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Best Performances in a Horror Film

Halloween is upon us! Let's discuss the best performances in a horror film.

Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs

Anthony Perkins in Psycho

Deborah Kerr in The Innocents

Christian Bale in American Psycho

Donald Sutherland in Don't Look Now

Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Richard Johnson in The Haunting

by Anonymousreply 233December 17, 2022 1:42 AM

Florence Pugh in Midsommar

by Anonymousreply 1October 9, 2022 6:13 PM

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween, bitches.

Duh.

Stop ghosting the Queen.

Fuck.

Sheesh!

by Anonymousreply 2October 9, 2022 6:14 PM

Donald John Trump in Destroying America

by Anonymousreply 3October 9, 2022 6:16 PM

Nicole Kidman in The Others

by Anonymousreply 4October 9, 2022 6:20 PM

Janet Leigh's pretty darn terrific in "Psycho", too

by Anonymousreply 5October 9, 2022 6:22 PM

Ellen Burstyn - The Exorcist. She really deserved an Oscar for that.

In terms of just fun, non Oscar horror films - Heather Langenkanp - A Nightmare on Elm Street. There is something about Nancy and Heather that I have always like since I was a gayling.

by Anonymousreply 6October 9, 2022 6:36 PM

Roddy McDowell - The Legend of Hell House

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by Anonymousreply 7October 9, 2022 6:39 PM

There are only three horror movies in that list; the others are thrillers because there is no supernatural element.

by Anonymousreply 8October 9, 2022 7:10 PM

Billy Zane in Dead Calm (1989, ft Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill)

by Anonymousreply 9October 9, 2022 7:11 PM

Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek in Carrie.

by Anonymousreply 10October 9, 2022 7:14 PM

Kathy Bates Misery

Christopher Walken The Dead Zone

by Anonymousreply 11October 9, 2022 7:21 PM

Who says a “horror” film has to have supernatural in it?

by Anonymousreply 12October 9, 2022 7:23 PM

I agree. Most of these are not horror films. They are thrillers. They are suspense films. But they are not horror.

by Anonymousreply 13October 9, 2022 7:29 PM

Patty Duke in the feature movie, YOU'LL LIKE MY MOTHER. Also starring Rosemary Murphy, Richard Thomas (the same guy from The Walton's) and directed by Lamont Johnson. If you haven't seen it check it out

by Anonymousreply 14October 9, 2022 7:30 PM

R12, the term "horror" refers to an unknown and potentially inhuman entity.

A thriller asks as who is responsible.

A horror film asks us what is responsible.

Psycho straddles the two because from the start there is something uncanny/unnatural about Mrs. Bates.

by Anonymousreply 15October 9, 2022 7:31 PM

Shelly Duvall, The Shining

by Anonymousreply 16October 9, 2022 7:32 PM

I’d add Julie Harris and Claire Bloom in The Haunting

by Anonymousreply 17October 9, 2022 8:10 PM

Toni Collette in Hereditary.

by Anonymousreply 18October 9, 2022 8:53 PM

Drew Barrymore in the opening scene of Scream.

I loathe horror movies, but this was perfect.

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by Anonymousreply 19October 9, 2022 8:56 PM

I would say Bale in American Psycho except I dont really consider an all out horror movie, more like a very dark comedy with horror elements.

by Anonymousreply 20October 9, 2022 9:10 PM

Ugh there's an Ari Aster fan on this thread. *Puke*

by Anonymousreply 21October 9, 2022 9:20 PM

Tallulah Bankhead in Die! Die! My Darling!

by Anonymousreply 22October 9, 2022 9:22 PM

Zohra Lampert in 'Let's Scare Jessica to Death' (1971).

by Anonymousreply 23October 9, 2022 9:24 PM

Toni Colette in the Six Sense

by Anonymousreply 24October 9, 2022 9:26 PM

JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist

by Anonymousreply 25October 9, 2022 9:27 PM

Jessica Lange in Hush

by Anonymousreply 26October 9, 2022 9:27 PM

R26, the only thing horror in that was her performance.

by Anonymousreply 27October 9, 2022 9:28 PM

Bette in “Baby Jane”

Anthony in “Psycho”

Ellen in “Exorcist”

Shelly in “The Shining”

Jobeth in “Poltergeist”

Jodie and and Anthony in “Silence of the Lambs”

Sheryl in “Fire Walk with Me”

by Anonymousreply 28October 9, 2022 9:31 PM

Paris Hilton in House of Wax

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by Anonymousreply 29October 9, 2022 9:34 PM

Candace Hilligoss in "Carnival Of Souls". She is unforgettable in a zero-budget chiller.

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by Anonymousreply 30October 9, 2022 9:35 PM

Ari Aster movies are mediocre at best and rely on the talent of his leading ladies for them to succeed - Toni is incredible in Hereditary, Florence is passable-good in Midsommar.

My other picks would be....many of the straight horror Cronenberg performances. His later movies are more genre stretching and tend to be psychological surreal thrillers adjacent to David Lynch films, which I don't consider to be horror either. Even though I love me some David Lynch more than anything.

Debbie Harry in Videodrome

Cast prize for Crash

Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis in The Fly

Samatha Eggar in The Brood

Christopher Walken in The Dead Zone

Other assorted performances: Cast prize for The Shining - one of the best acted movies I've ever seen!

Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist

Janet Leigh and Tony Perkins in Psycho

Jamie Lee Curtis in the first Halloween

Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek in Carrie

Deborah Kerr in The Innocents

Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

by Anonymousreply 31October 9, 2022 9:37 PM

Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby. It's a crime that she wasn't even nominated for an Oscar.

by Anonymousreply 32October 9, 2022 9:42 PM

Naomi Watts in The Ring

by Anonymousreply 33October 9, 2022 9:46 PM

Robert Blake in 'Lost Highway' (1997).

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by Anonymousreply 34October 9, 2022 9:52 PM

I think that Falconetti in The Passion of Joan of Arc gives the best performance in a horror film ever.

(Since we are being elastic with the term.)

by Anonymousreply 35October 9, 2022 9:54 PM

George C. Scott in the original Changeling (the 1980 film that has nothing to do with the Angelina Jolie movie.)

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by Anonymousreply 36October 9, 2022 9:58 PM

It's a comedy. but the ensemble cast of Creepshow is amazing.

by Anonymousreply 37October 9, 2022 10:24 PM

Joan Crawford in Strait-Jacket and that's not me being facetious. Had she starred in Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, I have no doubt that she would have delivered a powerhouse performance there as well that would have easily overshadowed Bette's OTT antics.

by Anonymousreply 38October 10, 2022 3:35 AM

Madge in

Sorry I thought it said WHORE film.

by Anonymousreply 39October 10, 2022 4:29 AM

Ed.win. Mon tan. ez. Jr. in The Data Lounge

by Anonymousreply 40October 10, 2022 4:31 AM

Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls

by Anonymousreply 41October 10, 2022 4:32 AM

Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga in Bates Motel.

by Anonymousreply 42October 10, 2022 4:36 AM

G certainly scares the shit out of me when I see her face come across the big screen- no matter the “movie” she is “acting” in…..

by Anonymousreply 43October 10, 2022 4:54 AM

Isabelle Fuhrman in Orphan

Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd in Candyman

Angela Bettis in May

Essie Davis in The Babadook

Isabelle Adjani in Possession

Deneuve and Sarandon in The Hunger

The cast of The Devil's Backbone

by Anonymousreply 44October 10, 2022 6:21 AM

Tiny Tim in Blood Harvest:

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by Anonymousreply 45October 10, 2022 8:03 AM

The Vanishing - the original 1988 version. So fucking scary it stays with me all these years later. It was re-made in English starring Jeff Bridges and that one is fine but this one from '88 is so much better.

by Anonymousreply 46October 10, 2022 8:16 AM

Sigourney Weaver in Alien

Chris Sarandon in Fright Night (The night club dance scene was fucking hot)

by Anonymousreply 47October 10, 2022 8:38 AM

Susan Tyrrell in Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (aka Night Warning).

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by Anonymousreply 48October 11, 2022 3:18 PM

Lucille Ball, Mame.

by Anonymousreply 49October 11, 2022 3:23 PM

Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project

Lin Shaye in Insidious

Barbara Hershey in The Entity

Dee Wallace in Cujo

Deborah Kerr, Martin Stephens, and Pamela Franklin in The Innocents

by Anonymousreply 50October 11, 2022 3:37 PM

Lupita Nyong'o - Us

Bill Moseley - The Devil's Rejects

Bela Lugosi - Dracula

Bill Skarsgard - It

Karen Black - Burnt Offerings

by Anonymousreply 51October 11, 2022 3:42 PM

Linda Blair - Exorcist

by Anonymousreply 52October 11, 2022 3:47 PM

JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist. I think she deserved an Oscar nom for that performance.

by Anonymousreply 53October 11, 2022 3:48 PM

Vincent Price in 'Theater of Blood' !!! Marvelous movie with great acting.

[italic] Vincent Price plays Lionheart, an actor who specializes in Shakespeare. But he's been getting bad reviews, and did not receive the Critics Circle award. There's only one thing to do: kill off each of the critics in a style modeled after a Shakespearean death.

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by Anonymousreply 54October 11, 2022 3:51 PM

Duane Jones - Night of the Living Dead

by Anonymousreply 55October 11, 2022 3:53 PM

R8 So if there are no supernatural elements it isn't horror? Would Friday the 13th, Terror Train, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Last House on the Left, My Bloody Valentine, Scream, Sleepaway Camp, etc., not be considered horror? There's nothing supernatural in them. Unless you count Grandpa, nothing supernatural in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre either.

by Anonymousreply 56October 11, 2022 4:00 PM

This bird

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by Anonymousreply 57October 11, 2022 4:02 PM

That kid in The Omen.

by Anonymousreply 58October 11, 2022 4:07 PM

Isabelle Adjani - Possession (1981)

by Anonymousreply 59October 11, 2022 4:15 PM

Alice Krige in Ghost Story

by Anonymousreply 60October 11, 2022 4:23 PM

Poor Isabelle, her life was the real horror film. She was the original Anne He He. I've read that witnesses actually saw her trying frantically to get out of her burning car. Catherine never really recovered from her death. They were very close. So much beauty in that family. Truffaut was lucky. He had both sisters at their peak beauty.

by Anonymousreply 61October 11, 2022 4:25 PM

^ that was for R59

by Anonymousreply 62October 11, 2022 4:25 PM

Tim Roth and Fairuza Balk made a corny TV movie about Charles Starkweather

by Anonymousreply 63October 11, 2022 4:28 PM

Vincent Price in either of the Doctor Phibes movies.

