

Can both films exist side-by-side, complementing one another in horror cinematic history? I don’t believe so. The remake is so wildly different to the original. It doesn’t even try to remain true to what came before it. I can respect a unique interpretation if it has a point of view. Nelson McCormick’s Prom Night however, pales in comparison. I wouldn’t even recommend it to younger audiences. Just because it has a modern lens doesn’t make it good. 

Winner – Prom Night 1980

THE WINNER IS: Prom Night 1980

The original wins by a landslide and yet, I didn’t enjoy it. The reboot makes it look better than it actually is. There are some memorable moments but for the most part, it doesn’t stand up amongst the greats from that decade of horror. What disappoints me is the remake could’ve taken it to new heights. It had the potential to be a gory, disgusting and terrifying adaptation. Instead, the results were sloppy. By the end, my limbs were aching from the cringe! 

Thank you so much for reading! I’ll be back next time to tackle Invasion of the Body Snatchers. 

Peace & Love xoxo