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Sam Raimi's Ghost House Remaking Anguish and Room 205

by Kevin Powers
February 11, 2009

Sam Raimi might finally return to his campy Army of Darkness days of old with Drag Me to Hell, as our friend Nick claims, but don't expect that influence to carry over to two new films that Raimi's Ghost House Pictures has acquired. They are remaking two European horror films - Anguish from Spain and Room 205 from Denmark. Ghost House has been behind some decent additions to the genre (30 Days of Night and The Grudge), but they've also brought to the screen duds like Rise and Boogeyman 3. The attached names also don't lead us to believe that either of these two will ascend out of C-grade territory.

Anguish, which centers on two girls who discover their lives begin to mirror the plot of a scary film they recently watched, will be penned by Jack Wade Wall (When a Stranger Calls, Hitcher). There's no director for the remake of the 1987 original yet, but we do know Anguish's production team will also include members from Vertigo Entertainment, the same guys previously involved with The Strangers.

When Room 205 debuts in English form, it will actually be called The Dorm, and is set to be helmed by the director of the original film (which was released last year), Martin Barnewitz. I can't say a story about a college freshmen and the scary forces that inhabit her room is terribly intriguing, but I am encouraged that the original director is involved and scribe Stephen Susco (The Grudge, Red) will adapt. I just might have to try and find Room 205 (aka Kollegiet), since that appears to have a bit more promise than Anguish. While I hope these films might be the next The Descent or The Grudge, I'm doubtful. What about you?

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Fuelbot

Hitcher? When A Stranger Calls? Epic fail. Ohwell, at least they're moving in the way of remaking a movie few have seen.
Jesse Gouldsbury

Hmm, I'll probably skit those. Room 205 sounds better than Anguish, which sounds like some straight-to-dvd movie. I haven't seen the original room 205 but from what I got from the trailer is the style seems pretty cool but other wise not like the did much with the story. There COULD be a cool movie with that plot.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I think ANGUISH sounds like a plotline from SUPERNATURAL.
dan

kevin, "the grudge" sucked. it was strictly "teeny bopper" fare. and these 2 remakes don't sound any better. "the dorm" i won't even give a look at........ anguish i have hopes for, but i'm sure will end up in "sucktown". and this may be a little off topic, but: why is it so hard for hollywood to come up with a good haunted house movie?
dave13

why are we considering 'the grudge' to be good??? I understand the original japanese(?) version was better... and as for remaking of Spanish horror films, I'm against it. cause the spanish version is already very good, and subtitles don't deter that much from the experience.
http://thegoremania.blogspot.com jakeg99

Since when has a director remaking his own film been a good thing? I'm thinking "Nightwatch" here people, which coincidentally is also Danish
Jose

Anguish is an amazing film. It should never be remade. hollywood stinks