Ranked: The 10 Best Reboots of Slasher Movies

Essential Insights

Horror remakes can stand shoulder to shoulder with their original counterparts, with films like Maniac and Friday The 13th often overshadowing the originals.
Fresh interpretations of beloved characters in films such as Child’s Play and The Invisible Man help keep reboots engaging for both new and long-time fans.

Films like Speak No Evil demonstrate that horror remakes and reboots aren’t doomed to failure; indeed, some can prove to be impressive successors or even surpass the original works. This observation holds particularly true in the realm of slasher cinema, where characters meet gruesome fates throughout the storyline.

The 70s and 80s were pivotal decades for the birth of iconic slasher films, many of which received reboots from the 2000s into the 2020s. While some, like Rob Zombie’s version of Halloween, faced criticism from both viewers and critics, others have emerged as unexpected triumphs.

10 Black Christmas (2006)

Far More Gruesome and Disturbing

Director: Glen Morgan
Release Date: December 25, 2006
Starring: Lacey Chabert, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Katie Cassidy, Crystal Lowe

The original Black Christmas relied on suspense rather than sheer body count, centered around a mysterious presence lurking in the attic of a sorority house during the holiday season. However, the 2006 reboot emerged amidst a surge of gore-centric horror films like Saw, leaning heavily into that aesthetic.

While the original is widely regarded as more atmospheric and terrifying, the 2006 version offers a chilling companion piece, albeit one laden with grotesque fatalities and a disturbing focus on eyeballs as well as unsettling elements from the killer’s history that makes audiences shift in their seats.

9 The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

Cannibals Transformed into Terrifying Mutants

Director: Alexander Aja
Release Date: March 10, 2006
Starring: Vinessa Shaw, Emilie De Raven, Aaron Stanford, Billy Drago

The Hills Have Eyes revolves around a family of cannibalistic killers preying on unsuspecting visitors, a concept taken from the original Wes Craven film. The reboot preserves the essence of the original while ramping up the gore to match earnestly disturbing standards.

The original became infamous for its raw and objectionable content, which is why the remake opted for an even more intense and graphic interpretation.

8 My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Jensen Ackles Shines as a Horror Icon

Director: Patrick Lussier
Release Date: January 16, 2009
Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Tom Atkins, Kerr Smith

Following in the footsteps of iconic figures like Michael Myers, new masked villains emerged during the horror revival, including the terrifying Harry Warden in My Bloody Valentine. The 2009 remake remains loyal to the original while introducing fresh spins and ideas.

Jensen Ackles’ star power attracted many Supernatural fans to the film, which surprised horror enthusiasts with its inventive death scenes and a nostalgic nod to 80s slasher aesthetics, managing to carve out a distinct identity in the process.

7 The Invisible Man (2020)

A New Perspective on a Classic Horror

Director: Leigh Whannell
Release Date: February 24, 2020
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid

Leigh Whannell, known for his work on Insidious and Saw, ingeniously shifted the narrative of The Invisible Man to center on the victim’s experience rather than that of the classic monster. This modern adaptation highlights the terror of being pursued by an unseen assailant, creating an atmosphere rife with tension and dread.

Unlike the eccentric slasher villain from the 1933 version, Whannell’s portrayal captures a more suspenseful and ominous vibe, culminating in a bloody rampage while offering a fresh examination of the enigmatic character.

6 Child’s Play (2019)

The Reboot Gains Relevance Over Time

Director: Lars Klevberg
Release Date: June 21, 2019
Starring: Mark Hamill, Gabriel Bateman, Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Tyree Henry

Unlike previous adaptations that aimed to narrate the haunting tale of a killer’s soul trapped within a doll, the Child’s Play remake cleverly shifts the focus onto the growing anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence. Featuring a nuanced performance from Mark Hamill, this new iteration of Chucky presents an AI corrupted by human influence, rather than one born innately evil.

While the film was met with skepticism at first, its themes regarding the moral implications of technology resonated deeply, all while delivering some of the most horrific deaths in the franchise’s history and casting Chucky as a villain who is both menacing and chillingly sympathetic.

5 Maniac (2012)

A First-Person Perspective that Redefines Horror

Director: Franck Khalfoun
Release Date: May 26, 2012
Starring: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Genevieve Alexandra, Joshua De La Garza

In Maniac, the horror experience takes on an innovative angle by immersing viewers directly into the mind of a serial killer. Presented entirely through a first-person lens, this 2012 film achieves a haunting resonance, as its harrowing scenes feel intensely realistic, aided by outstanding special effects and camerawork.

Audiences are privy to the character’s hallucinations and disturbed psyche, crafting a chilling glimpse into the world of a deranged mind. This reboot is widely recognized for successfully enhancing the original material, offering a profound character study and stunning visual storytelling.

4 The Last House On The Left (2009)

Revenge-Driven Slashers Steal the Show

Director: Dennis Iliadis
Release Date: March 13, 2009
Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Garret Dillahunt, Aaron Paul

The original and its 2009 remake of The Last House On The Left unsettle viewers, not only with the portrayal of a harrowing assault on a young character but also with the subsequent violent revenge narrative. Here, the parents of the victim morph into avenging entities targeting the offenders.

This reboot leans heavily into themes of retribution, depicting the increasingly gruesome methods employed by parents to exact vengeance on their daughter’s attackers. In a manner akin to the John Wick films, the narrative urges viewers to root for the antagonists as they unleash brutal punishments upon their enemies.

3 Hellraiser (2022)

Cenobites Take Center Stage as Villains

Director: David Bruckner
Release Date: September 28, 2022
Starring: Odessa A’zion, Jamie Clayton, Drew Starkey, Goran Visnjic

In Clive Barker’s original Hellraiser, the killings were primarily executed by human antagonists, with the supernatural Cenobites serving a more supportive role. The Hulu reboot re-imagines the narrative, placing the terrifying Cenobites at the forefront as they hunt those who dare to solve the puzzle box, unleashing dearfully brutal tortures on their victims.

Rather than rehashing the plot of the original, the 2022 version retains the cosmic horror elements and gore while introducing new characters and storyline. The character of The Hell Priest, interpreted by trans actress Jamie Clayton, reflects a more accurate adaptation of the original literary portrayal, offering a unique spin without overshadowing the foundation laid by David Bradley.

2 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Leatherface Reinvigorated in a Classic Redo

Director: Marcus Nispel
Release Date: October 17, 2003
Starring: Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour, Andrew Bryniarski, R. Lee Ermey

This franchise not only spurred a multitude of horror-themed video games but also witnessed several reboot attempts. Many fans acknowledge the 2003 adaptation as the standout version, successfully reinventing the original while injecting fresh elements.

Rather than exploiting an increased budget, Marcus Nispel pays homage to the gritty, visceral style of Tobe Hooper’s classic by crafting a grounded horror experience throughout.

1 Friday The 13th (2009)

A Return to Jason Voorhees’ Roots

Director: Marcus Nispel
Release Date: February 13, 2009
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Derek Mears, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti

Following the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Marcus Nispel tackled another iconic horror franchise with Friday The 13th, seamlessly merging elements from the first four original movies into a cohesive narrative. This rendition returns Jason Voorhees to his more realistic roots after the franchise got overly ambitious with crossovers and fantastical plots.

In this reboot, Jason is portrayed by Derek Mears as a rapid and intimidating force, featuring ingenious kills. This iteration imbues the character with depth, creating a version of Jason that combines menace with a hint of tragedy, retaining the classic elements that fans hold dear about the notorious hockey mask killer.

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