Although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the Horror
genre has been around since the early days of motion pictures. Now, even though it has existed for over a century, the genre is constantly evolving, with creative filmmakers using their talents to find exciting new ways to scare their audiences every year. In addition to these evolving techniques, another element of horror movies that has shifted recently relates to the way they are cast.
For a long time, many actors typically performed exclusively in either horror or non-horror movies, with very few performers willing to bounce back and forth between the two. Nowadays, it is much more common for popular movie stars to try their hand at horror, bravely taking a dive into a genre they have not yet explored. Sometimes, these experiments end up paying off in huge ways, with prominent actors offering dazzling performances that show off their ability to perform in any setting.
10
Demi Moore
The Substance (2024)
It isn’t too common for body horror movies to become mainstream sensations, but The Substance overcame the odds and made quite a splash in 2024, thanks in part to the stunning performance of Demi Moore. Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging movie star who begins using a mysterious drug that allows her to create a younger, “prettier” version of herself, only to discover that it comes with some horrifying side effects. The Substance quickly proved to be a hit with critics and audiences alike.
Moore has been a household name for several decades, but not for her work in the horror genre; that is, until now. Moore’s lead performance in The Substance dazzled viewers, immediately revitalizing her career and showing off her impressive range. The role even landed Moore her first Golden Globe win, taking home the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, while the film itself was nominated in several other categories.
9
Hugh Grant
Heretic (2024)
In the early days of his career, Hugh Grant gained recognition for his work as a charming, likable leading man in many movies, most typically of the romance genre. In recent years, however, the acclaimed actor has begun expanding the horizons of his performances, making appearances in films covering a wide range of genres. This includes a daring dive into the world of horror with the 2024 A24 movie, Heretic, in which he played the film’s deadly antagonist.
In Heretic, Grant dominates the screen as Mr. Reed, a seemingly kind middle-aged man who welcomes a pair of Mormon missionaries into his home. His true, wicked nature is soon revealed, as he traps the girls inside his house, forcing them to answer a series of questions meant to make them reconsider their faith, all while maintaining a sinister threat against them. Grant’s performance received much praise from critics, even earning him a Golden Globe nomination. Heretic proved that Grant’s talents extend well beyond the romance genre.
8
Willem Dafoe
Nosferatu (2024)
Throughout his extensive career, Willem Dafoe has played countless roles across practically every genre imaginable. This even includes a few experiments with horror, although these are certainly not the films for which he is best known. However, his role in the 2024 horror remake, Nosferatu, made headlines. In this latest adaptation of the classic vampire story, Dafoe appears as Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz, a mysterious philosopher with a deep fascination regarding some of the dark events at the film’s core.
Dafoe is essentially tasked with upholding the dramatics and horror of the story while delivering vital exposition. Of course, Dafoe is far from the only big name included in the cast of Nosferatu. The film features a powerful cast, including Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård. Backed by the inspired direction of Robert Eggers, Nosferatu serves as proof of Dafoe’s ability to succeed in any genre, offering a commanding presence that never fails to delight audiences.
7
Patrick Stewart
Green Room (2015)
When he was still somewhat new to acting in feature films, Patrick Stewart appeared in supporting roles in Lifeforce and The Doctor and the Devils, two horror movies from the 1980s. He then left the genre in the past for quite a while. That changed in 2015, though, when Stewart made his triumphant return to horror in Green Room, his only horror film since achieving his A-list status. While Green Room was Stewart’s first horror movie in three decades, he showed no signs of losing his skills in the genre.
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Green Room is a thrilling horror movie about a punk band who are held captive in a bar by a group of violent neo-Nazis after witnessing them commit a horrible crime. Stewart assumes the role of Darcy Banker, the film’s primary antagonist, and the leader of the bloodthirsty group of men torturing the band. Stewart effectively manages to embody pure evil in the film, making his presence powerful, frightening, and hauntingly believable.
6
Emily Blunt
A Quiet Place (2018)
Emily Blunt has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, garnering acclaim for her roles in dramatic movies like Sicario and Oppenheimer, as well as showing off her vocal talents in the musicals Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns. However, in 2018, she lent her talents to the horror genre, starring opposite her husband, John Krasinski, in A Quiet Place, an eerie horror movie about a family struggling to survive in a world dominated by aliens that seek to kill whatever they hear.
