WILLARD is a remake done right, if you have to do a remake at all. It takes everything that was unique to the original 70s film, then re-contextualizes it with a different tone. The original film was more grounded and slower-paced, more a character study than a horror film. The 2003 version is a Burton-esque dark comedy, where the main character is mostly unhinged from the beginning. Unlike the original, this isn't so much a descent into madness as he's already halfway there to begin with.
I did have issues with the pacing, which seemed a bit more rushed than the 1971 movie, but the acting is splendid and the direction is strong, blending industrial and gothic aesthetic to perfection.
I did have issues with the pacing, which seemed a bit more rushed than the 1971 movie, but the acting is splendid and the direction is strong, blending industrial and gothic aesthetic to perfection.