Robert Englund’s Top 10 Roles
Matt Molgaard
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Mayor Buckman (2001 Maniacs): Bat-shit crazy and stuffed full of intentionally risky decisions, 2001 Maniacs is awesome because it isn’t a film that emits any perceived desire to conform to an ideal mold. It isn’t supposed to be a perfect film; it’s supposed to be a flawed film, and director Tim Sullivan makes sure we all recognize that. Englund is particularly over the top as the animated mayor of a mysterious town of cannibalistic ghost freaks. Just saying that forces me to face the truth, and the truth is, it doesn’t make a lot of sense when you really examine the story. But if you sit back with an open mind and a willingness to just laugh, this one kicks ass, as does Englund’s maniacal depiction of the mayor.
Professor William Wexler (Urban Legend): We got so fucking ripped off by Urban Legend. On the surface the movie looks like just another Scream ripoff. Then you peel the layers away and learn you’ve got a surprisingly fair shocker that brings historical American pop culture to the forefront of the narrative. It’s clever in a few moments, and it also has a handful of cool appearances from a myriad of familiar genre contributors. Danielle Harris is in the film. So is Julian Richings, Loretta Devine, Brad Dourif, and of course Robert Englund. But only Devine earns respectable screen time. The rest, Englund included, are featured in a small handful of brief scenes that leave us yearning for more. It’s a damn shame as it’s awfully entertaining watching Englund play a straight-edge college professor (yeah, another one) who is totally and completely controlled in his delivery. An additional 10 to 15 minutes of character exploration would have been welcomed warmly.
Ian (Zombie Strippers!): One of the more deceptive products on this list, Zombie Strippers! is a silly romp with some preposterous performances. But it’s also a big commentary piece, believe it or not. Director Jay Lee certainly hammers home a few opinions, and he does so without venturing into overly preachy territory. Don’t fret, however; any sociopolitical statements are nearly muted by the fact that the flick lives up to its title. There are actually zombie strippers in this, and Robert Englund has the chance to deal with them firsthand. How in the world can you possibly not love that kind of role?