A Quiet Place presented a rather difficult role for Blunt, but she performed it with her usual level of confidence and dedication, allowing both herself and the film as a whole to triumph. Blunt portrays Evelyn Abbott, a dedicated mother who must not only keep her family alive amid constant danger but find a way to give birth to her next child without alerting the aliens to her presence. Blunt captured the fear, bravery, and determination of the character in a manner so compelling, that it went on to launch an entire franchise of films.
5
Sebastian Stan
Fresh (2022)
Sebastian Stan’s name has been all over the news lately, thanks to his recent Golden Globe win for his performance in A Different Man, one of two movies for which he was nominated at the ceremony. Before that, Stan skyrocketed to stardom through his recurring role as Bucky Barnes a.k.a. The Winter Soldier in various Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. However, in 2022, Stan undertook a major change of pace, starring opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones in the gripping horror movie, Fresh.
Fresh is both a riveting horror and a clever commentary on the harsh realities of modern dating. In the film, Stan plays Brendan, a man who uses his natural charm to lure young women into his trap, proceeding to harvest various parts of their bodies to not only eat them but to sell them to others as well. Stan’s performance in Fresh is thoroughly creepy, a sharp departure from the (mostly) heroic figure he portrays in the MCU. As his fame continues to grow, audiences will be very curious to see if he returns to horror anytime soon.
4
Jessica Chastain
It Chapter Two (2019)
She may not have started acting in films until her 30s, but Jessica Chastain quickly became a household name when she received Oscar nominations for her work in The Help and Zero Dark Thirty, before ultimately taking home the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. In the midst of all this, Chastain found the time to lend her talents to the world of horror, starring as the adult version of Beverly in It Chapter Two, the second part of the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic story.
Of course, the role in It Chapter Two required Chastain to do much more than simply embody an older version of Sophia Lillis’ character from the first film. She also had to portray a powerful story about overcoming abuse and fear, capturing the character’s emotional progression toward becoming a more independent person. Chastain balanced all of these elements flawlessly, grounding the terrifying horror tale in a believable story about growth. It Chapter Two may not have been praised as highly as the first film overall, but Chastain’s performance took it up a notch.
3
Joaquin Phoenix
Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Ari Aster’s darkly humorous 2023 film, Beau Is Afraid, is full of typically non-horror actors showing off their range, including Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, and Patti LuPone. Even with many prominent stars around him, however, the spotlight remains glued on Joaquin Phoenix. Beau Is Afraid is not Phoenix’s first major horror role, having starred alongside Mel Gibson in M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, but it is definitely unlike anything the Oscar-winning actor has done before. The film blends comedy and horror, both of which vary from the roles he typically plays.
Beau Is Afraid tells the story of a man with severe anxiety who ventures out into the dangerous world around him on a mission to get to his mother’s home. Phoenix shines as Beau, effectively capturing the fear, paranoia, and deep sadness of the character, while also managing to let moments of humor come to the surface at times. Although it may have initially sounded like an odd choice to cast Phoenix in such a surreal film, it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the part after seeing him in the role.
2
Ralph Fiennes
The Menu (2022)
Many horror lovers are likely well aware that Ralph Fiennes will be playing a major role in the upcoming horror film, 28 Years Later, but this will not be the Tony-winning actor’s first experience with the genre. After all, it is hard to forget his stunning performance in the 2022 comedy-horror movie, The Menu. This genre-blending film follows a group of individuals who travel to a fancy restaurant on a remote island, only to discover that something much more sinister has been prepared for them.
Alongside horror icons like Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes steals the show in The Menu as Chef Julian Slowik, the wicked mastermind behind the events of the film. He seamlessly melts into the character, putting every layer of the complex culinary genius on display for everyone to see. Fiennes manages to highlight both the light and the darkness within the character, creating an antagonist who is rage-driven and murderous, but still undeniably human.
1
Jake Gyllenhaal
Life (2017)
Pulling off a thrilling cliffhanger ending requires not only a great script but a great performance. Fortunately, the 2017 sci-fi horror movie, Life, got exactly the performance it needed from Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. Life follows a team of astronauts who quickly find themselves coming face-to-face with the deadly consequences of discovering life in outer space. Along with Gyllenhaal, the film also stars Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, and recent Golden Globe winner Hiroyuki Sanada.
Life manages to maintain high levels of excitement and suspense throughout, and this is largely thanks to the lead performance by Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal once again illustrates his ability to thrive in any kind of film, whether it be a heartfelt romance, a superhero adventure, or even an extraterrestrial horror nightmare. The final moments of the film are sure to have viewers worried not just about Gyllenhaal’s character, but about the entire world.