There are movies that, over time, become dated and irrelevant. Then there are other films that become more relevant over the years. Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil is a film that is much beloved by film fans, but is actually ripe for a remake, not merely due to its crackerjack story and interesting characters, but because of its thematic content.
With each election cycle, the topic of illegal immigration becomes more and more central to various campaigns. Should we have harsher border security? What do we do with the undocumented immigrants that are already here? These questions and more are asked by politicians and pundits alike, and nobody seems to have an answer that really seems like it will work. This frustration would translate well into a Touch of Evil remake, as a corrupt white cop in a border town butts heads with an upright Mexican drug enforcement agent. The racial tension extends beyond the two central characters to touch every aspect of the story, providing a suspense-charged story where anything can happen.
In the hands of the right director, with the right cast, this could make for a fascinating retelling. Here’s what I think could work the best:
Ever thought of doing a companion series with current films reimagined as classics?