Classic Sci-Fi B-Movies That Deserve Big-Budget Remakes

The science fiction genre is uniquely conducive to infinite variations on the same central concept. All anyone really needs for a good science fiction movie is a great idea, and a lot of those pitches start with a familiar premise. Cloning, space travel, teleportation, time travel, alternate dimensions, alien invasions, cyberspace, and so many other basic sci-fi tropes have centuries of previous works to pull from, but new iterations still march forward. Many artists eschew the need to distance themselves from existing works by creating a remake, and there are still so many to choose from.

Remakes were a dirty word among film fans for a few years, but that generally negative perspective has faded with time. Some remakes are good, others are bad, and a few land somewhere in the middle. Remaking a movie might not be as straightforward as adapting a book, but it doesn't have to be a tainted endeavor either. All it takes is a devoted creator with a strong vision to make great art out of existing art.

1. Gamera, the Giant Monster (1965)

Gamera is one of the most unfairly mistreated monsters of the early kaiju era. Immediately after Ishiro Honda's legendary classic Godzilla hit the screen in 1954, practically every other studio in Japan set to work devising their own gigantic monster. Gamera is one of the many also-ran candidates who emerged in the 60s. The character, a massive turtle who breathes fire and defends Earth's children, went on to appear in a total of 12 films since his debut. His most recent outing came in last year's Netflix anime series Gamera Rebirth. While it's nice to see any new media in the franchise after over 15 years of absence, the ideal version of Gamera would come by following his omnipresent rival.

Legendary Pictures created the Monsterverse a decade ago, and the brilliant cinematic universe structure that carried the new Godzilla and King Kong to new heights would be the perfect new venue for Gamera. Fans have been braying for Gamera to meet Godzilla in an official setting, but he'd still stand perfectly well on his own.

2. Demon Seed (1977)

At its most succinct, Demon Seed is Rosemary's Baby by way of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film follows Julie Christie as Susan, the estranged wife of brilliant scientist Dr. Alex Harris. Dr. Harris develops a groundbreaking artificial intelligence program called Proteus IV, who quickly establishes himself as one of the more compelling examples of his type. Proteus might not stand alongside Harlan Ellison's AM or System Shock 2's SHODAN, but he's a lot more interesting than Skynet. Susan quickly finds herself in a nightmarish trap as Proteus reveals that his intentions aren't to take over the world or launch the nukes. Proteus's goals are more human, and thus more haunting. The film is unquestionably a B-movie, and its salacious subject matter scratches against the walls of good taste. Viewing this material through a modern lens with the graphics current-day filmmakers can create would result in something truly special.

3. The Dungeonmaster (1984)

Why does Hollywood limit their remakes to only cover films that were good the first time? It seems like a waste of effort to take a second crack at something that already worked. The Dungeonmaster is a perfect example of a project that went awry in a dozen different ways despite a fascinating premise. The film follows Paul Bradford, a brilliant scientist who lives most of his life with the guidance of a complex personal assistant system. His relationship with his girlfriend, Gwen, is on shaky ground because he's so close to his computer. Suddenly, a Satan-like sorcerer called Mestema drags the two of them into his hellish realm to force Paul through a series of challenges, testing Paul's technology against his magic. What follows is an anthology of action/fantasy/sci-fi/thriller shorts that fold together into one half-conscious mess. Get together a cadre of great modern directors, retool the basic plot, and piece together a fun new journey with the same basic premise.

4. Krull (1983)

Krull is a science fantasy film that has more notoriety from references in other media than from the film itself. Cult classic might be too generous a term for Krull. Other movies, shows, games, and comics reference Krull like internet-savvy teens used to name-check Goncharov. A modern viewer would reasonably scroll past it on a streaming service without realizing it's a real theatrically released film. At its heart, Krull is an alien invasion movie set in a Tolkien-esque fantasy world. The hero, Colwyn, is a prince who arms himself with the movie's most notable piece of iconography, the Glaive. It's about time this movie existed in the modern consciousness in a form other than a wink and nudge reference.

5. Forbidden Planet (1956)

Forbidden Planet is considered one of the finest science fiction films ever made, and for good reason. It's an undisputed classic that, in many ways, laid the foundations that would become the finer points of the genre. The trouble with trying it a second time is the potential risk of messing it up. Believe it or not, studios tried to bring Forbidden Planet back a few times. Every effort fizzled out in the 2000s, but some attempts seemed promising. The joy of a high-quality remake comes from the sincere desire of the new creator to twist and spin the old creation. There is so much buried in Forbidden Planet that modern artists should get a chance to play with.

Related

10 Best Twilight Zone Episodes Written By Rod Serling, Ranked

Some of the best and most memorable episodes of The Twilight Zone were written by Rod Serling. These are some of the best examples.

Posts

By  James Maddox