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10 Actors You Never Expected to be Villains

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Most actors fall into a typecast.  Based on looks, acting skills, and presence, an actor will either generally be cast as a “good guy” or a “bad guy”.

Every once in awhile, Hollywood surprises the audience, by taking an actor normally thought of as the protagonist, or hero, and casting them as the villain.  These surprises are normally found in horror films or thrillers, because they usually provide an extra shock to a plot twist.

In honor of actors who have broken their own mold, here is our list of 10 actors who unexpectedly became our memorable villains.  Be warned, there may be plot spoilers.

#10 Orlando Bloom-‘The Good Doctor’

Due to his boyish good looks, and natural charm, Orlando Bloom normally plays our heartbreaking good guy.  He saves the day in films like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘The Three Musketeers’, and the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.

However, in ‘The Good Doctor’, he does quite the opposite.  In this 2011 indie film, Bloom plays Dr. Martin Blake who meets an 18-year-old patient named Diane, suffering from a kidney infection, and gets a much-needed boost of self-esteem. However, when her health starts improving, Martin fears losing her, so he begins tampering with her treatment, keeping Diane sick and in the hospital right next to him.  Bloom does a wonderful job turning his boyish good looks into a creepy accessory.

#9 Matthew McConaughey-‘Frailty’

McConaughey is known for his charismatic smile, smooth humor, and fit physique, which leads to heroic roles in movies such as ‘Sahara’, ‘Contact’, and the recently award winning ‘Dallas Buyers Club’.  His roles are usually smart, suave men, who through intelligence and strength, win the day.

In ‘Frailty’, the viewer sees a whole different side to McConaughey.  McConaughey plays the lead role of Fenton Meiks, a man who confesses to an FBI agent his family’s story of how his religious fanatic father’s visions lead to a series of murders to destroy supposed “demons.”  What the viewer gets to see is a dark, seedy, and deeply disturbed character from McConaughey.  One with as much depth as his heroic roles.

#8 Leslie Nielsen-‘Creepshow’

We all remember Leslie Nielsen for his goofy and slapstick roles in ‘Naked Gun’, ‘Airplane!’, and ‘Dracula Dead and Loving It’.

What viewers were surprised to discover, was that Nielsen could also hold is own as Richard Vickers, a unstable man who seeks serious revenge.  When he discovers his wife is cheating on him with a man named Harry Wentworth, Richard decides to take matters into his own unstable hands. He buries them neck deep in sand on the beach, well below the high tide line, showing absolutely no remorse. Nielsen plays Vickers with ease, and is shockingly still appealing.

#7 Halle Berry-‘Perfect Stranger’

Halle Berry is best known for her superhero role in the X-Men franchise, as well as her “wrong place wrong time” heroine roles in ‘Gothika’, ‘Frankie & Alice’, and ‘The Call’.

Viewers were surprised when Berry took a step out of the good spotlight to play Rowena Price, a journalist who goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her childhood friend’s killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game of online cat-and-mouse.  What you find at the end of the maze, is a woman who is ready to do anything to protect herself, and hide her deep secrets.

#6 Tom Cruise-‘Interview with the Vampire’

Tom Cruise is featured in many action films as the guy who saves the day and gets the girl.  It’s rare you see Cruise as the ruthless villain who gets away.

Audiences were thrilled and disturbed when Cruise surfaced as Lestat de Lioncourt in 1994’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’.  Cruise turned his charming smile into a sign of malice, turning the main character into a vampire, and teaching him the dark, emotionless ways.  Cruise has since played a villain in ‘Collateral’, but nothing tops the uneasiness audiences felt from his undead peformance.

#5 Robin Williams-‘One Hour Photo’

Robin Williams turns his quiet, goofy awkwardness, and shapes into a creepy performance as Seymour Parrish in ‘One Hour Photo’.  “Uncle Sye”, after being fired for theft from his photo lab position, stalks a family who rejects him as being of their own.  Williams does a tremendous job making the audience cringe and uneasily follow him as he descends further into madness.

Williams also played serial killer villain Walter Finch in ‘Insomnia’, released the same year as ‘One Hour Photo’.  It’s interesting to note, Williams was considered for the role as Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shinning’.

#4 John Goodman-‘Fallen’

Normally known for his jolly attitude, big sense of humor, and contagious laugh, John Goodman is typecasted as the courageous sidekick, or friend to come to when you need wise advice.

In ‘Fallen’, Goodman plays Jonesy, partner to John Hobbes (Denzel Washington).  After chasing the ghost of a dead convict, Hobbes learns the truth behind the case, and Goodman shows himself as a calculating, unnerving villain.  ‘Fallen’ is proof that Goodman can use his acting chops to play the character everyone loves to hate.

#3 Cary Elwes-‘Kiss the Girls’

Sure, Cary Elwes has been in scary movies before (think ‘Saw’), but never as the guy victims run from.

Elwes pulls away from his normal gigs as the goofy, sharp-witted, handsome hero of the people, and transforms into killer Detective Nick Ruskin, aka “Casanova”.  Elwes perfects an icy demeanor as the good looking keeper of women, keeping audiences guessing until the very end.

#2 Harrison Ford-‘What Lies Beneath’

Whether it’s from Germans, airplane hijackers, the dark side, or aliens, Harrison Ford normally saves the day, and gets the girl.

Viewers were pleasantly surprised to find Ford as a university research scientist, Norman Spencer.  Spencer, after his wife is haunted by a dead woman, is found to be a cheater who is willing to do anything to save face.  His chilly attitude, lack of impulse control, and brilliance makes him a great villain, and Ford does a wonderful job portraying so.

#1 Kevin Costner-‘Mr. Brooks’

Kevin Costner, to me, represents the everyday American man.  He’s played a corn farmer, Robin Hood, and even Superman’s dad.  Even his voice, to me, can evoke calmness.

However, in 2007, Costner uses his man-next-door charms and level-headed demeanor against those who trust him as Earl Brooks, a business man by day, and ruthless killer by night.  His alter ego is voiced by William Hurt, and called by “Marshall”, which only highlights his unstable mental state.  Every time Mr. Brooks tries to stop, “Marshall” tells him it’s futile.

Costner does surprisingly well as a ruthless killer, and even pleases audiences by sticking it to Dane Cook, something I think we all have dreamed about at one point or another.

 

 

Hollywood does a wonderful job of keeping it’s audience on their toes.  As long as filmmakers continue to desire to provide psychological twists and turns, we will continue to see those we thought were good, go bad.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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