Summary
- Josh Hartnett has had a diverse career in horror, from protagonist to villain, in films like Penny Dreadful and 30 Days of Night.
- His work in horror anthologies like Stories of Lost Souls has been hit or miss, with weak appearances and disconnected narratives.
- Despite some missteps in films like The Black Dahlia, Hartnett’s performances in horror like I Come with the Rain and Black Mirror have been strong.
Josh Hartnett is a character actor that’s slowly made a name for himself in the horror genre, appearing in a wide variety of movies and TV shows of uneven quality. Perhaps most famous for his role as Michael Fitzgerald on ABC’s Cracker, Josh Hartnett is a teen idol turned character actor who has shown up in a diverse array of media. While he has more appearances in war films like Black Hawk Down and romantic comedies like 40 Days and 40 Nights, he’s also become popular with horror directors.
In both the movie and TV realms, Josh Hartnett’s work in the horror genre runs a broad gamut of quality. Most recently, he appeared in the cast of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap, in which he got to play more of a villain. Though his recent roles have been more despicable, Hartnett has historically been more of a protagonist or tragic hero, sometimes cursed by some horrible affliction. Regardless of what side of the chopping block he’s been on, Hartnett’s horror movies and shows have been anything but consistent.
Related Josh Hartnett’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Josh Hartnett has had a lengthy career in Hollywood despite taking a hiatus from acting. But he’s officially back, and these are his best movies.
9 Stories Of Lost Souls
2005
Close
An obscure direct-to-video feature, Stories of Lost Souls just barely qualifies as both a Josh Hartnett movie and a horror movie in general. As far as great anthology movies go, Stories of Lost Souls leaves much to be desired, combining 8 short films into a wholly disconnected bundle with drastically different genres and tones.
Among them, The Same is by far the most horror-focused, presenting the disturbing tale of a voyeur with dwarfism who harbors an obsessive, murderous crush on his neighbor, told completely sans dialogue. While this particular short boasted Josh Hartnett in its cast list, he only appears incredibly briefly, making his token role feel like a cheap way to engage audiences.
Though disturbing, the vignette has no strong themes or even a story worth deeper exploration. None of the other films included in Stories of Lost Souls are strong enough to make up for Hartnett’s weak appearance in The Same either, ensuring that the movie is a collection doomed to obscurity.
Stories of Lost Souls (2005)
Stories of Lost Souls is a collection of six short films directed by a variety of filmmakers including Deborra-Lee Furness and Toa Stappard. Released in 2005, this anthology features interconnected vignettes that explore the lives of individuals grappling with loss, loneliness, and existential yearning. The cast includes Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, and Paul Bettany, who deliver compelling performances in this introspective cinematic experience.
Director Illeana Douglas , Deborra-Lee Furness , William Garcia , Paul Holmes , Mark Palansky , Col Spector , Toa Stappard , Andrew Upton Release Date February 3, 2005 Cast Jason Acuña , Naomi Allisstone , William Ash , Nicholas Audsley , Paul Bettany , Tilly Blackwood , Cate Blanchett , Billy Boyd Runtime 90 Minutes
8 The Black Dahlia
2006
Close
Straddling the line of horror and neo-noir crime thriller, The Black Dahlia is one of the weaker films to be based on a real-life murder case. Josh Hartnett stars as Detective Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert, a police officer assigned to the gruesome, sensationalized murder of Elizabeth Short.
Unlike the real case, which was never definitively solved, The Black Dahlia hypothesizes a depraved narrative which may have resulted in such a tragic, heartless killing. Despite bristling with other famous actors like Scarlett Johansson and Aaron Eckhart, The Black Dahlia failed as a horror movie, a heady thriller, and a star vehicle for Josh Hartnett.
Hartnett’s performance was widely panned along with those of his co-stars, barring Mia Kirshner as the Black Dahlia herself. While The Black Dahlia had a few interesting ideas, its overly-complex whodunit narrative fails to sort itself out in an emotionally satisfying manner.
The Black Dahlia R
In post-war Los Angeles, LAPD detectives Bucky and Lee delve into the haunting case of the Black Dahlia murder, uncovering dark secrets that blur the lines between love, betrayal, and obsession. As the investigation unfolds, alliances fracture, and shocking revelations come to light, propelling Bucky into a perilous quest for truth. In a city of illusions and hidden desires, Bucky must confront his own demons while navigating a labyrinth of deception to uncover the sinister forces behind the grisly crime.
Director Brian De Palma Release Date September 15, 2006 Cast Josh Hartnett , Scarlett Johansson , Aaron Eckhart , Hilary Swank , Mia Kirshner , Mike Starr Runtime 121 minutes
7 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
1998
Close
Of all the myriad Halloween movie timelines, 1998’s Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is often considered to be on of the better entries. Josh Hartnett’s film debut, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later lives up to its name by taking place 20 years after the first outing of Michael Myers as a masked murderer, with Jaimie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode.
At the time,
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
was considered the best of the
Halloween
sequels
Now living under the name “Keri Tate” in an effort to hide from the ever-pursuant Michael, Laurie now has a son to protect, played by Hartnett. At the time, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later was considered the best of the Halloween sequels, though such a statement isn’t exactly high praise.
