By the time most movies hit the theaters for fans to enjoy, they have had a number of hands involved making cuts that try to make everyone happy with the finished film, including the director, the producers, the studios, and of course, the audience. There is the original script, variations of different scenes can be filmed, and scenes can also be reordered during filming alongside other script changes. During editing, even more changes occur. Horror movies seem to deal with this a lot as it’s hard to please the wide variety of horror fans, especially with too many cooks in the kitchen.
Directors have their own vision of the movie, but studios and producers can sometimes request drastic changes, and screenings and focus groups can demonstrate whether or not audiences even connect with a film. All these various contributing factors can sometimes cause issues that can lead to incredibly different cuts of the same film that sometimes go unreleased and unseen, or find new life as a director’s cut, extended edition, or even international releases that greatly change the film, with some versions even becoming more well-known than the original theatrical releases.
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Dawn of the Dead European Release/Zombi
1979
Dawn of the Dead 
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George A. Romero’s horror classic Dawn of the Dead follows on from Night of the Living Dead. Expanding upon Romero’s zombies, Dawn of the Dead redefined the horror genre for a generation. It follows a group of survivors as they make camp in a shopping mall, clearing the zombies in order to scavenge supplies and fortify their position in an increasingly hostile world.
Director Zack Snyder Release Date March 19, 2004 Cast Sarah Polley , Ving Rhames , Mekhi Phifer , Jake Weber , Ty Burrell , Michael Kelly , Kevin Zegers , Michael Barry Runtime 101 Minutes Writers George A. Romero , James Gunn Franchise(s) Living Dead Expand
George A. Romero’s iconic 1978 Dawn of the Dead was the second of his The Night of the Living Dead zombie films that helped lay the foundation for the genre that would later include the 2004 remake of the same name by Zack Snyder. There are already two versions of Romero’s movie that exist. The theatrical cut of the movie runs 127 minutes and is the one also released for various home video formats. An extended version of the movie, which features several cut scenes, runs 139 minutes instead.
However, the original Dawn of the Dead was recut by Italian horror legend Dario Argento (to 119 minutes) with a new score from frequent collaborator Goblin that was released internationally as Zombi and features a tighter, gory action-filled version of Romero’s movie. This version removes even more of the dialogue-heavy scenes with the characters and quite a few of the movie’s funnier moments, making it more focused on the horror. Zombi‘s success launched its own franchise that includes Lucio Fulci’s gore-filled Zombi 2.
The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen!
1973
The Exorcist 4.5 0
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The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
Director William Friedkin Release Date December 26, 1973 Cast Max Von Sydow , Linda Blair , Lee J. Cobb , Ellen Burstyn , Jason Miller , Kitty Winn , Jack MacGowran Runtime 122 minutes Writers William Peter Blatty Franchise(s) The Exorcist Expand
William Friedkin’s 1973 classic The Exorcist is largely regarded as one of the scariest movies ever shown in theaters, though the cut that most fans now remember seeing likely wasn’t the one that shocked and terrified viewers in the original theatrical release. The original theatrical release was 122 minutes, and is the version preferred by the movie’s director.
An Extended “Director’s Cut” that was also billed as The Version You’ve Never Seen was released in 2000 that featured the previously deleted “spider-walk” scene and included a more positive moment in the end that some fans felt lessened the impact of the film’s climax, but has nonetheless been included in most home releases of The Exorcist. This version of the movie extends several of the conversations in the movie and slows the pacing of some sequences, which is why a lot of fans prefer the theatrical version instead.
Alien: Director’s Cut
1979
Alien (1979) 5.0 3
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Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
Director Ridley Scott Release Date June 22, 1979 Cast Sigourney Weaver , Tom Skerritt , John Hurt , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , Ian Holm , Yaphet Kotto , Bolaji Badejo Runtime 117 Minutes Writers Dan O’Bannon , Ronald Shusett
There are also two versions of 1979’s Alien that have been released. The original theatrical cut is Ridley Scott’s preferred cut of the movie, but Fox released a different version for home video purposes later. Fox labeled the home release the Director’s Cut when it premiered in the early 2000s as a way to increase interest in what was included in the movie. Most of what was restored were scenes Scott had cut himself.
Some scenes were also altered to make the
Nostromo’
s discovery of the alien threat more ambiguous
While Alien: Director’s Cut doesn’t ultimately change too much of the original sci-fi horror story, there are a number of alterations that affect the flow of the film that were made to keep the proper pacing when adding in the removed scenes. One of the biggest changes was the revelation of a xenomorph nest on the Nostromo that appeared to be contradictory to later revelations in the series. Some scenes were also altered to make the Nostromo’s discovery of the alien threat more ambiguous when the original film teased foreknowledge of the xenomorphs.
Related 10 Best Sci-Fi Shows If You Love The Alien Franchise
The Alien franchise is one of the best & most influential sci-fi film series out there, and its impact on sci-fi television has sparked great TV.