I have never found "horror" to be particularly scary, but I love camp.

by Anonymousreply 64October 11, 2022 4:28 PM

Jessica Biel was surprisingly good in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake.

by Anonymousreply 65October 11, 2022 5:38 PM

Hopkins chews the scenery. Sosie Bacon is pretty good in the current Smile.

by Anonymousreply 66October 11, 2022 5:45 PM

Brad Dourif in Exorcist III

Scout Taylor-Compton in Halloween II

by Anonymousreply 67October 12, 2022 12:14 AM

Joe Spinell in Maniac. It's a disgusting exploitation movie, but he's really good in it. He actually seems invested in creating a character among all of the schlock and gore.

Second would be Dennis Christopher in Fade to Black, but I guess that's not really a horror film but more of a thriller about a loser who tries to validate himself.

by Anonymousreply 68October 12, 2022 12:27 AM

What’s supernatural about Silence of the Lambs?

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by Anonymousreply 69October 12, 2022 12:52 AM

What are you gays on about with this fucking supernatural stipulation.?

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by Anonymousreply 70October 12, 2022 1:07 AM

Horror is about an intensity of atmosphere that verges on the diabolical, R70. A horror film can be non-supernatural, but there must be an element of viciousness or gruesomeness that suggests something unnatural.

by Anonymousreply 71October 12, 2022 1:13 AM

For sure, Mia in RB.

by Anonymousreply 72October 12, 2022 1:13 AM

Angela Lansbury in Something for Everyone which is basically a horror comedy.

by Anonymousreply 73October 12, 2022 1:38 AM

JoBeth did an incredible job in Poltergeist.

Also have to mention Anne-Marie Martin (aka Eddie Benton) as Wendy in Prom Night. She absolutely chewed up the scenery in that.

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by Anonymousreply 74October 12, 2022 1:40 AM

Lon Chaney Jr. and Claude Rains in the Wolfman (1941)

by Anonymousreply 75October 12, 2022 1:44 AM

You rang Tina.

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by Anonymousreply 76October 12, 2022 1:53 AM

Lots of great performances listed here. I’d add Mia Goth in the recently-released “Pearl”, which is a true tour-de-force performance—both unhinged and heartbreaking.

by Anonymousreply 77October 12, 2022 2:14 AM

I wasn't crazy about the film's ending, but both Annette Benning and RDJ were impressive in "In Dreams".

by Anonymousreply 78October 12, 2022 2:39 AM

R44 Angela Bettis, good choice

by Anonymousreply 79October 12, 2022 2:44 AM

R65 She wasn't though

by Anonymousreply 80October 12, 2022 2:46 AM

Boris Karloff in "Frankenstein." He deserved an Oscar nom for that.

So did Jeff Goldblum in "The Fly."

by Anonymousreply 81October 12, 2022 2:46 AM

The true horrors in this thread are the tedious pedants splitting hairs over which films are horror and which are thrillers.

by Anonymousreply 82October 12, 2022 2:46 AM

Liz Moss the invisible man AND us. She deserved the Oscar talk for former. Also Lupita

by Anonymousreply 83October 12, 2022 2:47 AM

Angela Bettis in May is a wonderful choice. She made a great Carrie in that TV remake as well. It's a shame the rest of it was rather unmemorable.

by Anonymousreply 84October 12, 2022 3:14 AM

Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams and Li'l Rel Howery in GET OUT. All three brought something fresh and new to the table for a horror movie.

by Anonymousreply 85October 12, 2022 3:24 AM

Agnes Moorhead in Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

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by Anonymousreply 86October 12, 2022 3:26 AM

I second Lupita for US and Elisabeth Moss for THE INVISIBLE MAN. Both actresses should've been nominated. Just shows you the bias against horror movies.

by Anonymousreply 87October 12, 2022 3:26 AM

Some real hit moments by Mia Goth in "Pearl":

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by Anonymousreply 88October 12, 2022 3:41 AM

Ellen Burstyn should have won Best Actress for The Exorcist.

by Anonymousreply 89October 12, 2022 3:47 AM

[quote]Angela Bettis in May is a wonderful choice. She made a great Carrie in that TV remake as well.

Bettis was terrific in Carrie. She’s my favorite of them all, (yes even over Sissy).

by Anonymousreply 90October 12, 2022 3:50 AM

[quote] Bettis was terrific in Carrie.

