Neo liberal / laissez-faire applies to both major parties in the USA.

Although, it's certainly becoming less so with the GOP than the Democrats. IE: bailouts for farmers affected by their own tariffs, mass deportations which will affect business, etc.

For sure.

It seems like what's missing in modern remakes is a willingness to try something new and in the present context. But I have a hunch it's less so film makers wanting to and more so studios wanting a guarantee on return.

Good art tends not to work that way. It's always going to involve risk.

A rare film where the remake was better

It might not have been the worm actually. Missing a chunk of brain runs in his family on his uncle's side.