With rabid anticipation of the My Bloody Valentine remake (in 3D no less!), I thought I’d celebrate the history of Hollywood reconstruction. Love them or hate them, remakes are all the rage these days. Some of the choices make sense (The Fly, although you won’t find this movie on my list. Sorry Mr. Cronenberg!) while others just leave us scratching out heads (Psycho, anyone?) but there are actually quite a few worthy re-imaginings out there. They might not blow the original out of the water, but they make for a nice counterpart. Here is the short list of titles in a remake world gone wild.

She Freak (1967): A great little drive-in classic, She Freak is the retelling of Freaks, only not quite as unsettling. Well, not really disturbing at all. But what it has is a great, nostalgic look at the good old days of the carnival. The director, David F. Friedman, was indeed a carnival barker himself before he moved on to filmmaking and his love of those days is apparent in this oddball chiller.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978): This remake of the 1956 classic is an almost pitch-perfect sci-fi/horror hybrid about aliens taking over human bodies in their sleep. So many genre films from the 70s remain relevant because they seemed to say something about the political climate. A paranoid tale of terror, Invasion never lets up – not even for a second. Kaufman spins a conspiracy laden tale ending on such a downbeat note you’ll either find yourself absolutely petrified, or you’ll be smiling because you remember a time when movies dared to be so bold. Either way, this is a fantastic movie that deserves revisiting again and again.

Nosferatu (1979): Who better to handle the recreation of one of the most menacing performances on screen then Mr. Creepy himself, Klaus Kinski? With a bit of a resemblance to Max Schreck, Kinski also graced audiences with an even more sinister presence. Unsettling, arty as hell and fantastically off-putting, Nosferatu is a horror remake even movie snobs can enjoy!

The Thing (1982): Perhaps the greatest remake ever, The Thing is a perfect blend of visceral terror and edgy suspense. Featuring a body-invading monster, some outrageous special effects, excellent acting and non-stop suspense, Carpenter gives audiences yet another grand example of why he’s the master.

The Blob (1988): This remake keeps the fun of the original Steve McQueen classic, but ups the gore and the laughs a notch, creating one of the most entertaining monster movies of the decade. Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith are excellent in their respective roles, and this movie takes no prisoners (i.e. kids get eaten!!!)!

Night of the Living Dead (1990): By far, Night is the best remake of any George Romero classic (and let’s face it, they’re all classics). Famous SPFX artist Tom Savini stepped behind the camera to helm one of the most suspenseful zombie films. He even takes Romero’s haunting ending and twists it on its ear for modern audiences. Simply a must for fans of the undead.

Toolbox Murders (2003): Not so much a remake as a re-imagining, Tobe Hooper takes the title of the oft-maligned but amazing original film and puts his own stamp on it. A Texas Chainsaw Massacre sized stamp! The Toolbox Murders remake works because writers Jace Anderson and Adam Gieasch take Hooper back down to his most primal instincts and lets him work on a primitive level not seen since the early 80s slasher The Funhouse. The end result is a haunting and brutal film that feels more original than remade.

Willard (2003): One of the few remakes that actually out does the original ten-fold, Willard is also one of the most heartbreaking horror films of all time. Crispin Glover plays the sad sack to perfection and not only gets the audiences sympathy, but also steals your heart. If you love rats, you’ll love Willard.

Dawn of the Dead (2004): Although the re-hashing of the undisputed classic was met with mixed reviews, it’s a solid addition to the zombie-ography which has become so popular of late. It might not hold the same political and cultural stance as its predecessor, but Dawn definitely creates a feeling of dread, as well as bringing a little invention to an unusual undead action flick.

House of Wax (2005): More of a remake of Tourist Trap than the original House of Wax, this film was a surprisingly fun and gooey surprise full of strange happenings, creepy atmosphere and wanton lasses (courtesy of Paris Hilton who has the best death scene). A full fledged dive into rollercoaster horror filmmaking, House of Wax is one wild ride!

Honorable Mention:

Blood Diner (1987): Considered more of a sequel or tribute and not a remake, Blood Diner was originally slated to be the retelling of Fuad Ramses before H.G. Lewis pulled out his support. After a few script changes and a little name altering (Anwar Namtut is now the evil doer), and you’ve got yourself one of the greatest horror comedies of the 80s. OK, the greatest! I make no excuses for my love of this film. Sure, it ain’t Shakespeare, but it is a wonderful mark of respect to all things gory, with more than a tip of the hat to Mr. Lewis himself.