Uh, no. She played Carrie as a weird psychotic. An ugly weird psychotic.

by Anonymousreply 91October 12, 2022 4:28 AM

As much as I like Spacek’s performance in Carrie, I always thought it was an odd casting choice. From what I recall, the Carrie described in King’s book was fat and had mousy brown hair. Still, Spacek is not exactly conventionally attractive, so I think she was ultimately offbeat enough to work.

by Anonymousreply 92October 12, 2022 4:44 AM

Sheri Moon Zombie in The Lords of Salem

by Anonymousreply 93October 12, 2022 4:50 AM

Zelda Rubenstein in Poltergeist was a revelation.

by Anonymousreply 94October 12, 2022 4:57 AM

Aunt Lydia in Hereditary too though

by Anonymousreply 95October 12, 2022 6:48 AM

Octavia Spencer in Ma. And it's not in fashion at the moment but Portman going balls out 'Black Swan'

by Anonymousreply 96October 12, 2022 6:57 AM

R47: Sigourney, for sure, in Alien (sci fi horror). I’m also adding Veronica Cartwright in the same film. She was very effective, playing the terrified Lambert, a contrast to gutsy Ripley. Cartwright’s dying screams near the end were unforgettable.

by Anonymousreply 97October 12, 2022 7:19 AM

The whole cast of Alien was pretty much perfect.

by Anonymousreply 98October 12, 2022 7:28 AM

Boris Karloff, Ernest Thesiger and Elsa Lanchester in The Bride of Frankenstein

Hurd Hatfield, Angela Lansbury😥 and George Sanders in The Picture of Dorian Gray

Karloff in The Body Snatcher(Oscar worthy)

Frederic March in Doctor.Jekyll and Mister Hyde(March did win the Oscar for this)

Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion

by Anonymousreply 99October 12, 2022 7:44 AM

Naomi Watts in mulholland drive

by Anonymousreply 100October 12, 2022 8:19 AM

Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’

by Anonymousreply 101October 12, 2022 8:25 AM

LUGOSI. What actor has ever been more associated with an iconic role? I loved Christopher Lee's Hammer Drac as well. But the accent, eyes and presence of Lugosi are still what people remember. Something as silly as The Count on Sesame Street bear this out..

by Anonymousreply 102October 12, 2022 8:43 AM

Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . No has presented true terror on screen as realistically as her.

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by Anonymousreply 103October 12, 2022 8:52 AM

Miriam Hopkins in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Anonymousreply 104October 12, 2022 9:16 AM

She was amazing, R104.

by Anonymousreply 105October 12, 2022 9:29 AM

This is ridiculous, Mia Farrow gave an iconic perfomance that is still one the the best performance ever given by an actress in a leading part, she elevated the material from cheesy horror B flick to film classic that defines an era of movie making, and a golden standard for the genre, genre that wouldn't even exist without the success of that movie, that even Polanski credits Mia for. Not aknowledging that shows how biased and mysogynistic you all are, not to mention uneducated. This is really making me despise Datalounge.

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by Anonymousreply 106October 12, 2022 10:32 AM

She’s already been mentioned at least twice r106.

by Anonymousreply 107October 12, 2022 11:00 AM

I’ll throw in Rachel Roberts in Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), which I consider a horror film

by Anonymousreply 108October 12, 2022 11:10 AM

Just watched the 1978 HALLOWEEN on the big screen and Jamie Lee Curtis anchors the film….the entire cast is about perfect…and the film is very simple and most of the film takes place in about 5/6 rooms in a house…so much tension created with cinematography and the music…the 2018/2021 sequels seem bloated compared to the original film….

by Anonymousreply 109October 12, 2022 11:21 AM

Ruth Gordon in "Rosemary's Baby"

One of the few Oscar-winning performances from a horror movie.

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by Anonymousreply 110October 12, 2022 12:59 PM

Kathleen Turner in Crimes of Passion.

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by Anonymousreply 111October 12, 2022 1:25 PM

[quote]Sigourney, for sure, in Alien (sci fi horror). I’m also adding Veronica Cartwright in the same film. She was very effective, playing the terrified Lambert, a contrast to gutsy Ripley. Cartwright’s dying screams near the end were unforgettable.

Sorry, r97. The Genre Monitoring Committee (posters R8 r13 r15 r71) has invalidated your post.

“Sci-fi” is already a separate, discrete film genre, and already contains within it implicit elements of the supernatural (alien species, incomprehensible rules of non terrestrial physics etc). The film Alien therefore does not fall into the “horror” genre. By crossing genre boundaries, your post has violated the terms of this thread, and will not be considered.

Furthermore, for those participants who have not yet seen the Alien film in question, your post contained spoilers, to wit, reference to “dying screams” of [unspecified].

However, the committee is delighted by your interest in the thread and will happily consider further posts following a one-month suspension.

Have a great day.

by Anonymousreply 112October 12, 2022 4:00 PM

112 posts should read MIA FARROW

by Anonymousreply 113October 12, 2022 6:25 PM

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween H20. There are 2 or 3 scenes that could have easily been her Oscar clips. I heard Tarantino was trying to persuade the studio to push her for a nomination.

by Anonymousreply 114October 12, 2022 6:29 PM

Terence Stamp in The Collectie (1965).

by Anonymousreply 115October 12, 2022 6:36 PM

R61 you’re confusing Isabelle Adjani with Francoise Dorleac

by Anonymousreply 116October 12, 2022 6:52 PM

Tony Todd, Candyman

by Anonymousreply 117October 12, 2022 8:50 PM

Deborah Kerr The Innocents and Mia Farrow Rosemary's Baby

Both actresses are in every scene of their respective films

by Anonymousreply 118October 12, 2022 9:16 PM

Two of the best, in one.

