There are a great many horror stars out there who are fully deserving of their praise in the genre. The likes of Max von Sydow, Vincent Price, Tony Todd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Englund, Keith David, and Christopher Lee have all etched their names in the horror flick history books for repeat performances on either side of the plot. Here, we’re having a closer look at some actors who aren’t often featured in the conversation but perhaps should be. In many cases, this is because their breakout fame comes from other genres, but their works in horror truly shouldn’t be overlooked.
Sam Neill
Born in Northern Ireland, raised in New Zealand, Sam Neill has enjoyed an illustrious acting career. Blockbuster hits of the Jurassic Park series as well as the likes of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Tudors, and Peaky Blinders have all cemented him as a world-class actor. Dotted around his filmography, however, are a bunch of horror stints. Daybreakers, In the Mouth of Madness, Backtrack, The Omen III, Possession, and especially Event Horizon showcase Neill’s natural affinity for the genre. As stated in the Paste review, he “seems to relish [the] opportunity to completely abandon subtlety,” which was certainly fitting to the visually disturbing sequences of the film.
Now a cult hit and with a Zavvi exclusive 4K Ultra HD Steelbook, Event Horizon is the perfect showcase of Neill getting drawn in as the story unravels to become a part of the horror spectacle rather than a mere victim. Unfortunately, an Amazon series looks to be on the way, without Paul W.S. Anderson or his star-studded cast on board who enabled the notoriously cut-down edit to still work. Nowadays, Neill is quite detached from the horror genre, going for roles in smaller films, a fair few Australian flicks, popping up in two MCU Thor movies as the Odin Actor, and returning for the final leg of Jurassic World.
Vinnie Jones
Never one to truly break into Hollywood, the larger-than-life British footballer-turned-actor has certainly earned some high-profile roles in the past. Stints in British films highlight his acting career, with Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and Mean Machine being the big three, but he also played Juggernaut in the X-Men films. Regardless, as is often expected of lower-tier actors, Jones has also been in his fair share of horrors, with The Midnight Meat Train being the one that showcased his potential. Drawn from the Clive Barker short story of the same name, the movie technically flopped with Barker telling MTV that Lionsgate president, Joe Drake, torpedoed its release to promote a film that he was a producer on, The Strangers.
Either way, The Midnight Meat Train has gradually developed a cult following, with director Ryuhei Kitamura’s vision of a suave-yet-creepy Mahogany, as the Clive Barker Archive recounts, being nailed by Jones. Even lead Bradley Cooper found himself terrified by the notorious hard man while filming. Jones’ other horror flicks don’t quite have the same staying power as The Midnight Meat Train, but he’s got plenty to be getting on with as such a famous person in the UK. With his celebrity status, Jones pops up all over the place and is now the croupier of a special red*carpet experience casino game. Brought in by Betway Casino, Vinnie Jones Roulette is the platform’s latest exclusive title. In the game, Vinnie gives players the VIP experience while dealing the classic table game. Given his star power, it’s bound to be a hit for the platform, and perhaps even spur sales of Jones’ memorabilia, like the signed print of his notorious moment with Paul Gascoigne on the A1 website.
Song Kang-ho
Long before Parasite became must-watch material, those who dabble in foreign-language films knew Song Kang-ho very well. One of the biggest stars in South Korean cinema, many films that were granted western releases prior to the normalising of streaming featured the versatile actor. Known especially for his work with Bong Joon-ho, some of Song’s best performances to date have been centred on horror stories. Before he reached stardom, he featured in 1998’s The Quiet Family. It leans more into morbid humour, as High on Films outlines, but the horror elements are certainly there, and in each of his scenes, Song steals the show with his ability to draw chuckles from such situations.
As a bona fide star, Song returned to horror as the priest-turned-vampire in Thirst. While the movie could have been far scarier if not purely focused on a vampire, as The Guardian notes, it certainly showcases Song’s creepy side. The flick also demonstrates his ability to play a deeply conflicted character, one who’s now a bloodthirsty entity but retains moral restraints from his priesthood and general sensibilities. The top spot for Song’s horror outings, though, goes to The Host. Transforming from a lazy buffoon to the unlikely hero through the pain of losing his daughter, Song must defy heartless authorities and a ghastly monster to save her. As is often the case, IndieWire praises this Bong Joon-ho film for its commentary, but Song certainly makes it a very re-watchable horror flick. We’re just lucky that the reported sequel, The Host 2, never came out.
Samara Weaving
As quick final inclusion, Samara Weaving looks to be emerging as a potential future star of the genre – particularly when there’s a bit of light murder to be done. After some memorable appearances in Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Weaving remained dedicated to sprinkling horror films in between impressive outings. Starting with Mayhem and then Netflix hit The Babysitter in 2017, 2019 saw Weaving star in the surprisingly good Ready or Not, revealing a particular talent for merciless killing when it’s called for. With the second The Babysitter in the books, the Australian looks to enhance her horror standing with a legendary brand, already named in the Scream 6 cast, per reports.
Each of these actors has put in at least one superb showing in a horror movie while also padding their filmographies with several others. Hopefully, we will see more from each of them in the future.