best performance in a (modern) horror goes to :
 

We've skirted around this .. but i'm curious to know what people think ...

What was your single favorite performance by someone in a non classic horror film ?

I want to avoid the christopher lees and the vincent prices so lets keep it on the 70's and above. (if nothing else - to keep it topical within this forum)


My personal favorite performance : Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart.

there are so many......



I would say Christian Bale in "American Psycho".

What 'bout DeNiro in Angel Heart? Neither actor could have been any closer to their literary couterparts, they were both phenominal IMO. Easily one of my favourite book/film adaptions.


I'll add Kurt Russel's performance in The Thing to the list. And if we're digging back to the 80's anyway, we cant forget Bruce Campbell's Ash.

i dont think deniro stretched himself in any way shape or form in angel heart ..

i thought rourke gave an outstanding performance..

Christian Bale - American Psycho

Anthony Hopkins in "Magic"

Anthony Hopkins and Brian Cox as Lector(Silence for Hopkins)


Those 2 and Christian Bale(American Psycho) are at the top of my list. May think of another that's equal to or better later.

Jessica Harper in Suspiria.

Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent in "Fright Night".

Crispin Glover in "Willard" (2003).

good one ... he was born to play that roll ...

My opinion exactly.

I was gonna mention him.


Ellen Burstyn in "Exorcist"

Robert Shaw in "Jaws"...maybe not Oscar worthy but his "Quint" was definitely a memorable character.

i enjoyed Chris Sarandons performance in Fright Night more than Roddy McDowells .. although it was nice to see him in the flick ...

Nicole Kidman was pretty sharp in The Others

How about Roddy McDowell in The Legend of Hell House?

How about Billy Zane in "Dead Calm"?

actually - he was really good in Demon Knight too ..

brought a depth to what could have been a throw away performance ..

..maybe not horror but...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d5...1/martin-l.jpg

max von sydow-needful thing's
jennifer connelly-dark water
morgan freeman-se7en


..it's tuff to pick one i think they all deleivered strong performances.

Have you read the novel that Angel Heart was based on? While it may have been far from his best performance, DeNiro was the perfect actor to play Cyphre. He moves, speaks and acts exactly as Cyphre should. I am a big fan of the the and read it long before seeing the movie. One of few adaptions that didnt disapoint, and IMO the best part was the casting. They hit dead on the money with everyone, especially Rourke and DeNiro.

Wow!! No one mentioned Jack Nichelson in "The Shining".

Kevin Spacey in Se7en (just listen, really listen to him when he says "Oh...he didn't know" towards the end of the movie. The high point, acting wise, of the movie, IMO)

Willem DaFoe in Shadow of the Vampire

Christian Bale in American Psycho

Jennifer Connelly in Dark Water

Sigourney Weaver in Alien

Ellen Sandweiss in The Evil Dead (when she's possessed)

That really sums it up:D

Tom Waits is another good one. I didnt particularly like Coppola's take on Dracula, however Waits put in a great performance as Renfield. Easily the best Renfield since Dwight Frye, IMO.

Joe Spinell in Maniac

Bill Mosley in TCM 2 and House Of 1000 Corpses (and probably Devil's Rejects when I get round to seeing it).

to whoever mentioned nicholson from the shining, i agree that his performance was very well delivered, but i have to say that i liked shelly duvall more. Just the look on her face when he was hacking through the bathroom door, flawlessly terrified.

also, if you consider red eye a horror, through it falls under the action/suspense category, you no that cillian murphy did an amazing job as jack ripner. Of course he always delivers his roles well.

As for sigourney weaver in Alien, i don't think that her performance was THAT spectacular, i think maybe the movie just covered for her. But she is a great actress nonetheless.