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by Anonymousreply 119October 12, 2022 11:30 PM

Nancy Kelly in The Bad Seed

by Anonymousreply 120October 13, 2022 1:45 AM

Joey King in Conjuring 2. Unfortunately the clip is very dark, so you can't see her face (like you can in the thumbnail)

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by Anonymousreply 121October 13, 2022 1:49 AM

Julie Harris in The Haunting. A superb performance. She makes Eleanor as she is in the book: deeply sympathetic, and yet also difficult, childish, and annoying.

Jo-Beth Williams in Poltergeist. She is so moving in the scene where Carol Ann walks through her, so funny when she's turned on by the ghosts moving things around at the very beginning, and, as someone on DL once pointed out, the freaked-out way she delivers the line, "The swimming pool, the SWIMMING POOL, MY GOD SHE'S IN THE SWIMMING POOL!" is so perfect that the audience is terrified even though they already know Carol Ann is definitely not in the swimming pool.

by Anonymousreply 122October 13, 2022 3:13 AM

JoBeth Williams really does hit every part of the human experience in that performance. Joy, fear, playful sexuality, heartbreak, etc. It gives her a lot to play and she finds so many nuances. I always judge performances by how much they find in a role. Can they find a laugh in an unexpected place and then turn around and make me cry 3 scenes later? If they're one-note the whole time, it typically bores me.

by Anonymousreply 123October 13, 2022 3:19 AM

Kate Dickie in "The VVitch." Amazingly sharp portrayal of an ostracized woman who comes to believe her daughter is evil and wants to kill her for it. But unlike Margaret White, she's not insane.

Toni Colette in "Hereditary." Great complex performance as a mother who is haunted by grief for her mentally challenged daughter and blames her son for it (to the point she even blurts out to him she hadn't wanted to carry him to term when she was pregnant with him).

by Anonymousreply 124October 13, 2022 3:21 AM

Another vote for Candace.

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by Anonymousreply 125October 13, 2022 3:23 AM

[quote] Not aknowledging that shows how biased and mysogynistic you all are, not to mention uneducated. This is really making me despise Datalounge.

Whether you meant this sincerely or as a joke, you still need to get a fucking life.

by Anonymousreply 126October 13, 2022 3:26 AM

Lorna Raver was brilliant as the campy gypsy woman in Drag Me to Hell. She didn't get enough recognition for that performance.

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by Anonymousreply 127October 13, 2022 4:43 AM

It was sort of a racist portrayal, R127 (not that that's on her, necessarily, but the whole movie made me cringe).

by Anonymousreply 128October 13, 2022 5:11 AM

Angie Dickinson in Dressed To Kill.

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by Anonymousreply 129October 13, 2022 12:22 PM

Haley Joel Osment deserves mention for The Sixth Sense. What an extraordinary performance. I just rewatched it last night. Bruce Willis was great too but I couldn't stop looking at his hair.

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by Anonymousreply 130October 13, 2022 12:44 PM

Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie in Carrie give two of the greatest performances I've ever seen from anyone in any genre. Laurie is a miracle. She takes an over the top character and plays up all the camp while still keeping her grounded and like someone you feel like you could encounter in real life.

Sissy breaks your heart over and over again in the movie. Her posture, greasy hair, cheap clothes, body language, and sweet childlike voice make her appear so vulnerable throughout most of the film, but once the prom starts and she gets a glow up, everything changes and she's stunningly beautiful. I find it difficult to watch the scene where she's called up on stage and everything goes slow mo. She looks so radiant and happy and completely unaware of what's about to happen to her.

Angie Dickinson in Dressed to Kill is another great one. The entire first third of that movie is all her in just about every shot and there are so many moments where she has no dialogue and is able to keep the audience completely invested by her facial expressions and body language alone. That's real cinematic acting.

by Anonymousreply 131October 13, 2022 5:15 PM

R131, You're absolutely right about Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. Those are two deeply affecting and powerful performances. They have a depth and earthy realism that you just don't see in most horror movies. Their performances elevate the entire movie to the level of serious cinema. Otherwise it would be standard schlock, like almost ALL of DePalma's other movies. Blow Out and maybe The Untouchables being exceptions.

by Anonymousreply 132October 14, 2022 2:17 AM

I'm not a fan of DePalma R132, but the performances in Dressed to Kill are solid across the board, and Nancy Allen, Keith Gordon and Angie Dickenson are all little short of phenomenal.

by Anonymousreply 133October 14, 2022 2:23 AM

Mary Steenburgen playing multiple roles in “Dead Of Winter”.

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by Anonymousreply 134October 14, 2022 2:26 AM

The grandparents in The Visit

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by Anonymousreply 135October 14, 2022 2:49 AM

De Palma might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he usually gets good performances out of his actors. Usually, any issues I have with his lesser films have little to do with his cast.

by Anonymousreply 136October 14, 2022 2:54 AM

R134 Both of them sheep voiced

by Anonymousreply 137October 14, 2022 6:49 AM

R131 Sissy disgusts me in the film. A lot of people think that.

by Anonymousreply 138October 14, 2022 6:50 AM

No they don't.

by Anonymousreply 139October 14, 2022 6:52 AM

Kathy Bates in Misery

by Anonymousreply 140October 14, 2022 7:21 PM

R140, the cast in Misery was pretty top-notch all round.

by Anonymousreply 141October 14, 2022 7:29 PM

Helen Lawson in The Exorcist as the demon Pazoozoo

by Anonymousreply 142October 14, 2022 7:35 PM

You'd better believe the cast of Misery was excellent. That film had flavah!

