The Arrow Thread

[nosferatu42]

Just put horror film stars into google and most were the oldies, the more recent ones that came up were stuff like Robert Englund, Jeffrey Coombs, Bruce Campbell and Bill Moseley who are all 80's stars trading off of one or two iconic films.
None of them have the presence of the old stars like Boris Karloff, Cushing, Price etc.
The only older star left is the lovely Barbara Steele. When she goes classic horror will go with her.

[Rik]

Yeah, I thought of them guys (and Kane Hodder too) but they're just B movie bit part actors these days in films found on the shelves of Poundland and supermarket bargain bins. There really isn't anyone nowadays that is as iconic as all the classic Horror actors mentioned earlier

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Rik

Who have we got these days? I can only think of Patrick Wilson of Insidious and The Conjuring fame who seems to be a regular in Horror films right now.

To be honest, I quite like having (relative) 'no name' stars in horror films. It Follows Was not brilliant because of Bailey Spry, The Babadook because of Essie Davies, The Witch because of Anya Taylor-Joy or Ralph Ineson, Don't Breathe (which I've yet to see) because Jane Levy, Dylan Minette or Daniel Zovatto. They all have been commended for their writing, direction, intelligence, the effect they have on the audience, and how good the acting is, not the names of those involved.

It is possible to sell a crap film when an A-list actor is starring in the lead (presumably why Johnny Depp is still employable), but also why horror films are usually very profitable, with many becoming even more acclaimed as the years pass. Face it, when did George Romero ever have the film headlined by a genuine A-lister? Land of the Dead was probably the closest he came to having universally recognised acting talent, but that's not generally considered his greatest work.

[Rik]

Completely agree (apart from It Follows and The Babadook, which are still two of the worst horror films I've seen that are universally lauded).
Don't Breathe is excellent, I really enjoyed it, definitely worth a watch

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Rik

Completely agree (apart from It Follows and The Babadook, which are still two of the worst horror films I've seen that are universally lauded).
Don't Breathe is excellent, I really enjoyed it, definitely worth a watch

I was writing objectively (or trying to) and referring to consensus critical opinion.

In terms of star power, the only horror films which featured (then) acclaimed actors are things like Donald Pleasance in Halloween, Janet Leigh in Psycho, Jack Nicholson in The Shining, Max von Sydow in The Exorcist, Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (and again, with Keanu Reeves, when I arrived at and Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula), Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Julianne Moore and Ray Liotta in Hannibal (with Julian Moore appearing in the remake of Carrie). Those are big studio productions which, in the horror genre, are exceptions to the rule.

Most horror films appear from under the radar with little-known cast and crew and relatively small budgets, only gaining fan bases on the festival circuit, in Internet forums like this and on the equivalent of home video.

[The TENANT]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

I was writing objectively (or trying to) and referring to consensus critical opinion.

In terms of star power, the only horror films which featured (then) acclaimed actors are things like Donald Pleasance in Halloween, Janet Leigh in Psycho, Jack Nicholson in Psycho, Max von Sydow in The Exorcist, Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (and again, with Keanu Reeves, when I arrived at and Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula), Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Julianne Moore and Ray Liotta in Hannibal (with Julian Moore appearing in the remake of Carrie). Those are big studio productions which, in the horror genre, are exceptions to the rule.

Most horror films appear from under the radar with little-known cast and crew and relatively small budgets, only gaining fan bases on the festival circuit, in Internet forums like this and on the equivalent of home video.

Not to mention Gregory Peck in The Omen.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by The TENANT

Not to mention Gregory Peck in The Omen.

That was in my head as I was writing it, but completely forgot to write it down!

Either way, it's not meant to be an exhaustive list because there are others such as Halloween H20, Rosemary's Baby, Jaws and Interview with the Vampire, which all have lead actors (and in supporting roles) who would have commanded sizeable salaries.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

Land of the Dead was probably the closest he came to having universally recognised acting talent, but that's not generally considered his greatest work.

I beg to differ.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by The TENANT

Not to mention Gregory Peck in The Omen.

Kirk Douglas in Holocaust 2000, Charlton Heston in The Awakening.

The universally unloved remake of The Haunting had a proper A-list cast as did What Lies Beneath and Wolf.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I beg to differ.

As I said, I was going by what you'd call a 'critical consensus', not a fan forum opinion!