Too Funny, They are Remaking 'The Orphanage'
Did I speak too loudly?
As anyone that read my most recent installment of What I Watched, What You Watched already knows, I recently took in my first viewing of the great Spanish horror flick [REC] and enjoyed every minute of it. As a result, at a recent film screening I got to talking to a few people about the remake, Quarantine, and now I'm not so sure I want to watch it, although I am interested in seeing Doug Jones work his magic at the end (that guy is incredible). We also got to talking about other horror remakes and how Hollywood is just cashing in on these things with films such as The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water and not to mention the rash of classic horrors being remade. Most recently is the upcoming remake of Let the Right One In from Cloverfield director Matt Reeves, which is currently titled Let Me In and expected to hit theaters some time in 2010.
I mention all of this because someone asked me what recent horror films I hoped wouldn't get the remake treatment and the first one that came to mind was Juan Antonio Bayona's haunting 2007 effort The Orphanage. It's been almost two years and I thought it may have slipped by their radar. "They can't remake that one can they?" I asked. "Let's hope not," was the reply.
Save "hope" for your political speeches folks as Borys Kit and Steven Zeitchik at The Hollywood Reporter tell us New Line has signed Larry Fessenden to direct an English language adaptation. Oh no, how could they? you ask. Well, ask Guillermo del Toro who produced the Spanish installment and will produce the follow-up from a script he co-wrote with Fessenden. Does that ease the pain a little? Do you even care at this point?
For those that didn't see the original, first off, shame on you. Run out and rent it now and learn the story of a woman who, upon returning to the orphanage where she grew up, discovers that her son's imaginary friend is the same person who terrorized her when she was a child. Of course, that makes it sound for more horrific than it truly is. The Orphanage is actually more of a thrilling drama that has its share of creepy, skin-crawling moments, but in the end it's a very sweet story that manages to work on damn near every level.
The funniest thing about this move is perhaps Kit and Zeitchik's comment that says, "Fessenden's selection signals the out-of-the-box approach that del Toro and the studio are taking on the remake. They are eschewing another Spanish director to fill Bayona's shoes, and they are not putting the project in the hands of a commercial/music video helmer." How you like them apples Platinum Dunes?
Del Toro hand-picked Fessenden for the gig after admiring his work with the THR article saying del Toro saw in him a filmmaker who understood the conventions of the horror genre and could execute a movie that would be as scary and disturbing as the original but in an American context.
They are currently casting the role of the lead actress which was played Belén Rueda in the original. I have attached the trailer for Bayona's film above for those that may be interested.
As for you out there, does the fact del Toro is involved make this sound like more of a worthwhile endeavor or would you prefer they just leave it alone and go make something original?
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Ok here's the thing. Considering how the American audience usually avoids foreign/subtitled movies (I think the Orphanage made 7m in Nort America?) I cant blame them for remaking such movies (also Let the right one in) for the American audience.
On a personal level, I loved Orphanage and do not like the remake idea, but that's just me. However, not all remakes are bad are they? (3:10 to Yuma, The Departed)
hmmm!!!
The orphanage is a really good movie, hopefully it won't go the way of Abre los ojos (1997) an original film that was remade as a POS called vanilla sky.
I love The Orphanage, it's completely unecessary to remake it.
Being Del Toro involved makes the project a little… less doomed. But still, it's unecessary.
Del Toro being attached doesn't make me want to see it more… but at least now that he is responsible, the film will make me cry less.
I really wish that Bayona would do it… For my friends and I, one of the primary reasons we love the movie so much is for the art direction and cinematography… I fear that without Bayona, the drive to make those truly special will be diminished.
I loved the original, and I am honestly scared how this one will turn out.
Though I adore The Ring, that is really the only remake I have seen that I really really like.
Hopefully they pull it off.
I love Guillermo del Toro's work. His films blend perfectly a very human tragedy with elements of horror. "The Devils Backbone" and "Pans Labyrinth" are my favorites. The Hellboys, not so much. When I read your headline, I was horrified (no pun intended). But if he's at the helm, I feel assured.
Since the remake is inevitable, I hope they cast a great actress in the lead. The first name that came to my mind was Sarah Polley – she would be a great choice.
Names featured in the original don't necessarily mean the remake will be good… "The Vanishing", anyone? Same director. The original: brilliant. The remake: hmmmmm.
One more thing: even though I love Cloverfield to death, I despise the fact that they're remaking Let The Right One In…
Don't even talk to me about "Let Me In"… I am SO… FCKING… MAD!… that they changed the movie's fcking name. I was willing to give it a chance (which is not the same thing as saying I actually expected it to be a good remake), but after that, I'm not even going to go near the thing. The name was seriously the most ingenious thing about the movie (I admit that, while I appreciated it, I didn't truly enjoy it). It was classy and hinted towards Oskar's decision of whether or not to trust Eli, and whether or not Eli was good. Is she the "right one?" That is, of course, for the viewer to learn. But when the title is changed to "Let Me In," it just becomes a whiny title about a vampire trying to get in… not to mention that it sounds totally fcking stupid. Just feel each name over your tongue: "Let the Right One In"… "Let Me In"…. "Let the Right One In"… "Let Me In"… You can feel it, too, can't you? The original name was enough to make me want to see it, even before I knew what it was about or that it had positive reviews. But "Let Me In" sounds as generic and stupid as "Prom Night" and "The Unborn." No fcking thanks.
Sorry that was entirely off the topic of this post. But it was mentioned once, and I had to vent. As for "The Orphanage" remake: no thanks to that, either. The original was amazing (personally, I liked it better than "Let the Right One In," while we have both foreign horror films on the slate at the same time). But it's too similar in production value to a Hollywood film (not that that's a bad thing, and also note that the story itself is far superior to the average Hollywood film) for a remake to feel much different.
I've seen a few Fessenden films and I'm not sure what del Toro see's in him, though I'm not much of a del Toro fan to be honest.
@JM: Still? As Brad mentioned in the original name change article, Let Me In is the direct English translation of the original novel's title. I can't believe anyone would be outraged that an adaptation remain true to its original source material.
@zyzygy: Vanilla Sky wasn't intended to be a remake, Crowe called it a 'sister' movie. For what it's worth, I prefer Vanilla Sky.
@GregM: Actually, the original novel title would be translated as "Let The Right One Slip In". The title was taken from a Morrissey song. "Let Me In" was how the book was first published in English – then the translation of the book title was changed to "Let The Right One In".
So with del toro involved, I guess that means no casting jessica alba. And the villagers rejoice.
The Orphanage was good but it relied on not so much horror as it did atmposphere, American casual audiences are more used to horror and I worry that to make it accesible to the American audience they're aiming for The Orphanage will loose its charm and strengths.