Halloween 666: The Curse of Michael Myers
1995
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers 1
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The final film in the “Thorn Trilogy” of Halloween films, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, is a horror/slasher film by director Joe Chappelle. Set six years after Michael escaped at the end of the prior film’s events, he and his niece, Jamie Lloyd, are kidnapped by a cult, with Jamie giving birth during the chaos. The two escape, with Michael continuing his murderous pursuit in this final chapter of the original ’90s Halloween saga.
Director Joe Chappelle Release Date September 29, 1995 Cast Donald Pleasence , Paul Rudd , Marianne Hagan , Mitch Ryan , Devin Gardner , J. C. Brandy , George P. Wilbur Runtime 87 Minutes Writers Debra Hill , John Carpenter , Daniel Farrands
The Halloween franchise is well known for alternate endings and an infamous TV cut of the original film, however, it’s the Producer’s Cut of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (known to fans as Halloween 666) that changes the original film and potentially the rest of the franchise. The cut features alternate footage from the original workprint of the film.
The workprint was heavily altered by the studio to become one of the worst entries in the film series as it tried to make Michael Myers a supernatural killer. The alternate cut featured franchise star Jamie Lloyd in a more prominent role and set up Donald Pleasance’s Dr. Samuel Loomis as the new leader of the Cult of Thorn before his death resulted in further changes.
These particular changes might not be that surprising to Halloween fans considering there are so many movies in the franchise that contradict one another and don’t fit into the timeline at all. The franchise has even been rebooted and received a legacy sequel that negated the events of some of the original sequels.
Mimic: Director’s Cut
1997
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Mimic is a 1997 science fiction horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro, starring Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, and Josh Brolin. The film follows an entomologist who genetically engineers insects to stop the spread of a deadly disease, only to discover that the creatures have evolved into deadly predators. As the mutated insects begin to threaten humanity, she must work against time to contain the new menace.
Director Guillermo del Toro Release Date August 22, 1997 Cast Jeremy Northam , Josh Brolin , Mira Sorvino , Giancarlo Giannini , Charles S. Dutton Runtime 105 minutes Writers Matthew Robbins , Guillermo del Toro
Some horror fans might not realize that Guillermo del Toro directed Miramax’s 1997 sci-fi horror Mimic. The movie experienced documented troubles between del Toro and producer Bob Weinstein, resulting in a stressful filming environment and heavy studio influence on the final cut of the movie. The movie isn’t recognizable as distinctly del Toro like some of his later work is as a result.
…there could have been even more of del Toro’s style in the movie if more of the film was salvageable.
After the film began to develop a cult audience, del Toro was able to return to the movie and give it another cut that brought it closer to his original vision with an enhanced color palette that fans of the director are sure to enjoy more than the theatrical release.
Of course, it’s possible that there could have been even more of del Toro’s style in the movie if more of the film was salvageable. Because the movie was recorded on film, some of it had been damaged or lost by the time he was able to put his preferred scenes back into the movie.
Donnie Darko: Directors Cut
2001
Donnie Darko 3.5 2
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After troubled teen Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes on a local golf course after a night of sleepwalking, he has a vision of a man in a rabbit suit telling him that the world will end in 28 days. Returning home, Donnie sees that a jet engine has fallen on his bedroom in the night, and begins to feel increasingly detached from reality. Scrambling to make sense of the bizarre and unexplainable events that have altered his life, Donnie finds himself unravelling a tangled web of disaster and fate.
Director Richard Kelly Release Date October 26, 2001 Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Holmes Osborne , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Daveigh Chase , Mary McDonnell , James Duval Runtime 113 minutes Writers Richard Kelly
While it is often debated among fans whether Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko is a horror movie or merely adopts horror elements to craft the odd sci-fi thriller, it captivated fans and developed a huge following that has continued to grow despite the many unanswerable questions raised by the film. The movie has become a cult classic.
Kelly released a Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut that attempted to recut the film and make additions that helped make the plot easier to understand. This version of the movie added in a lot more sci-fi explanations for the audience. Some fans, however, were unhappy with the new cut and preferred the ambiguity of the original release. Because of the additional scenes, the two moves are also paced very differently. Despite aspects being more difficult to understand, the theatrical version has better pacing and a smoother story of the two.
Event Horizon
1997
Event Horizon 4.0 1
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Paul W. S. Anderson steps further into the world of sci-fi horror with Event Horizon, a movie set in the future following a crew of Astronauts attempting to locate a missing ship known as the Event Horizon. When the crew finds the ship floating near Neptune, the distress signal relayed is haunting, followed by the discovery what awaits the rescue team isn’t the crew of the missing ship but something far more sinister.
