Actors known best for their comedic work are surprisingly effective at transforming into sinister characters in various horror films. Many comedic actors have had roles in horror films and have starred in the best horror comedies, but few have taken on the responsibility of playing twisted villains themselves. While an outstanding horror performance is impressive on its own, the added factor of it being carried out by a comedic actor makes it wonderfully unexpected.
It can certainly be jarring at first to see someone like Robin Williams or John Goodman play a character so menacing and contradictory to the lighthearted, humorous characters they’ve become known for. Once these initial feelings pass, it isn’t long until the talented actors secure the audience’s attention and successfully convince them of their frightening on-screen motives.
10
Kristen Wiig In Mother! (2017)
As herald
Pulling inspiration from the Bible, Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! became a divisive physiological horror film among critics and audiences alike. Like much of Aronofsky’s work, the film was never promised to be an easy one for audiences to digest. The film opens with a married couple, simply known as mother (Jennifer Lawrence) and Him (Javier Bardem). Soon enough, the couple’s idyllic life gets turned upside down when strangers arrive at their front door.
One of the supporting characters in the film is Him’s publicist, herald, played by Kristen Wiig. Earning fame during her time on Saturday Night Live, much of Wiig’s career has been centered around comedy, with the actor starring in celebrated films like Bridesmaids and The Diary of a Teenage Girl. Wiig, with a minor role in Mother!, still impresses with her ability to frighten and take command of the screen.
9
John Lithgow In Raising Cain (1992)
As Dr. Carter Nix
Brian De Palma and John Lithgow have collaborated a few times throughout the years, including in the psychological horror film Raising Cain. Lithgow leads the film as child psychologist Dr. Carter Nix, a man who harbors a dark secret throughout the film. Diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, one of Carter’s many alternate personalities is particularly violent and causes multiple disturbances.
Lithgow’s ability to seamlessly move between each of Carter’s personas is effectively chilling, and his performance remains a highlight of the film, even though the overall response to Raising Cain has been mixed over the years. Following the film’s release, Lithgow earned critical acclaim for his performance as Dick Solomon in the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, though the actor’s career would get more diverse as the years passed. Still, Lithgow isn’t an obvious choice for the role of Raising Cain‘s antagonist, but he successfully makes the character his own.
8
Nicolas Cage In Mandy (2018)
As Red Miller
Though it failed at the box office, Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy did earn a positive response from critics, with many noting the film’s visual style and action sequences. Another redeeming part of the action horror film is Nicolas Cage’s performance as Red Miller. Following the murder of his girlfriend at the hands of a cult, Red sets out on a relentless path of revenge, seeking out every individual responsible.
By the film’s 2018 release, Cage had already starred in horror films, some being more positively received than others, and had become recognized as a versatile actor. However, it’s his work in Mandy that helped reassure audiences of the actor’s abilities in the horror genre. With Cosmatos’ distinct visual style, Cage is given room to truly let loose, and he doesn’t let the opportunity get by. Cage’s intensity and on-screen rage is a stark contrast from the actor’s earlier work in comedies like Valley Girl and Raising Arizona.
7
Toni Collette In Hereditary (2018)
As Annie Graham
As Ari Aster’s feature directorial debut, Hereditary tells the story of a grieving family hit with one sinister tragedy after another, following the death of their grandmother. The Graham family consists of parents Annie and Steve, and siblings Peter and Charlie. It is Annie, portrayed by Toni Collette, who loses her mother at the beginning of the film, and she spends the rest of the movie grieving and uncovering dark secrets about her mother that threaten her family’s safety.
Making her film debut in 1992, Collette quickly earned lots of attention for her comedic talents. Her breakthrough in the industry came early in her career with the Australian comedy Muriel’s Wedding, where she played the socially awkward title character looking for a greater life outside her hometown. In Hereditary, Collette’s signature charm is absent, and she completely transforms. The actor pulls from her experience in drama films for Annie’s inevitable, gradual breakdown and outright frightens audiences in the process.
6
Mark Duplass In Creep (2014)
As Josef
The found footage filmmaking technique in horror films is one of the more creative ways to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Such a technique is used in Patrick Brice’s Creep, starring Brice and Mark Duplass. In the film, a videographer (Brice) takes a job for a client (Duplass) who claims he wants to start a video diary for his unborn child as he’s expected to die from a brain tumor before the birth.
