Personally, there is no more telling trend cinematically than today’s love with remaking recently released foreign films. For some reason, there is nothing scarier to American audiences than subtitles.

Now, according to the LA Times, yet another much talked about foreign release is set to get a remake.

The outlet is reporting that Daniel Stamm, director of this year’s rather solid horror film, THE LAST EXORCISM, is set to helm a remake of the Pascal Laugier-directed horror film, MARTYRS. The film has been massively talked about among the blogosphere, and has been more than controversial since leaving its native France.

The film “tells of Lucie and Anna, orphans who establish a friendship, until one of them inexplicably goes on a murderous rampage to avenge what may or may not have been earlier incidents of child abuse. The movie was well received for not only its stylish tone but its exploration of the themes of guilt and repression.”

Apparently the original is “very nihilistic” and the “American approach” that Stamm is looking at taking “would go through all the darkness, but then give a glimmer of hope.” And for that, color me completely uninterested. Sure, I’m not a fan of a film completely full of stark darkness, but there is a difference between a glimmer of hope, and completely changing the film’s tone. There is a fine line to be walked here, and while I do have faith in Stamm as a filmmaker, this isn’t quite the project that I would hope he, or any filmmaker would jump aboard. 

The film may not be accessible to mass audiences, but at least give the original film a solid U.S. release. That’s all I ask of the next studio looking to make a remake like this. Instead of shelling out cash to remake it, give much less money, buy the distribution rights, and give it to us in its original form.

What do you think?