Netflix Turns 100%-Rated French Classic Into Explosive Mix of Mad Max & Fast and Furious
And technically, it's not completely new.
Summary:
We live in an era of remakes, and Netflix has proved it once again by taking a 1953 French action gem and giving it a modern spin. Just how good was that idea?
The Wages of Fear first saw the light of day 71 years ago, and it quickly became a classic that influenced world cinema in general and French cinema in particular. The movie was a gripping story of desperate people who were tasked with transporting nitroglycerine in trucks through a desert. Any little road bump can turn into a huge blast; the suspense and the tension were well-mixed with satire.
The 2024 remake aims for the same goal, even though the trailer for the movie looks like the suspense and satire were also sprinkled with everything we love-hate Fast and Furious for.
Meanwhile, when it comes to visuals, one can't help but compare The Wages of Fear to Mad Max, because it all checks out: sandy desolation? Check. Despair? Check. Life-threatening car races? Check!
We're not the only ones who noticed.
"Sad this is trying to be a generic action thriller but thankfully 'The Wages of Fear' will forever be one of the most intense, nail-biting films I'll ever see," said YouTube user niptuck117.
Some people only have hope for the new Netflix remake to at least draw more attention to the classics — not only the 1953's The Wages of Fear, but also the 1977 US movie Sorcerer, which is also adapted from this story.
The Wages of Fear: Back to the Roots
The Wages of Fear was first published in 1950, penned by Henri Girard who used the pseudonym Georges Arnaud. The book told about desperate men with nothing to lose, so a ride on nitroglycerine-laden trucks to stop the fire in one of the huge oil corporation's well is nothing for them.
As we already mentioned, the book was adapted twice, and both adaptations were highly acclaimed. The Wages of Fear (1953) won a Golden Bear at 3rd Berlin International Film Festival, as well as Palme d'Or in Cannes and Best Film at 8th British Academy Film Awards.
Meanwhile, Sorcerer (1977) was initially met coldly, gaining negative reviews and underperforming in box office. However, the failure was most likely due to the fact that Sorcerer hit theaters almost at the same time with pop culture phenomenon Star Wars. Later, the movie got a second life and critics admitted they may have overlooked a masterpiece.
The Wages of Fear boasts a rare 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes with the audience giving it 95%, while Sorcerer enjoys its decent 82% and 84% respectively.
Where to Watch The Wages of Fear?
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Netflix's questionable attempt at joining the club is yet to receive its Rotten Tomatoes score. If you want to make your own mind up about the new adaptation, The Wages of Fear (2024) lands on Netflix on March 29.
If you want to check out the 1953 original, you can stream it on Max or rent it on Apple TV for $3.99. Sorcerer (1977) is only available for rent on Apple TV, for the same price.