While the details of his true nature are not explicitly obvious, it’s clear the bizarre behavior of Duplass’ Josef is merely a cover-up for his darker motives. Still, Duplass’ memorable horror performance keeps audiences hooked until the film’s shocking ending. Though Duplass is now mostly known for his involvement in the Creep franchise, he was a familiar face in comedy projects before 2014, starring in True Adolescents and the FX sitcom The League.
5
Hugh Grant In Heretic (2024)
As Mr. Reed
A newer horror release, Heretic solidifies Hugh Grant as a powerful movie villain. The film sees Grant’s Mr. Reed invite two young missionaries into his home to unknowingly participate in his twisted series of stunts meant to put the women’s belief in God to the test. The film is thought-provoking and explores fascinating themes about religion and spirituality that are likely to prompt audiences to bring their own beliefs into question.
Audiences are also guaranteed to be entertained by Grant’s terrifying performance. Grant’s career is largely defined by his romantic comedy roles in films such as Notting Hill, About a Boy, and Love Actually. Even in the actor’s more dramatic projects, it’s not uncommon to see Grant inject a bit of playful humor into his character. This makes his performance in Heretic unexpected, but satisfying nonetheless.
4
John Goodman In 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
As Howard Stambler
Though it partly shares a name with 2008’s Cloverfield, Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane is not a direct sequel. Instead, the film sees Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Michelle greeted by a strange man (John Goodman) after waking up in his bunker and being informed of a dangerous apocalyptic attack taking place above them. Goodman’s Howard quickly becomes a suspicious figure and creates an uneasy feeling that rarely lets up throughout the film.
The incessant claustrophobic atmosphere throughout the film and Goodman’s unnerving performance help turn 10 Cloverfield Lane into one of the best psychological thrillers of the past decade. As a beloved actor, it’s not surprising to see Goodman as sharp as ever, keeping audiences on their toes with Howard’s unpredictable behavior. It’s merely shocking to see Goodman as such a sinister figure that differs vastly from the likable, humorous characters he’s predominately known for in Roseanne, The Big Lebowski, and Monsters, Inc.
3
Leslie Nielsen In Creepshow (1982)
As Richard Vickers
Being one of the many horror movies inspired by Tales from the Crypt, George A. Romero’s anthology film Creepshow boasts memorable performances and is led by a handful of iconic names in the horror genre. Written by Stephen King, the film consists of five short stories, both original narratives and those adapted from King’s work, each paying homage to classic horror comics of the 1950s. One of the film’s stories, “Something to Tide You Over,” stars comedy actor Leslie Nielsen.
Nielsen plays Richard Vickers in Creepshow, whose twisted revenge plan leads him to lure the man his wife is having an affair with to an isolated beach house. While simultaneously rooting for Richard’s demise, most audiences can’t help but be utterly captivated by the character, thanks to Nielsen’s unforgettable performance. Despite being mostly known for his dramatic work around the time of Creepshow‘s release, Nielsen would soon become a spoof movie icon.
2
Kathy Bates In Misery (1990)
As Annie Wilkes
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Misery follows an obsessive fan (Kathy Bates) of author Paul Sheldon as she keeps him held captive in her remote home until his rewrite of his latest novel is up to her standards. The motives of Bates’ Annie Wilkes brilliantly switch from those of a nurturing caregiver to those of a hostile captor who comes to realize her power over the helpless author.
Misery is incessantly chilling and claustrophobic, with the weight of its disturbing depiction of obsession placed on Bates’ shoulders. Luckily, Bates is more than fit for the role. Known for her range as an actor, many of Bates’ best-known movies still place her in heartwarming, fan-favorite films like Fried Green Tomatoes and Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, making Misery‘s Annie Wilkes an exciting change of pace in Bates’ career.
1
Robin Williams In One Hour Photo (2002)
As Sy Parrish
Remembered most by fans of Robin Williams, One Hour Photo is a psychological thriller that has been somewhat buried underneath the actor’s well-known comedy films. Working well within the horror genre, the Williams-led film follows a photo technician who gradually develops an unhealthy obsession with his favorite customers. The photo technician’s behavior is creepy, even when he’s acting with good intentions, and audiences have no problem accepting Williams in the role, despite his strong ties to comedy.
Much of Williams’ filmography is marked by his talents as a comedian, giving life to iconic characters in pop culture, such as Aladdin‘s Genie and Mrs. Doubtfire‘s titular nanny. Still, even among his other notable ventures into serious work (Insomnia and Dead Poets Society), One Hour Photo features Williams’ best performance outside of comedy. The friendly, larger-than-life persona audiences frequently associate with Williams is nonexistent in the actor’s Sy Parrish.
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