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by Anonymousreply 143October 14, 2022 7:37 PM

Toni Collette in "Hereditary."

by Anonymousreply 144October 14, 2022 7:41 PM

A bit off topic but I am struggling to think of a time where Toni Collette didn't do an amazing job with any role. And that includes the remake of Fright Night.

by Anonymousreply 145October 14, 2022 7:42 PM

R133, "phenomenal?" Really? Dressed To Kill is a preposterous, risible thriller and the performances are mostly serviceable to decent but hardly phenomenal. Angie Dickinson does impressive work in a near silent performance, I'll grant you that, but Keith Gordon and Nancy Allen don't do anything a dozen other actors couldn't have done. Michael Caine is...Michael Caine.

by Anonymousreply 146October 15, 2022 12:49 AM

Lauren Bacall gave an Oscar-winning performance in The Fan. She even sang original songs and did choreography, all while being chased by a knife-wielding maniac.

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by Anonymousreply 147October 15, 2022 12:58 AM

Gregory Peck in The Omen

by Anonymousreply 148October 15, 2022 5:07 PM

Richard Burton in Exorcist II: The Heretic

by Anonymousreply 149October 15, 2022 8:44 PM

Poltergeist was on last night, and Jo Beth Williams was so good.

by Anonymousreply 150October 16, 2022 2:07 PM

Robert Englund in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

by Anonymousreply 151October 16, 2022 2:21 PM

Donald Pleasance in Halloween

Betsy Palmer in Friday the 13th

by Anonymousreply 152October 16, 2022 3:34 PM

David Hess in The Last House on the Left

by Anonymousreply 153October 16, 2022 3:40 PM

Harry Connick Jr. in Copycat.

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by Anonymousreply 154October 16, 2022 3:46 PM

Rock Hudson in SECONDS

Susannah York in Altman's IMAGES

by Anonymousreply 155October 18, 2022 3:12 PM

Diane Baker in Straight-Jacket.

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by Anonymousreply 156October 18, 2022 3:26 PM

Ugh, STRAIT-Jacket

by Anonymousreply 157October 18, 2022 3:29 PM

Beatrice Dalle in "Inside" - a vicious and nasty french horror film from 2007

Vincent Lindon- Titane- He should have gotten a supporting Oscar nomination

JoBeth Williams- Poltergeist- Probably one of my top 20 favorite performances ever. The definition of charisma. And her an Craig T Nelson are the definition of chemistry.

And my goofy choice is Amy Steel in Friday The 13th Part 2!!! Ginny rules!!!!!!!!!!!

by Anonymousreply 158October 18, 2022 4:23 PM

Linda Blair in The Exorcist

by Anonymousreply 159October 18, 2022 4:25 PM

[quote]Toni Collette in Hereditary.

I'm glad someone mentioned this. I personally think she should have won the Oscar for that performance.

by Anonymousreply 160October 18, 2022 4:27 PM

R160 , agreed. I would have included her in my list, but I figured she was named 20 times already.

Toni Colette in The Excorcist, and frankly Toni Colette in The Sixth Sense as well- its gotten better with time as well-

(And if you ever want to be depressed but impressed- see Toni Collette in Japanese Story- amazing performance)

by Anonymousreply 161October 18, 2022 4:30 PM

Jesus Christ ^^ Hereditary (not The Exorcist)

by Anonymousreply 162October 18, 2022 6:00 PM

[quote] Linda Blair in The Exorcist

The role of Regan in "The Exorcist" was physically demanding but required little acting. And of course the voice of the demon was performed not by Blair but Mercedes McCambridge.

by Anonymousreply 163October 19, 2022 1:05 AM

[quote]The role of Regan in "The Exorcist" was physically demanding but required little acting. And of course the voice of the demon was performed not by Blair but Mercedes McCambridge.

She won The Golden Globe and has an Oscar nomination and well, you don't.

by Anonymousreply 164October 19, 2022 9:25 AM

Lance Henriksen, Pumpkinhead

John Franklin, Children of the Corn

William Marshall, Blacula

by Anonymousreply 165October 19, 2022 6:38 PM

The yellow-skinned dancer in “Dance, dammit, dancer! Dance, dammit!”

by Anonymousreply 166October 19, 2022 7:02 PM

[quote] The yellow-skinned dancer in “Dance, dammit, dancer! Dance, dammit!”

Who and why?

by Anonymousreply 167October 19, 2022 10:36 PM

[quote] She won The Golden Globe and has an Oscar nomination and well, you don't.

There have been plenty of undeserving winners of Golden Globes. And God knows there have been plenty of undeserved Oscar nominations. As for me not having a Golden Globe or Oscar nom, well, that stands to reason because I'm not an actor, you simpleton.

by Anonymousreply 168October 20, 2022 2:00 AM

Ernest Thesiger in everything he ever did.

by Anonymousreply 169October 20, 2022 2:04 AM

Including his embroidery marathons?

by Anonymousreply 170October 20, 2022 2:34 AM

Aleksei Kravchenko in Come and See. Is a war film, and a horror. It's the only horror film that made me cry at the final scene. I don't see how anyone who watches until the final scene could not cry.

