5 Of The Most Bizarre Horror Casting Choices Ever Made
Josh Korngut
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Horror doesn’t always get a great reputation for acting. Personally, I don’t think this is fair. Some of the best performances of all time have horror titles to thank. Some obvious recent examples include Toni Collette in Hereditary and Rebecca Hall in The Night House. Right here we have two Oscar-calibre performances. But are they the exception to the rule?
Tons of horror films don’t benefit from the budgets which can afford the best actors in the game. In fact, lots of horror films go non-union with their actors. This can often lead to a mixed bag of talent.
Today we have gone ahead and assembled some of the strangest casting choices in the history of horror. Granted, many of these selections had to do with PR, cross-promotion, dated projects or even just pure stuntitry. Either way, there’s nothing better than when I get to point my finger at the screen and scream ‘BUT WHY!’
Here are five of the strangest horror film casting choices in recent memory.
Dracula 2000 – Vitamin C
One of the most turn-of-the-millennium choices of all time has got to be Vitamin C’s short turn in Patrick Lussier’s Dracula 2000. The movie itself is a fun and underrated teen house of horrors that desperately deserves a rewatch. The Gerard Butler Dracula film was even followed closely by two sequels, Dracula: Ascension and Dracula: Legacy. Both of which are worth your time. But casting Vitamin C of ‘Graduation Song’ fame just didn’t age so great.
Repo: The Genetic Opera – Paris Hilton
Do not get me wrong. I absolutely love Darren Lynn Bousman’s Repo: The Genetic Opera. This indie gross-out horror musical with a social twist is officially the Millenial Rocky Horror Picture Show and I won’t hear any different. The music is great, especially when Sarah Brightman takes her turn at the wheel. However, it’s the Paris Hilton stunt casting that still has some of us scratching our heads to this day. Personally, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Hilton suits the role she fills just fine, but maybe someone with a better stage presence could have elevated this classic even higher.
Cry Wolf – Jon Bon Jovi
In Cry Wolf, eight high school seniors at a fancy boarding school, who get off on playing head games, come face-to-face with violence, soon learning that nobody believes a liar—even when they’re telling the truth. This wild Canadian slasher from Jeff Wadlow is fun and silly in all the right ways. But why is Jon Bon Jovi in this? I’d love an answer if anyone has got one. He plays a teacher and it’s hella strange. Not exactly the type of film role I’d be rushing to Bon Jovi if I was his client. But work.
American Psycho 2 – Mila Kunis
For the uninitiated, 2002 happened to gift the planet with a DTV sequel to American Psycho: the hyper bizarre and inadequate American Psycho II: All American Girl. This very strange little sequel hails from filmmaker Morgan J Freeman and stars Mila Kunis in one of the strangest creative choices of all time. Sure, Mila can easily fill just about any role you throw her way. It’s more about the character in this instance that makes this project so outlandish. Milka stars as Rachel Newman, a criminology student who loves murder a whole lot. William Shatner costars as her creepy professor in an equally bizarre casting choice. Skip it.
Halloween: Resurrection – Busta Rhymes
The crowning jewel of this list is awarded to Busta Rhymes who shows up at an 11 and only goes up from there. Horror fans do not like Halloween: Resurrection. It’s just a fact. The reputation this film has 100% precedes it. However, I am somewhat of an apologist for this outrageous and highly disrespectful sequel. Is it terrible? Of course. Is it boring? Never not even for a second. And I will take it over the Rob Zombie abominations any day of the goddamn week. Is it okay what this film did to Laurie Strode? No, it’s a full-on crime against humanity. However, the fact that Busta Rhymes defeats Michael Myers in the official canon is a fun fact I will die enjoying.
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