Netflix offers its subscribers a new overview of its 2024 new releases agenda with the remake of a cult film. And it’s very far from pleasing everyone…
Netflix has a lot in stock and will demonstrate it throughout the year. And the platform has already started with the film The Snow Circle which was acclaimed by critics and spectators. Yes, for once, the reviews were extremely positive and the talent of Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) was not erased by the SVOD service. A good introduction therefore, but other big programs have yet to arrive, like the Avatar: The Last Airbender series or the remake of a major work.
Netflix gives its version of iconic films
The new Netflix 2024 releases promise to be very numerous and one of them has just received a release date… but also a first teaser trailer. Does The Wages of Fear mean anything to you? It’s an iconic film by Henri-Georges Clouzot in which volunteers are tasked with driving trucks armored with nitroglycerin. And all this over a long distance with a simply hellish course. The feature film adapted from the novel by Georges Arnaud, with Yves Montand was released in 1953 and so you probably missed it.
On the other hand, you probably know The Sorcerer by William Friedkin (The Exorcist). It is also an adaptation of the work by Georges Arnaud which left its mark on the minds of all those who saw it, and the actors. The filming was indeed extremely rough, but the image result is there. More than 40 years later, Netflix is taking over this work to release a remake of The Wages of Fear.
To pilot this truck, ready to jump at any moment, we will have a team made up of Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot and rapper Sofiane Zermani alias Fianso. “In order to prevent a terrible explosion, a clandestine team has 24 hours to drive two trucks loaded with nitroglycerin across a dangerous desert”. It will be available on March 29, 2024 exclusively on Netflix.
The Wages of Fear remake divides Internet users
After Road House Remake which will be available on Prime Video, Netflix is tackling big classics and as expected, it doesn’t necessarily please. There is only a short teaser, but the fears are already there. The comparison with the films of Clouzot and Friedkin does not work to the advantage of the remake, and the casting is particularly debated.
” We will see what it gives. But given the casting, I’m a little scared. And then Clouzot’s version is so good”; “Pff… another remake. Pitiful »; “Who is the guy who said yes when we said Gastambide and Clouzot in the same sentence? »; “The remake of Clouzot’s untouchable film. But why ?! »; “Luckily William Friedkin died before he saw this…”; “No, just no! It’s going to be a terrible, clichéd version.”; “After Sans Répit, Gastambide is on the second remake for Netflix. It’s creatively sad” can we read on the various networks.
Salty comments, but maybe true? Response in a few weeks. What is certain is that it will clearly not be able to recreate the atmosphere of Friedkin’s film for example, and that we seem to be moving away greatly from the two feature films for something very action-oriented.