Not long ago, we reported that Sam Raimi would be heading to Michigan to produce a film either being called Room 205 or The Dorm. Sadly, we didn’t go into much elaboration because the story was about Michigan and not horror remakes, but now its time has come.
Variety is reporting on The Dorm and another remake based on the Spanish 80s flick Anguish that Raimi is looking to tackle through Ghost House Pictures. I’ve got my fingers crossed that both trailers will feature “From the makers of The Grudge and The Grudge 2” somewhere.
The plot to Anguish involves two girls who watch a scary movie and slowly realize that their lives start to mimic elements of the movie until, you freaking guessed it, they are in the world of the movie. This was done to some degree in several other horror films, but perhaps mastered in a rather poignant episode of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” entitled ‘The Tale of the Midnight Madness,’ after which I remember answering the rhetorical question of the show’s title in the affirmative. Nosferatu comes right out of the movie screen! And I was 11 at the time! Tell me you wouldn’t have turned your Glow Worm Nite Lite on, too. You would have.
Room 205, as you may know, is originally from Denmark, and the original director Martin Barnewitz will helm the American remake. Basically, a girl moves into a new dorm room at college and realizes that the evil, haunting forces living there may be more formidable an adjustment than the Freshman Fifteen. The original is admittedly pretty horrible, although that’s just one man’s humble opinion (mine). But it is low budget. The concept isn’t tragically bad, but the Danish original is lacking in decent acting talent. I’m sure Robert Fure will probably disagree with me because he enjoys Danish horror and being wrong.
Stephen Susco (From the writer of The Grudge and The Grudge 2!) is penning the script for The Dorm. Jake Wade Wall (From the writer of When a Stranger Calls!) is writing the adaptation for Anguish.
What do you think? Has anyone out there seen Anguish to tell me whether the original is good or not? Just glad they aren’t going back to Japan? Or were you hoping for a Noriko’s Dinner Table American remake? Me too.