Painfully formulaic, the film adds little in the way of new ideas to the franchise, even if the performances therein are solid enough. That includes Hartnett as the shell-shocked John Tate, who quickly learns not to underestimate his mother’s fears. That being said, Michael Myer’s classic mask in this entry is distractingly bad, which is a difficult hurdle for any scares to overcome.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later R Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Halloween: H20 is the seventh installment in the iconic horror franchise. H20 establishes a new timeline in the Halloween franchise, picking up after Halloween II and following Laurie Strode as she hides from her brother, Michael Myers. Having faked her death and working as a teacher in California, she and her son are brought back into danger when Myers finds her and slays his way through those around her.
Director Steve Miner Release Date August 5, 1998 Cast Jamie Lee Curtis , Adam Arkin , Michelle Williams , Adam Hann-Byrd , Jodi Lyn O’Keefe , Janet Leigh , Josh Hartnett , LL Cool J , Joseph Gordon-Levitt Runtime 85 Minutes
Related Josh Hartnett’s Trap Performance Is A Great Reminder To Watch His 26-Year-Old Horror Debut
Josh Hartnett’s performance in Trap reflects his first film debut 26 years ago in this famous horror franchise, which definitely needs a rewatch.
6 I Come With The Rain
2009
Close
A fascinating multicultural collaboration, I Come with the Rain is a seldom-seen crime thriller made by a Vietnamese-French director starring the American Josh Hartnett while taking place in L.A. and Southeast Asia. The story centers on a haunted detective with a troubled past, played by Hartnett, who is called upon by a powerful CEO to investigate the disappearance of his son.
The resulting journey takes Hartnett’s Detective Kline across the world as he struggles with PTSD from an encounter with a serial killer. Despite already being dead by the start of the film, Elias Koteas’ sadistic killer, Hasford, is a driving antagonistic force, making for an interesting dynamic as Kline is plagued by the nightmarish visions of Hasford’s twisted case.
All the performances are absolutely stellar, although the film often bites off more than it can chew with dizzying imagery and meandering philosophical posturing that ultimately goes nowhere. A flawed product, I Come with the Rain is at least fascinating enough to be worth an invested watch-through.
I Come with the Rain (2009) Not Rated
I Come with the Rain stars Josh Hartnett as Kline, an ex-Los Angeles cop turned private detective, investigating the disappearance of the son of a powerful Chinese mogul. The search takes him to Hong Kong, where Kline contends with painful memories and encounters a mysterious and elusive figure with unique healing powers. Directed by Anh Hung Tran, the film explores themes of redemption and the intersection of faith and violence.
Director Anh Hung Tran Release Date April 22, 2011 Cast Josh Hartnett , Nu Yên-Khê Tran , Lee Byung-hun , Takuya Kimura , Shawn Yue , Elias Koteas , Eusebio Poncela , Simón Andreu Runtime 114 Minutes
5 The Faculty
1998
Close
The science-fiction horror film The Faculty was one of Hartnett’s earliest cinematic appearances alongside Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, proving Hartnett had potential in the horror world. Taking place at a high school in a small town in Ohio, The Faculty tells the story of an invasion of parasitic, squid-like aliens who control human hosts, slowly infiltrating society.
Josh Hartnett plays Zeke, a genius with a rebellious streak who sells homemade drugs. The Faculty is anything but original, presenting a classic tale of alien espionage right out of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies.
For what it’s worth, the film wears its influences on its sleeve, actively acknowledging and even outright parodying iconic sci-fi tropes much like the original Scream did with slasher movies. While the film’s expansive cast might split the narrative attention too many ways, The Faculty is a solid, atmospheric science fiction horror story, even if it isn’t the most unique.
The Faculty R Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
The Faculty is a 1998 horror mystery film directed by Robert Rodriguez. The plot centers on newspaper photographer Casey Connor, played by Elijah Wood, who sees his high school nurse alive after she was murdered. Since its release in the late ’90s, The Faculty has become a cult classic, with many claiming it’s one of Rodriguez’s most underrated films.
Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date December 25, 1998 Cast Clea DuVall , Josh Hartnett , Jordana Brewster , Laura Harris , Elijah Wood Runtime 104 minutes
4 Trap
2024
Close
At the time of writing, Trap is the latest offering from science fiction horror legend M. Night Shyamalan, famous for his twist endings. Trap posits Hartnett as a tired father taking his daughter to a concert, only to be told the police are closing in on the crowd in search of a serial killer.
This time around, the twist is revealed early on, as Harnett’s character, Cooper, is unveiled as the killer the police are chasing. Trap has a lot of potential as a unique serial killer film that puts its villain in the spotlight, subsisting off of the novelty of a unique perspective, as well as the narrative dramatic irony of Cooper’s daughter being unaware of her father’s double life.
Hartnett’s two-faced performance may be brilliant, but it’s still ultimately marred by questionable writing.
