It's easy to get cynical about remakes, but there's a silver lining to the phenomenon: Some of them are actually good.

Though the frequency of remaking films has definitely increased in recent years, filmmakers have dabbled in it for decades, and the horror genre has proven to be particularly fertile ground. Sometimes these remakes export foreign horror hits and Americanize them; sometimes they update classic stories with scarier, more modern monsters and visual effects; and sometimes they just cash in on nostalgia and timeless stories. Whatever the reason, though we often get sick of them, we do sometimes at least get a remake or two that's entertaining in its own right. Sometimes we even get something better.

So, for the 13th installment in our 31 Days of Halloween series of features, we present 19 horror remakes -- from Japanese exports to revamped villains to compelling new versions of iconic characters -- that are actually worth a look this Halloween. Check out the gallery below, and let us know what your favorite horror remake is.