TobeHooper

Remakes of classic horror films are a divisive subject among horror fans. While some consider them nothing more than a harmless nuisance, others are far more passionate in their vitriol for what some claim to be the desecration of classic films. While I personally don't like the idea of a remakes -- only because the time and money could be better spent making original films -- their existence is merely a blip on my radar.

Those with the opposing viewpoint, however, might be happy to learn that Arrow in the Head reported that MGM has delayed the remake of the classic Tobe Hooper-directed Poltergeist until the less-than-specific date of 2011. This changes the original November 24th, 2010 date reported in August. The cause for the delay is unknown.

In the case of this remake, I can understand why people would be upset. The original Poltergeist, released in 1982, is a phenomenal and terrifying film, and was nominated for three academy awards to boot. Not much can be added to the film to improve upon it, but we'll just have to wait and see as more news gets released.

The remake will be directed by Vadim Perelman, who directed 2003's The House of Sand and Fog, and penned by Juliet Snowden and Stiles White, the scribes behind Knowing and Boogeyman. No one has been cast to star, but I have my money on Nic Cage as the father and Dakota Fanning as Carol Anne. Wouldn't that be swell?

Sorry, as much fun as it would be to see the bearded Texas Chainsaw Massacre originator rock a cover to 'More Human Than Human', I regret to inform you that Tobe Hooper is not out to revive the Rob Zombie band that died out a decade ago. Instead Hooper is reaching back nearly 8 decades for the inspiration to remake White Zombie, the 1932 film Rob Zombie loved enough to name his band after. According to Shock, that is, who has been hearing word of Hooper's interest in taking the director's seat for a remake produced by The Haunting in Connecticut exec Steve Whitney.

The Victor Halperin directed original about an engaged couple who fall prey to a wealthy man's ill-conceived wife snatching plot is fitting source material for Hooper, who has always favored family centered horror. There is no word yet on whether a Hooper led White Zombie will keep the Haitian setting or opt for a distinctly more American backdrop for the tale of a jealous man who employs a witch doctor to make a zombie out of his unrequited love. There's also no hints as to who Hooper could find to fill the shoes of genre legend Bela Lugosi, but I'd like to just toss out Benecio Del Toro. He's already busy revisiting a popular monster from the black and white era, why not just give him the set?