Cast Jason Isaacs , Kathleen Quinlan , Sean Pertwee , Laurence Fishburne , Richard T. Jones , Joely Richardson , Sam Neill Director Paul W.S. Anderson Release Date August 15, 1997 Runtime 96 minutes Writers Philip Eisner
The alternate cut of Event Horizon exists mostly in legends and memory, as the original footage that was cut from the film’s original cut has presumably been lost or destroyed over the years, though recent reports have teased the inclusion of the lost footage in a new release of Paul W.S. Anderson’s sci-fi horror. Some footage cut from the theatrical release was restored to the VHS release of the movie, but not all 30 minutes were.
The cut scenes in question showcased a deeper look at the torments and horror experienced by the crew of the Event Horizon when it made the dimensional jump to Hell, which proved to be too horrific and graphic to pass censors, though fans have been dying to see it in full for years. Rumor has it that the gore was so rampant in the original cut of the movie that it made test audiences sick, hence the trimming of scenes and the released theatrical cut.
Related Event Horizon’s Deleted (& Missing) Footage Explained
Event Horizon’s theatrical cut was heavily trimmed down from the director’s original vision, and here’s what was lost to fans along the way.
Hellraiser: Bloodline
1996
Hellraiser: Bloodline
Hellraiser: Bloodline is the fourth installment in the Hellraiser series, directed by Kevin Yagher and Joe Chappelle. Released in 1996, the film explores the origins of the Lament Configuration and follows three generations of the same family across different time periods, as they struggle against the demonic Cenobite, Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley. This installment dives into the creation and legacy of the puzzle box that unlocks the gates of Hell.
Cast Bruce Ramsay , Valentina Vargas , Doug Bradley , Kim Myers , Adam Scott Director Kevin Yagher Release Date March 8, 1996 Runtime 85 Minutes
The fourth cinematic outing of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser franchise hit theaters in 1996 after a troubled production that caused director Kevin Yagher to drop out of the production and use the Alan Smithee name while Joe Chappelle reshot scenes and changed the movie for the studio.
The film’s screenplay was touted as one of the best of the series and had the backing of Barker, though studio budget cuts led to a rewrite. The theatrical film attempted to explore different eras of the Hellraiser franchise in a non-linear manner that refocused on Pinhead and away from the new Cenobyte Angelique that lacked the potential of the original cut’s linear, action-packed story.
It’s unlikely that an official director’s cut of the movie will be released, but it does exist. The Clive Barker Podcast has a nice rundown of what would have been included in the film thanks to Kevin Yagher taking fan questions at conventions over the years. According to the podcast, the cut footage includes more detail in the 18th-century sequence, a different opening, and a masked ball, among others.
Exorcist: The Beginning/Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist
2004/2005
- Exorcist: The Beginning 0
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R Director Renny Harlin Release Date August 20, 2004 Runtime 115 minutes
- Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist 0
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R Director Paul Schrader Release Date May 20, 2005 Runtime 117 minutes
The prequels to The Exorcist aren’t quite alternate cuts of the same film, though they are definitely alternate takes on the same script and premise that were released separately as Exorcist: The Beginning and Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist. Director Paul Schrader directed Dominion based on a script from William Wisher Jr. that was shelved after the studio saw the finished film.
Director Renny Harlin was then hired to direct a new script that followed the same premise and also starred Stellan Skarsgård as Father Merrin which was released as Exorcist: The Beginning. However, the film’s failure led to Schrader’s home release of his original Dominion film with Skarsgård, resulting in two similar prequel films from different directors that failed equally.
Since then, The Exorcist has expanded as a horror franchise, so whether either movie can even be considered canon to the main story is debatable.
Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut
1990
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Nightbreed is a horror-fantasy film directed by Clive Barker, based on his novella Cabal. Released in 1990, the movie centers on Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer), who discovers a subterranean city inhabited by a variety of unusual creatures known as the Nightbreed. The film explores themes of monsters, both literal and metaphorical, as Boone becomes embroiled in a conflict between the Nightbreed and humanity.
Cast David Cronenberg , Anne Bobby , Doug Bradley , Craig Sheffer , Oliver Parker Director Clive Barker Release Date February 16, 1990 Runtime 102 minutes Writers Clive Barker
The original cut of the film swung for the fences and dived into the monstrous world of Midian
Writer/director Clive Barker adapted his novella Cabal into 1990’s Nightbreed, which explored the world of Midian that was hidden in Northern Canada and filled with monsters that ultimately became the film’s heroes after humanity got involved. The original cut of the film swung for the fences and dived into the monstrous world of Midian, though nearly an hour was cut for theaters.
After a VHS version of the original film known as The Cabal Cut led to the discovery of the original footage, Barker recut the film using some of the lost footage to release his original vision as Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut in 2015, which further cemented the movie’s cult status.
With a lot of smaller horror movies being created directly for streaming sites today, some of the alternate cuts of horror movies might be a thing of the past. Movies are much less likely to have multiple versions released on streaming than they are for physical media.