10 Horror Stars Who Should Have Won Best Actor at the Oscars
Jonathan Barkan
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Duane Jones – Night of the Living Dead
I remember taking a course at the University of Michigan called “The History of Horror After Psycho,” where we would watch and critique genre movies on a weekly basis. When it came to George A. Romero’s classic, we spoke for three hours about it without once mentioning the word “zombie.” Rather, we spoke about race relations, Cold War fears, the impact of Vietnam on journalism and reporting, and much, much more. And while we may not all have agreed on every point, we did all come to the same conclusion that Jones’ performance was truly incredible.
Ben was a character who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty; yet, he did so with the best of intentions. He was obviously honorable, empathetic, and intelligent; but he was marred by his stubbornness and unwillingness to concede his stance. While Harry Cooper may have been a total asshole (another fantastic performance, this one from Karl Hardman), he wasn’t wrong in believing that the basement was the safest place in the house. Ultimately, their inability to work together led to their deaths. But through it all, Jones provided the most riveting and captivating performance throughout the film.
Thomas Jane – The Mist
I feel like I may lose a few people with this selection, but I was astounded by Jane’s performance in The Mist. He had to play a man who not only had to fight for his son and the rational thinkers of the supermarket, but he also had to do so while not knowing (until the end) if his wife was okay or not. He shouldered the responsibility of becoming a leader in a situation that no one could ever hope to prepare for and did so with strength and sensitivity, a rare mix indeed. Furthermore, while I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that Jane provided a performance that had me in tears.
Sam Neill – In the Mouth of Madness
This one may come out of left field, but I’ve always adored watching Sam Neill perform in a movie. Something about him is so engrossing and charismatic, and I can’t help but delight in watching him in his element. As John Trent, Neill gets to play a somewhat greasy and unpleasant character that still has enormous presence on screen. He’s not necessarily a good guy, but he’s not a bad guy either. Riding the line in between isn’t an easy task, but Neill delivers it with total and complete ease. When the world goes to hell in a handbasket, I hope it’s Neill’s maniacal laughter that carries us all into oblivion.
