Okay, correct me if I'm wrong, and I will gladly admit if I am, but wasn't one of the main characters in the original a black male? In fact wasn't he one of the survivors? Why eliminate this from this version? I'm not saying it was integral to the part but why change that? I just think it's strange and unnecessary.
Actually, the original was probably one of the more culturally diverse horror films of the 80s. Not only did it have a black guy(who survived), but they had an Asian girl! Though, interestingly enough, I think the sequel was all white, as well. Though I don't think, as far as a sequel is concerned, it would've been much to ask for. I mean, Roger WAS one of the memorable things about the original. Not only was he a cowardly black dude, but he ran away from EVERY demon he confronted, SURVIVED and SAVED the main heroine at the end. The dude was my FAVORITE character in the original! To me, "Roger", the character, is as vital to what "Night of the Demons" is, just like Angela being a goth, the lipstick scene and the Stigmata Martyr dance are, as well.
this is pissing me off about this remake, that's one thing I liked about this movie, the cute Asian girl and the black guy who ACTUALLY lives!(this is a rarity in horror movies) Now they're white-washing the cast. *beep* Hollywood.
omg you gotta be kidding me. You're moaning and playing the race card because the actors aren't of other ethnic groups beside caucasian. You people seriously need to GROW UP.
im sure it wasn't anything done purposely....people are obsessed with being "politcally correct" and it makes me sick.
If the next James Bond was black, you people would not be moaning.
If you read some of the interviews on the web with screenwriter Joe Augustyn, who created the series and wrote the first two movies, he made a point of trying to represent a wider array of Americans by including blacks, Latinos and Asian characters. He also had a gay teen couple in the mix, but the exec producers nixed that as too far out there.
His movie Night Angel also had an interesting racial touch: an old black lady as action hero, played by Helen Martin.
>> He [the screenwriter] also had a gay teen couple in the mix, but the exec producers nixed that as too far out there <<
I don't doubt that you're totally correct about execs nixing these characters. (Though I do wonder wtf is too far out there about a gay couple in the year 2009? And out where exactly? - my partner and I don't feel particularly "out there") Try asking execs-in-suits why they reach these conclusions, though, and you'll get some seriously fascinating, albeit seriously asinine, responses (I know, I've asked these questions of these selfsame people). Funny thing, I maintained for years that young women make up the majority audience for horror, and nobody took me seriously (nobody in the industry, anyway) until recent demographic studies and audience polls have proved what we, the genre fans, have known for years.
It's a pity that these intelligent and lively posts (and the OP's observation) have prompted some ugly and mean-spirited responses. Particularly dismal are the replies that witter on about "political correctness", a snarkily reductive term that means absolutely nothing - all anyone is asking for is that movies offer a reasonable representation of the society in which they are made and which they reflect. If that's "politically correct", then bring it on, I guess. I just thought it was about intelligent film-making.
I see no reason why people insist that the society WE live in today should be properly represented in FICTIONAL films that DO NOT take place within the realms of reality that we live in today.
Might as well complain that there wasn't a minority in a lead role in Lord of the Rings. Unless you count elves and dwarfs.
The first one was produced by Joe Augustyn who also wrote it. He'd written the diverse characters in because he wanted the kids to be a fair representation of America. Thus there was an Asian, a black and a Latino. He'd also wanted a gay teen couple but that was too much for the conservative executive producers to stomach.
While it's good to mix it up a bit regarding race, I'm more angry that there doesn't seem to be a "Roger-type" character(be him black, white or another skin color). All the guys in the remake seem like your standard "modern horror" douchebags and fratboy types. It would be cool, at the least, if one of the chicks totally FREAKS out just like that one girl from the original(the first one to see the face in the mirror). Y'know, actual personality instead of having ALL the girls act like party girls who think about nothing but getting wasted and screwing guys. That might be a stretch. I've seen a lot of modern horror and a lot of the characters seem the same. It might be so they don't invest real character development, hence they can use what mind juices they have to come up with unique kills and special effects. I don't know. I like it when I care, at the least, about the characters, and they are not these cardboard cutouts with not real depth or likable qualities.
Okay, my question is: Why does everyone have to yell racism at the drop of a *beep* hat anyway? Can't you find anything better to do with your time then to stir up some "unecessary *beep* The remake of the movie "Black Christmas" was also called "racist" because of the fact that it had the word "Black" in it. How pathetic. People need to just get a life. These are horror movies. It isn't supposed to be political for Christ's sake. Grow up and get ahold of your life petty one.
The first film was not considered racist when it came out, nor should this one. It has nothing to do with race and by mentioning it makes me feel like you're the one who's racist.
"You're incapable is exciting me, Steel, except as an anthropological curiosity." Day of the Dead