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
ckckred said:
The shark in Jaws really scared me, but does that count?
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks, yeah I think that counts.
LikeLike
mikes75 said:
Anthony Perkins in Psycho and, although it’s not a perfect performance, I have a soft spot for Donald Pleasance in Halloween.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Totally agree about Perkins in Physcho
LikeLike
Colin said:
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
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Yeah I always think he adds something to the film.
LikeLike
Terry Malloy's Pigeon Coop said:
I’m quite a fan of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector; classic performance for such a short amount of screen time.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks, I know he is only onscreen for around 25 minutes.
LikeLike
Marcel Urena said:
Mia Farrow: “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Tim Robbins: “Jacob’s Ladder.”
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Totally agree, love Jacob’s ladder
LikeLike
mrrumsey said:
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.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Weaver is so iconic as Ripley.
LikeLike
mrrumsey said:
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!
LikeLike
Kim (klling) @ Tranquil Dreams said:
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.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks, I loved Kidman in the others.
LikeLike
fernandorafael said:
Pretty much everyone in Rosemary’s Baby, Anthony Perkins in Psycho, Marcia Gay Harden in The Mist.
LikeLike
Tyler said:
Isabelle Adjani in POSSESSION (1981). Greatest acting performance in any horror movie ever.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, I had a feeling you would say Adjani after I read your review of Possession.
LikeLike
bakedmoviereviews said:
These are all good choices. One of my favorites though would be Kathy Bates in ‘Misery.’ She totally deserved that Oscar.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks, I totally agree with you Bates was amazing.
LikeLike
GaryLee828 said:
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
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, I will try and watch some of those.
LikeLike
nuwansenfilmsen said:
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.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
Thanks, some really great choices there.
LikeLike
Victor De Leon said:
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for checking out my really early posts Vic, can’t believe this one is almost three years old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Victor De Leon said:
I saw that! Still holds up lol, it’s a brilliant topic for a post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks Vic, much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Victor De Leon said:
no prob 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person