Fear, cultural anxiety, and transformation : horror, science fiction, and fantasy films remade / edited by Scott A. Lukas and John Marmysz.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Lukas, Scott A., 1968-

Marmysz, John, 1964-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Horror films--History and criticism.

Horror films.

Science fiction films--History and criticism.

Science fiction films.

Fantasy films--History and criticism.

Fantasy films.

Film remakes--History and criticism.

Film remakes.

Physical Description:

vii, 301 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2009]

Summary:

This collection was inspired by the observation that film remakes offer us the opportunity to revisit important issues, stories, themes, and topics in a manner that is especially relevant and meaningful to contemporary audiences. Like mythic stories that are told again and again in differing ways, film remakes present us with updated perspectives on timeless ideas. While some remakes succeed and others fail aesthetically, they always say something about the culture in which-and for which-they are produced.

Contributors explore the ways in which the fears of death, loss of self, and bodily violence have been expressed and then reinterpreted in such films and remakes as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Night of the Living Dead, and Dawn of the Dead. Films such as Rollerball, The Ring, The Grudge, The Great Yokai Wars, and Insomnia are discussed as well because of their ability to give voice to collective anxieties concerning cultural change, nihilism, and globalization. While opening on a note that emphasizes the compulsion of filmmakers to revisit issues concerning fear and anxiety, this collection ends by using films such as Solaris, King Kong, Star Trek, Doom, and Van Helsing to suggest that repeated confrontation with these issues allows the opportunity for creative and positive transformation.

Contents:

1 Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Films Remade / Scott A. Lukas, John Marmysz 1

Part I Fear

2 Immanent Attack: An Existential Take on The Invasion of the Body Snatchers Films / Juneko J. Robinson 23

3 Invasions of Fear: The Body Snatcher Theme / Ils Huygens 45

4 Remaking Romero / Shane Borrowman 61

Part II Cultural Anxiety

5 Cultural Change and Nihilism in the Rollerball Films / John Marmysz 85

6 Hollywood's Remake Practices under the Copyright Regime: French Films and Japanese Horror Films / Myoungsook Park 107

7 Monsters Reappearing in Great Yokai Wars, 1968-2005 / Zilia Papp 129

8 Trading Spaces: Transnational Dislocations in Insomnia/Insomnia and Ju-on/The Grudge / Daniel Herbert 143

Part III Transformation

9 Second Chance: Remaking Solaris / Constantine Verevis 167

10 Ape Redux: King Kong and the Kiwis / Stan Jones 181

11 Distinct Identities of Star Trek Fan Film Remakes / Daryl G. Frazetti 199

12 Horror Video Game Remakes and the Question of Medium: Remaking Doom, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil / Scott A. Lukas 221

13 Film Remake or Film Adaptation? New Media Hollywood and the Digitizing of Gothic Monsters in Van Helsing / Costas Constandinides 243.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-278) and index.

ISBN:

9780739124888

0739124889

9780739131404

0739131400

OCLC:

233030154