I often think that performances can get overlooked in a horror film as a result of the scares of it. But I do think there are some effective performances that manage to stand out. So, what is your favourite performance from a horror film, whatever your opinion is please comment.
The performances off the top of my head, that I consider memorable and effective in a horror film are;
- Jack Nicholson as a writer who starts to lose his mind in a sinister hotel in The Shining
- Catherine Deneuve as a repressed manicurist who begins to mentally crumble when left alone in her London apartment in Repulsion
- Mia Farrow as a naive newlywed who becomes convinced her neighbours have evil designs for her unborn child in Rosemary’s baby
- Sissy Spacek as a victimized young girl who uses her telekinetic powers to gain revenge on her tormentors in Carrie
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The shark in Jaws really scared me, but does that count?
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Thanks, yeah I think that counts.
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Anthony Perkins in Psycho and, although it’s not a perfect performance, I have a soft spot for Donald Pleasance in Halloween.
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Totally agree about Perkins in Physcho
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If we’re going to consider Jaws as a horror movie, and I’m not completely convinced it is, then I have to say Robert Shaw’s performance is fantastic.
I don’t watch many modern horror movies as they just don’t appeal to me. Therefore, my selections would all date back a bit.
Kurt Russell in The Thing
Peter Cushing in Dracula (1958)
Richard Wordsworth in The Quatermass Xperiment
Boris Karloff in The Body Snatcher
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Yeah I always think he adds something to the film.
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I’m quite a fan of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector; classic performance for such a short amount of screen time.
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Thanks, I know he is only onscreen for around 25 minutes.
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Mia Farrow: “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Tim Robbins: “Jacob’s Ladder.”
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Totally agree, love Jacob’s ladder
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Sigourney Weaver in Alien and Aliens would have to be amongst my favourites. Even Alien Resurrection actually, not as good a film but a decent performance none the less.
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Weaver is so iconic as Ripley.
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The shudder of horror she gives towards the end of Alien sold that film to me more than any other details in the film did. I don’t want to say when because of spoilers, but she made me buy what was happening on screen by giving almost too much believability!
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I`m not all that into Hollywood horror movies but I`d say that I liked Nicole Kidman in The Others, Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later. I agree with mrrumsey: Sigourney Weaver in the Alien movies was awesome.
If you go foreign horror, The Eye (Original version) and Re-cycle are both fantastic movies with Angelica Lee and she is a great horror/suspense actress.
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Thanks, I loved Kidman in the others.
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Pretty much everyone in Rosemary’s Baby, Anthony Perkins in Psycho, Marcia Gay Harden in The Mist.
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Isabelle Adjani in POSSESSION (1981). Greatest acting performance in any horror movie ever.
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Thanks for the comment, I had a feeling you would say Adjani after I read your review of Possession.
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These are all good choices. One of my favorites though would be Kathy Bates in ‘Misery.’ She totally deserved that Oscar.
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Thanks, I totally agree with you Bates was amazing.
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Cecile De France for High Tension; Isabelle Fuhrman for Orphan; Jodelle Ferland for Case 39; Jennifer Carpenter for Exorcism of Emily Rose; Ashley Bell & Patrick Fabian for Last Exorcism
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Thanks for the comment, I will try and watch some of those.
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There are so many I don’t know where to start. Malcolm McDowell in ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Perkins in ‘Psycho’, Judith Anderson in ‘Rebecca’, Angela Lansbury in ‘The Manchurian Candidate’, Deneuve in ‘Repulsion’ etc…
Whoops maybe not all the characters I mention are from horror films, but are just as horrific. Of course the horror flicks I love are more psychological horror, and not just any visual (blood & gore) horror flick. I haven’t seen ‘Carrie’ or ‘The Shining’ yet. But am keen on ‘The shining’ as am a Kubrick fan.
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Thanks, some really great choices there.
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russell in the thing
jamie lee in halloween
linda blair and burstyn in the exorcist
leigh in psycho
weaver in aliens
oldman in bram stoker’s dracula
hehe, I can keep going on and on, lol
great post!
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Thanks for checking out my really early posts Vic, can’t believe this one is almost three years old.
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I saw that! Still holds up lol, it’s a brilliant topic for a post!
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Thanks Vic, much appreciated.
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no prob 😉
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