While audiences have become weary of constant remakes, film-makers live in fear of them - especially iconic 1980s Spielberg films.
Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper's 1982 haunted house movie 'Poltergeist' is so iconic that remaking it has always scared away filmmakers. Instead, they have merely been mimicking its innovative approach for more than 30 years.
'Poltergeist' was released on 22nd May 2015
The remake's star Rosemarie DeWitt couldn't agree more. "I mean they rip it off constantly in the horror genre," she says. "So now we just didn't 'pretend' to not make 'Poltergeist', we just made 'Poltergeist'! Because the younger generation doesn't know that movie."
More: Read The Review For 'Poltergeist'
Still, taking on such a classic role was a challenge. "The original is perfect in every way, which is really daunting. But these are great roles for actors," DeWitt says. "And the script had a fresh and modern angle. The suburb is now in decline, the kids have too many iPads and we have no money. There's also a different take on the paranormal, because of the technology both in the movie and in the entertainment world. And it's in 3D! So there were a lot more reasons to say yes to it than to be afraid of it."
Watch The Trailer For 'Poltergeist' Here:
Her on-screen husband Sam Rockwell agrees. "The original is so good: the acting is great, it's just an amazing film and it had a big impact on me as a kid, so there was definitely hesitation," he says. "But then I couldn't resist the acting challenge. It's a fun journey for an actor to do these kinds of parts. It turns parents into superheroes a little bit."
More: It's Heeeere... The Poltergeist Remake Has Arrived
He also tried to put it into perspective. "You've got to remember that John Carpenter's 'The Thing' is a remake. So is 'Cape Fear'. And even 'Titanic'," he adds. "And it's fun to try to tackle that stuff."
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