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by Anonymousreply 171November 1, 2022 5:40 AM

Shelley Duvall in The Shining Elen Burstyn from The Exorcist Jodie Foster from Silence of the Lambs Jack Nicholson from The Shining Gary Oldman from Bram Stoker's Dracula Ralph Fiennes from Red Dragon

by Anonymousreply 172November 1, 2022 5:52 AM

Cathy Denoove was pretty much perfect in everything she did.

by Anonymousreply 173November 2, 2022 4:06 AM

Was Mia Goth mentioned for, "Pearl"? That woman was fully committed. Her 9 minute monologue and the end credits were something else.

by Anonymousreply 174November 2, 2022 2:31 PM

Lens Dunham in Bedwetter

by Anonymousreply 175November 4, 2022 2:30 AM

Hopkins and Rooker, yes.

For fuck's sake, Karloff and Lugosi in their "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" roles.

Sigourney Weaver in "Alien." (Yes, it's a horror film.)

Supporting Actor? Ernest Thesiger in "Bride of Frankenstein."

Supporting Actress? Ruth Gordon in "Rosemary's Baby," of course!

by Anonymousreply 176November 4, 2022 2:46 AM

Colton Underwood in The Bachelor

by Anonymousreply 177November 4, 2022 7:00 PM

Beanie Feldstein in Bookworm Beanie Fieldstein in that Ryan Murphy show about Monita Louinski Beanie Fieldstein in Funny Girl

by Anonymousreply 178November 4, 2022 7:59 PM

Connie Diablo in Alien

by Anonymousreply 179November 15, 2022 9:48 AM

Male: Perkins without a doubt. Female: a tie between Piper Laurie and Bette Davis (Baby Jane)

by Anonymousreply 180November 15, 2022 10:16 AM

Straight-Jacket had only two good things going for it. A few short but well written and acted scenes between Diane Baker and George Kennedy and Crawford lighting a match off a photograph record for her cigarette.

by Anonymousreply 181November 15, 2022 10:35 AM

[quote] She even sang original songs

Hum, just no. I don't know what it was that she was doing, but singing it was not. Unless you go for "gorilla who's passing a kidney stone" , I don't know why anyone would make that kind of noise. My ears are still permanently damaged from the bleeding of hearing that.

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by Anonymousreply 182November 15, 2022 10:44 AM

I was shocked to learn that Bacall headlined not one, but two Broadway musicals and a tour of Wonderful Town.

by Anonymousreply 183November 16, 2022 12:57 AM

Lupita Nyong'o in US and a little seen Aussie zombie movie called LITTLE MONSTERS (you can see it on HULU) is a revelation. She's so good in both films in ways that are surprising. I didn't think she could do what she does in both of them.

by Anonymousreply 184November 17, 2022 9:41 AM

You know what you look like, OP, with your cheap shoes and your tired little post?

by Anonymousreply 185November 17, 2022 10:01 AM

Lapinta Negra in “My Cheeseburger! Mine!”

by Anonymousreply 186November 28, 2022 10:16 PM

Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive (one of the all time great performances) AND The Ring.

by Anonymousreply 187November 28, 2022 10:23 PM

Thread Closed.

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by Anonymousreply 188November 28, 2022 10:36 PM

[Quote] She won The Golden Globe and has an Oscar nomination and well, you don't.

Nor does Mia Farrow for Rosemary's Baby

by Anonymousreply 189November 28, 2022 11:00 PM

R. Lee Ermey as sheriff hoyt in the Texas chainsaw massacre remakes 2003&2006. He was brilliant, sadistic and more terrifying than leatherface! A completely underrated performance, the best villain I've ever seen in a horror film. Honorable mentions for sissy Spacek and piper Laurie for Carrie.

by Anonymousreply 190November 28, 2022 11:18 PM

With these people? You must be mad! Wrinkly little retches!

by Anonymousreply 191November 29, 2022 7:40 AM

Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic in Halloween H20. The film surrounding her has its problems, but her performance is excellent. She had better material to work with in H20 than the last three movies.

by Anonymousreply 192November 29, 2022 6:03 PM

I enjoyed Poltergeist when it came out but I can't watch it anymore because of the ensuing tragedies of the two fine young actresses.

by Anonymousreply 193December 1, 2022 3:49 PM

Boris Karloff in Frankenstein.

by Anonymousreply 194December 1, 2022 4:02 PM

Kevin Bacon in Hollow Man.

by Anonymousreply 195December 1, 2022 4:05 PM

Sissy Spacek in Carrie.

by Anonymousreply 196December 1, 2022 4:49 PM

Spacey sissick in Carry

by Anonymousreply 197December 2, 2022 3:43 PM

Lupita Malongo in Get Out

by Anonymousreply 198December 4, 2022 2:54 PM

R190, Ermey is a great addition to this list.

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by Anonymousreply 199December 4, 2022 3:06 PM

When was the last time a horror film or performance has gotten an Academy Award nomination?

by Anonymousreply 200December 4, 2022 3:10 PM

[quote]she elevated the material from cheesy horror B flick to film classic that defines an era of movie making, and a golden standard for the genre, genre that wouldn't even exist without the success of that movie, that even Polanski credits Mia for.

