To celebrate the imminent release of Mike P. Nelson’s (Wrong Turn, V/H/S/85) new take on the notorious holiday shocker Silent Night, Deadly Night, we thought now would be the perfect time to spotlight a handful of underrated horror remakes that honor the spirit of their source material — and in some cases, sharpen their edges.
Led by Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends) as Billy and Ruby Modine (Happy Death Day) as Pamela, Nelson’s reimagining revisits the original’s pernicious premise: a young boy who witnesses his parents’ murder at the hands of a Santa-clad killer grows up to adopt the suit himself, delivering grisly festive “justice” to those he deems naughty. This new iteration folds in psychological tension, brutal slasher mayhem, a hint of the supernatural, and — unexpectedly — a touch of romance. With original producers Scott Schneid and Dennis Whitehead returning, alongside Jamie R. Thompson, Erik Bernard, and executive producers Anthony Masi and Steven Schneider, the film looks set to serve up a confident new chapter in the franchise.
Silent Night, Deadly Night will hit UK, Irish, and US cinemas on December 12, 2025. Until then, enjoy this selection of lesser-known remakes that captured the spirit of their source material while carving out their own distinctive legacy.
We Are What We Are – Jim Mickle (2013)
What it’s about: A torrential storm descends on a rural community just as tragedy strikes the Parker family, forcing daughters Iris and Rose to assume responsibilities far darker than those of an ordinary household. As local authorities begin investigating troubling clues, the tightly controlled world maintained by patriarch Frank starts to unravel, revealing the ancestral customs the family has kept hidden for generations.
Why we love it: Jim Mickle’s reimagining shifts the original film’s urban grit toward a somber, backwoods gothic, grounding its horror in atmosphere and emotional restraint. It’s a remake that deepens the themes of faith, obedience, and family legacy while holding fast to the original’s chilling core.
For Fans of: The Hamiltons, Hereditary, The Woman
Maniac – Franck Khalfoun (2012)
What it’s about: Frank, a withdrawn mannequin restorer, begins forming a tentative friendship with a young artist, Anna, who seeks his help with an upcoming exhibition. But as their connection develops, it stirs a dormant compulsion within him — a violent obsession marked by scalp-hunting murders that continue to spread terror across the city.
Why we love it: Told largely through Frank’s POV, Khalfoun’s remake transforms the 1980 slasher into a nightmarishly subjective character study. Elijah Wood’s unnerving performance gives the film a tragic undercurrent, creating a brutal yet psychologically rich reinterpretation of the original.
For Fans of: Tony (2009), May, Taxi Driver, Peeping Tom
The Uninvited – The Brothers Strause (2009)
What it’s about: After the death of her mother in a tragic fire, teenage Anna returns home from a mental institution only to find her father remarried to Rachel, her mother’s former nurse. Alongside her sister Alex, Anna begins to suspect Rachel played a role in the mysterious death, piecing together evidence while confronting her own trauma and memory gaps.
Why we love it: This English-language remake of South Korea’s A Tale of Two Sisters preserves the original’s psychological tension and haunting atmosphere while reimagining it for a U.S. audience. By balancing suspenseful mystery with emotional depth, it stands as a rare example of a foreign remake that truly respects its source material.
For Fans of: The Others, The Orphanage, Don’t Look Now
The Blob – Chuck Russell (1988)
What it’s about: After a vagrant is found with a corrosive substance devouring his hand, a small Colorado town becomes the site of an escalating nightmare. Local teens Meg and Brian find themselves at the center of the chaos as the gelatinous creature grows, sprouts tendrils, and consumes anything in its path. When the military arrives promising containment, it becomes clear their motives may be more dangerous than the creature itself.
Why we love it: Russell’s remake takes the 1958 concept and amplifies it with slick effects, sharper writing, and a streak of small-town paranoia. The result is a creature feature that’s both wildly inventive and deceptively thoughtful — a perfect example of a remake surpassing expectations.
For Fans of: Night of the Creeps, The Thing, Splinter (2008)
Mirrors – Alexandre Aja (2008)
What it’s about: Former NYPD detective Ben Carson, struggling to rebuild his life after a career-ending tragedy, takes a night watch position at a burned-out department store. Soon, he begins to see disturbing visions in the mirrors that seem to threaten him and his remaining family, culminating in a brutal encounter with an evil force that uses the reflections as a gateway to terror.
Why we love it: Aja’s remake of South Korea’s Into the Mirror intensifies the supernatural menace while maintaining the claustrophobic, psychological dread of the original. Though often overlooked, the film delivers tense sequences, strong atmosphere, and a gripping sense of inevitability.
For Fans of: Oculus, Malignant, The Ring
Thir13en Ghosts – Steve Beck (2001)
What it’s about: When Arthur and his two children inherit a sprawling glass mansion from his eccentric Uncle Cyrus, they quickly discover the home is actually a machine powered by twelve tormented spirits. Trapped inside with a ghost hunter and a self-described ghost-rights activist, the family must navigate shifting walls, violent apparitions, and a device built to open the Eye of Hell itself.
Why we love it: Beck’s remake expands the original’s haunted-house premise into a kinetic spectacle defined by elaborate set pieces and distinctive ghost designs. Its bold visual identity and labyrinthine mythology have since earned it a devoted cult following.
For Fans of: House on Haunted Hill, Ghost Ship, The Innkeepers, We are Still Here
The Echo – Yam Laranas (2008)
What it’s about: An ex-con moves into a crumbling apartment building and becomes entangled in a domestic nightmare involving a police officer, his wife, and their daughter. When he intervenes, a mysterious curse traps him, forcing him to confront both past sins and the supernatural forces that haunt the building.
Why we love it: Directed by the original filmmaker of the Filipino horror classic Sigaw, this remake successfully transplants the story into an English-language setting while retaining the oppressive, eerie atmosphere of the original. Its subtle storytelling and creeping dread make it a hidden gem among foreign-to-U.S. remakes.
For Fans of: The Changeling, The Grudge, Lake Mungo
Toolbox Murders – Tobe Hooper (2004)
What it’s about: Nell and her husband Steven move into the dilapidated Lusman Arms building, once a glamorous Hollywood landmark but now a place marked by decades of mysterious disappearances. When Nell’s new friend Julia vanishes, her search leads her into hidden passages within the walls — and toward a malevolent presence born of death and sustained by countless victims.
Why we love it: Hooper’s loose reinterpretation of the 1978 exploitation film trades the original’s grindhouse brutality for something stranger and more supernatural. The decaying setting and unnerving creature work give the remake a distinctive grimness and make it one of Hooper’s most intriguing late-period efforts.
For Fans of: Candyman, The Amityville Horror, The New York Ripper
Are there any other underrated remakes you think deserve to be on this list? Let us know over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Silent Night, Deadly Night will hit cinemas on December 12, 2025.