While these two elements are nearly strong enough to carry Trap across the finish line, Shyamalan’s nonsensical plot logic drags the excitement to a screeching halt by the end of the movie. Hartnett’s two-faced performance may be brilliant, but it’s still ultimately marred by questionable writing.
Trap Not Yet Rated
Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner.
Director M. Night Shyamalan Release Date August 2, 2024 Cast Josh Hartnett , Hayley Mills , Marnie McPhail , Vanessa Smythe , Saleka Shyamalan , Malik Jubal , Jonathan Langdon , Peter D’Souza , Ty Pravong , Kaitlyn Dallan
2:21 
Related Trap Ending & Twists Explained
The latest thriller from M. Night Shyamalan features a slow burn cat-and-mouse game with the traditional twist ending to go with twists along the way.
3 30 Days Of Night
2007
Close
A simple horror movie with an ingenious premise, 30 Days of Night creates some of the scariest movie versions of vampires ever in a chilling, bloodthirsty tale. Josh Hartnett plays the sheriff of Barrow, Alaska, the real-life northernmost city in the United States which experiences a month of straight darkness every year due to its position in the Arctic circle.
As the city prepares to enter its long night, vampires descend on the town, wreaking havoc and bloodshed. Josh Hartnett does his best as a tired man in a hopelessly impossible survival scenario, doing his best to keep everyone alive despite the omnipresent danger.
The vampires of 30 Days of Night are ancient and terrifying, with pitch-black eyes and shark-like fangs, and the sheer inhospitable weather of the Alaskan winter is just as much of a haunting protagonist, as well. The ultimate sacrifice of Hartnett’s Sheriff Oleson truly hits home as well in the earned emotional climax. Though carried by its premise, 30 Days of Night is a horror masterclass.
30 Days of Night R Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
30 Days of Night is a 2007 horror film centering on an Alaskan town that is invaded by a group of violent vampires. Josh Hartnett leads the cast in the David Slade-directed film along with Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior, and Mark Rendall.
Director David Slade Release Date October 19, 2007 Cast Josh Hartnett , Melissa George , Danny Huston , Ben Foster , Mark Boone Junior , Mark Rendall Runtime 113 minutes
2 Black Mirror
2023
Close
As inconsistent as Josh Hartnett’s horror appearances have been, they pale in comparison to the diverging quality of the episodes of Black Mirror. The horror anthology series telling tales of technology gone awry has had some low points, but the most recent season 6 was seen as a return to form for the show by many.
This was thanks in no small part to the episode Beyond the Sea, starring Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett. This particular episode focuses on a pair of astronauts who are able to visit their families back on Earth via surrogate bodies.
Beyond the Sea
was one of the
strongest episodes of Black Mirror’s 6th season
, thanks in no small part to Hartnett’s incredible performance
When one of the men’s family and surrogate body is killed in a grisly murder, he works out an uneven deal with the other to “borrow” his, resulting in a tense nightmare of shifting allegiances. Beyond the Sea was one of the strongest episodes of Black Mirror’s 6th season, thanks in no small part to Hartnett’s incredible performance, though it’s still only one part of a largely uneven whole.
Black Mirror Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Black Mirror is a sci-fi anthology TV series that shows the dark side of life and technology. The series was created by Charlie Brooker, with the first season premiering on British Channel 4 in 2011. Black Mirror is notable for its dark, satirical edge that provides social commentary, particularly in continuously evolving technology. Each episode has a different cast, location, and even reality as it further explores the themes of technological advancement and its potential positives and repercussions of overreliance on it.
Release Date December 4, 2011 Cast Bryce Dallas Howard , Hayley Atwell , Anthony Mackie Seasons 5 Directors Charlie Brooker
Related I Love Josh Hartnett’s Unexpected New Career Trend After Last Year’s $976 Million Hit
Josh Hartnett may have found a modern formula for success after starring in three straight critically acclaimed projects with the potential for a 4th.
1 Penny Dreadful
2014
Close
Josh Hartnett may be no stranger to leading TV shows, but none have been quite as critically successful as the horror series Penny Dreadful. Set in Victorian England, Penny Dreadful depicts and combines famous public domain horror stories with characters like Dracula, Dorian Gray, and Frankenstein all coming together in a brilliant crossover saga.
Hartnett stars as Ethan Chandler, an American cowboy living in England while cursed with a werewolf’s bite.Penny Dreadful‘s cast, including Hartnett, are able to bring genuine nuanced drama to their larger-than-life literary characters, making their various terrifying encounters seem all the more meaningful.
Chandler’s arc throughout the series is an incredibly potent one, mired in tragedy and bloodshed in equal measure. Even if the series can get a tad silly, just like the famous pulp novels it takes its name from, Penny Dreadful is a masterclass in world-building, character-based TV writing, and above all else, horror.
Penny Dreadful Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Penny Dreadful is a gothic horror thriller series that follows characters forced to brave historic British literature creations in Victorian London. Centering on Vanessa Ives across the series, the show has Vanessa and her allies face-to-face with supernatural entities that will challenge their reality while dealing with their own personal demons.
Release Date May 11, 2014 Cast Timothy Dalton , Josh Hartnett , Eva Green Seasons 3 Directors John Logan Network Showtime