Snow White Remake: How A 1987 Horror Film Foreshadowed Disney's Changes

Hugo van Dijk

7 min read

Post on May 14, 2025

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A Comparative Look at the 1987 Horror Film and Disney's Remake

The Evil Queen: From Villain to Complex Character

The Evil Queen, a quintessential Disney villain, undergoes a fascinating transformation in both the 1987 horror film and Disney's remake. Instead of a purely evil caricature, both versions delve into her motivations, providing a more nuanced and complex portrayal.

• Motivations: The 1987 film explores the Queen's obsession with power and beauty, highlighting the societal pressures placed upon women. Disney's remake similarly explores these themes, but also adds layers of vulnerability and regret to the character.
• Depth and Complexity: Both films move beyond the simplistic "evil stepmother" trope. The horror film portrays her as a tragic figure driven by her own insecurities, while Disney's version suggests a more complex backstory that contributes to her actions.
• Darker Themes: Both adaptations utilize darker themes, such as jealousy, obsession, and the corrupting influence of power, to enrich the Evil Queen's character. The 1987 film leans heavily into horror tropes to illustrate these themes, while Disney employs a more subtle, yet equally effective, approach.
• Examples: In the 1987 film, the Queen's cruelty is visually graphic, reflecting her internal darkness. Disney's remake utilizes more psychological manipulation and subtle expressions of malice to achieve a similar effect.

Snow White's Agency and Strength

Snow White's character arc also receives a significant overhaul in both the 1987 film and Disney's remake. The traditionally passive princess is recast as a more independent and proactive character.

• Character Arc: Both versions showcase Snow White's resilience and resourcefulness, moving beyond the damsel-in-distress archetype.
• Passive vs. Proactive: The 1987 film depicts a Snow White who actively fights back against the Queen's schemes, showcasing a stronger, more assertive personality. While Disney's remake might not portray the same level of overt aggression, Snow White is depicted as more self-sufficient and independent.
• Agency: Snow White in both adaptations demonstrates greater agency in shaping her own destiny, making choices and taking actions that directly impact the narrative. Her passivity is largely replaced with determination and courage.
• Examples: In the 1987 film, Snow White actively participates in her own escape and survival. The Disney remake subtly conveys her strength through quieter acts of defiance and self-reliance.

The Prince: A Redefined Role

The Prince, often a stereotypical romantic figure in traditional fairy tales, is also given a more nuanced and less idealized portrayal in both adaptations.

• Role Reversal: The 1987 film significantly downplays the Prince's role, focusing more on Snow White's strength and independence. Disney's remake similarly diminishes the Prince's importance, allowing other characters to take on more prominent roles.
• Challenging Conventions: Both films challenge the traditional fairytale trope of the Prince as the sole rescuer, shifting the focus to Snow White’s self-reliance.
• Nuanced Portrayal: The Prince in both versions is less of a fairytale hero and more of a complex character with his own flaws and motivations. He is not simply a passive romantic interest, but a character that adds to the broader narrative in a more complex way.
• Examples: In the 1987 version, the Prince is virtually absent, highlighting Snow White's ability to survive without relying on male intervention. Disney's remake minimizes his role in the climax, emphasizing the female characters' strength.

Themes and Motifs: Echoes of Darkness in Both Adaptations

The Exploration of Female Power and Ambition

Both the 1987 film and Disney's remake explore the themes of female power and ambition, albeit with different approaches.

• Female Ambition: The Evil Queen's ambition is a central theme in both adaptations, although the means by which she pursues it differ. The 1987 version displays a more overt and violent ambition, whereas the Disney version focuses on subtle manipulation and psychological games.
• Snow White's Strength: In contrast to the Evil Queen, Snow White embodies a different kind of power – inner strength, resilience, and independence. Both films showcase this strength, though through different avenues.
• Examples: The 1987 film showcases the Queen's ambition through overt acts of violence, while Disney's version uses more subtle displays of power through social manipulation. Snow White's strength is demonstrated through her survival skills in the 1987 film and her inner strength in overcoming adversity in the Disney remake.

Challenging Traditional Fairytale Tropes

Both the 1987 horror film and Disney's remake actively subvert classic fairytale conventions.

• Subverting Expectations: Both films challenge the idealized and often simplistic narratives found in traditional fairy tales. They introduce darker themes, more complex characters, and mature storytelling techniques.
• Darker Themes: The introduction of violence, psychological manipulation, and morally ambiguous characters departs from the typical happy-ever-after conclusion.
• Impact on Audience: This shift in storytelling allows for a more mature and nuanced viewing experience, engaging viewers on a deeper level.
• Examples: The gruesome imagery in the 1987 film contrasts sharply with the typical Disney aesthetic, while the Disney remake tackles themes of jealousy and ambition with a level of complexity rarely seen in previous adaptations.

The Impact of the 1987 Film's Foreshadowing on Disney's Creative Decisions

Influences on Modern Fairytale Retellings

The 1987 film might have subconsciously influenced the trend toward darker, more complex fairytale retellings.

• Subconscious Influence: While not a direct influence, the 1987 film demonstrates that a darker interpretation of the Snow White story is possible and can be successful.
• Modern Trend: The trend towards darker and more nuanced fairytale retellings in recent years suggests a broader shift in audience expectations and creative approaches.
• Examples: Numerous recent film and television adaptations of classic fairy tales reflect this trend, showcasing more complex characters, morally grey areas, and mature themes.

The Evolution of Disney's Storytelling

Disney's shift towards more mature and nuanced storytelling is evident in its recent live-action remakes.

• Shift in Approach: Disney's move towards a more complex and mature storytelling style reflects a changing audience and a desire to cater to a wider demographic.
• Reasons for the Shift: This shift reflects evolving audience expectations, a desire for more complex narratives, and a recognition of the potential for deeper thematic exploration.
• Examples: Many recent Disney live-action remakes, including Beauty and the Beast and Maleficent, reflect this trend towards darker and more complex narratives.

Conclusion

Disney's Snow White remake, while seemingly a classic retelling, shares striking similarities with the obscure 1987 horror film, The Snow White Fairy Tale. Both films showcase a darker, more complex portrayal of the Evil Queen and Snow White, challenging traditional fairytale tropes and exploring themes of female power and ambition. This unexpected foreshadowing highlights Disney's ongoing evolution in storytelling, embracing more mature themes and character development. While diverging significantly in style, both versions demonstrate the enduring power of the Snow White story, proving its adaptability and relevance across different eras and genres. If you're interested in exploring the evolution of fairytale adaptations and the darker side of classic stories, delving into both the Snow White remake and the 1987 horror film offers a fascinating comparative study. Are you ready to explore the darker side of the Snow White story and its various film adaptations?