Dear John:
You have to see the original to understand the critical reaction, which was (I suspect)mostly from critics who had seen it. The remake isn't as bad as Van Sant's Psycho or City of Angels, but it isn't as good as the original either. Not only has all novelty been lost, but the impact of the story is diluted. Susanne Lothar as the mother (who would spend 20 minutes crying to get herself into her hysterical state), and Arno Frisch as the bad guy, far outshine their counterparts in the US version. I also prefer the German language for the dialogue. Compare the trailers and clips on IMDB to get an idea of the difference.
I suspect that not having seen the original made it much easier for you to appreciate the remake (I must admit that I only got halfway through it myself). The original was made before the present torture cycle in horror films, which have ratcheted up the violence considerably, and desensitized audiences to a certain degree. There is a good deal more unmotivated evil around these days.
"For beauty is the beginning of terror we are still able to bear, and why we love it so is because it so serenely disdains to destroy us" Rilke's First Duino Elegy
Daniel Shaw
Professor of Philosophy and Film
Lock Haven University
Managing Editor, Film and Philosophy
website: www.lhup.edu/dshaw
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