So Mia Farrow alone did that? Didn't Ruth Gordon win an Academy Award? The movie had Ralph Bellamy, Maurice Evans, John Cassavetes. I don't care what Polanski says, I would think if another good actress had to be cast, it wouldn't have become a "cheesy horror B flick."

by Anonymousreply 201December 4, 2022 3:15 PM

R200 Does this count?

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by Anonymousreply 202December 4, 2022 3:31 PM

R202 I don't know, I didn't see it.

by Anonymousreply 203December 4, 2022 3:56 PM

[Quote]When was the last time a horror film or performance has gotten an Academy Award nomination?

Joaquin in the Joker 2020

by Anonymousreply 204December 4, 2022 6:18 PM

Brad Dourif - Exorcist III

by Anonymousreply 205December 9, 2022 4:34 PM

Helen Lawson in “I can still hear you screaming”.

by Anonymousreply 206December 10, 2022 2:18 AM

People are falling over themselves this year for Keke Palmer in "Nope". She already won New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actress, and there's the BOM BOM BOM Oscar Buzz.

by Anonymousreply 207December 10, 2022 5:43 PM

I didn't see it but I saw/heard The Joker referred to more as a psychological thriller than a horror movie.

by Anonymousreply 208December 10, 2022 6:20 PM

I had to give up watching horror films when they became such gorefests there were few surprises and shockers.

The Stepfather ((1987) NOT the sequels which I didn't see) is a masterpiece of psychological horror, suspense and terror.

The entire cast was outstanding but Terry O'Quinn's anodyne homocidal psychopath is a virtuoso performance and Jill Schoelen's suspicious stepdaughter is pitch perfect.

by Anonymousreply 209December 10, 2022 6:26 PM

Yes^.

by Anonymousreply 210December 10, 2022 6:27 PM

Camille Keaton in the original "I Spit on Your Grave."

Jessica Harper in the original "Suspiria."

Julianne Moore in "Safe," which I think director Todd Haynes called "a horror movie of the soul."

by Anonymousreply 211December 10, 2022 6:34 PM

Demián Bichir in the television series Let the Right One In.

by Anonymousreply 212December 10, 2022 9:05 PM

Joyce Van Patten in MAME.

by Anonymousreply 213December 10, 2022 9:15 PM

Gloria Gibson as the old bitch in My Bloody Twat

by Anonymousreply 214December 10, 2022 9:19 PM

[quote]Joyce Van Patten in MAME.

Enough.

by Anonymousreply 215December 10, 2022 9:59 PM

Pazuzu in The Exorcist

by Anonymousreply 216December 11, 2022 1:08 AM

Have to agree with R97 about Veronica Cartwright. She took a small supporting role and made it memorable. Of course, she had practice from years before, screaming in "The Birds".

May I also nominate John Malkovich in "In The Line Of Fire" and Alan Arkin in "Wait Until Dark".

by Anonymousreply 217December 11, 2022 1:31 AM

Maribel Verdú and Ivana Baquero in Pan's Labyrinth.

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by Anonymousreply 218December 11, 2022 1:58 AM

Lucy in Maim

by Anonymousreply 219December 11, 2022 2:12 AM

Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project

by Anonymousreply 220December 11, 2022 4:58 AM

[quote]May I also nominate John Malkovich in "In The Line Of Fire" and Alan Arkin in "Wait Until Dark".

On what planet is "In The Line Of Fire" a horror film?

by Anonymousreply 221December 11, 2022 7:56 AM

Donald Pleasence in Halloween.

by Anonymousreply 222December 11, 2022 11:18 AM

James McAvoy Split

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by Anonymousreply 223December 11, 2022 4:13 PM

Billy Porter in Pose

by Anonymousreply 224December 11, 2022 7:00 PM

Helen Lawson in A Chorus Line

by Anonymousreply 225December 11, 2022 9:18 PM

Helen Lawson in “Not THAT hole, you idiot!”

by Anonymousreply 226December 12, 2022 7:49 PM

Tippi Hedren in "The Birds"

by Anonymousreply 227December 12, 2022 8:13 PM

Patricia Arquette in Dream Warriors.

She brought this very innocent, childlike quality to the role.

by Anonymousreply 228December 12, 2022 8:33 PM

Melanie Griffith, Meg Ryan, and Laura Flint Boyle in "The Face".

by Anonymousreply 229December 15, 2022 12:58 PM

Tibia Delvecchio in “Make mine well done”.

by Anonymousreply 230December 15, 2022 11:54 PM

I actually loved Jessica Biel in the 2003 Texas Chainsaw remake. She went way above the call of duty for that kind of underwritten final girl role.

by Anonymousreply 231December 16, 2022 5:25 PM

Tippy Hedreen in Three Clowns you’re out

by Anonymousreply 232December 16, 2022 9:47 PM

Jessica Biel was very strong and impressive in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. I really didn't think she had it in her. Not quite Marilyn Burns level, but very few have come close to that level of intensity and realism.

I'd throw in Caroline Williams from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 as well. She's very believable being terrified and fighting for her life while still having a sweet and fun-loving but "take no shit from anyone" attitude in the first part of the movie. She showed off a lot of range in that movie and was very charismatic and enjoyable to watch.

by Anonymousreply 233December 17, 2022 1:42 AM
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