With "The Others" garnering notable reviews for Nicole Kidman as a mother whose children begin to see ghosts, Chilean-born director Alejandro Amenábar seems certain to build upon the commercial and critical success of his 1997 identity-crisis chiller "Abre Los Ojos" ("Open Your Eyes"). Meanwhile, set for release in 2002 is "Vanilla Sky", Cameron Crowe's interpretation of Amenábar's breakthrough picture. The star of the original, Penélope Cruz, returns, this time alongside leading man and producer Tom Cruise.
Films such as "Breathless" (Jim McBride's 1983 tilt at Godard) and "Diabolique" (Jeremiah Chechik's ill-advised remake of the 1955 Clouzot classic) are proof that American reimaginings of fabled European productions are relatively common.
Remakes where the same director takes two bites at the proverbial cherry are less frequent, however. Amenábar himself declined the opportunity to remake "Abre Los Ojos" in Hollywood, a wise decision given that most non-American directors have produced travesties when remaking their work.
Dutch director George Sluizer's 1988 thriller "The Vanishing" ("Spoorloos") remains one of the finest European films of the last 20 years. A complex tale of obsession, it boasts a truly terrifying dénouement. Invited to Hollywood in 1993 to re-make it, the highly compromised, formulaic result was horrific for all the wrong reasons.
Ole Bornedal's "Nightwatch" ("Nattevagten", 1994), was a similarly intelligent tingler about an impoverished student's stint as a morgue nightwatchman. The Danish writer-director was also tempted by the smell of filthy lucre, turning in a derisory re-make (starring Ewan McGregor) four years later.
Perhaps the comedy genre would provide a happier hunting ground for Europeans prepared to re-visit former glories to achieve Stateside success. Mais non. French director Francis Veber's "Three Fugitives" (1989) was "Les Fugitifs" (1986) with Nick Nolte, Martin Short and a dollop of schmaltz. Veber is obviously unperturbed. Next year sees him helming the horrendously titled "Dinner For Schmucks", an unappealing U.S. version of his charming 1998 comedy of manners, "Le Dîner de Cons".
Whatever the merits of "Vanilla Sky", one can't help but feel that Amenábar's distinct originality ensures that he was wise to steer clear of it.
"The Others" is out in UK cinemas on Friday 2nd November.
