Lance Henriksen has been thrilling audiences since 1961. He’s as seasoned as they come, and while he’s a performer capable of tackling just about any genre, he’s really found his groove in the horror genre. He is irrefutably one of the most active genre contributors alive and has more than earned our respect.
Although he’s surfaced in a few sub-par indie efforts, he’s also had a hand in a number of marvelous pictures. If you’re a fan of the man’s work, you’ll want to read on, as these are the 10 best horror films to feature the great Lance Henriksen.
Aliens: The film that Henriksen may be best known for, Aliens was obviously a phenomenal piece of work. It carries the dread of its immediate predecessor but injects a load of awesome action. Unlike the cyborg featured in the first franchise film, Henriksen’s approach to the artificial lifeform of this group is pure in intent. No agendas here, and that makes him not only heroic, but insanely likable. Need I say more?
Abominable: Henriksen doesn’t have a huge part in Abominable, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a genuinely underrated picture. It could easily be labeled one of the better Bigfoot flicks on the market, and it never once seems to earn mention when discussions of such nature are sparked up. But trust this: You should look into Abominable. It relies on tension and character study more than overt violence, and the characters are anything but one-note. Look into it – it’s something of a treasure!
AVP: Alien vs. Predator: Henriksen’s position in AVP has essentially zero relation (well, the name and all…) to his character Bishop in Aliens. No, Charles Bishop Weyland is a character all his own, anxious to uncover something special: the find of a lifetime. But when the ailing man finds himself in the middle of a war between aliens and predators, his chances of escaping with a claim to the world’s biggest find evaporate, only a bloody mist left to remind us he was ever there. But it’s a passionate performance from Lance, and we love him in this surprisingly entertaining crossover film.
Man’s Best Friend: Just to clear the air, it’s well known that Man’s Best Friend is, in all actuality, kind of a shitty movie. The dialogue is often atrocious, there are a few plot holes viewers fall into (and have trouble escaping), and the acting from the entire ensemble isn’t exactly Oscar worthy. But Henriksen handles himself as a seasoned professional would, and his character – Dr. Jarret – is the most polarizing figure in the feature. This one is good for nostalgic thrills.
Jennifer 8: In this super intense film that’s absolutely loaded with stellar showings, Lance Henriksen is never once lost in the fold of thespian brilliance. Although Jennifer 8 is far more thriller than horror, the story plays out as a quality psychological, serial killer horror film would. I could gush all day about Uma Thurman, and I could dump a world of praise on the remainder of the cast, or I could truncate the whole affair and tell you that Jennifer 8 is an A-class flick that needs to be seen and owned by anyone who’s ever dared call him or herself a horror fan.
The Pit and the Pendulum: We can keep this one pretty damn simple for you: Stuart Gordon’s rendition of The Pit and the Pendulum is an unforgiving viewing experience complete with excellent set pieces and a sinister performance from the great Lance Henriksen. This one has been lost to time a bit, but it’s totally and completely worth hunting down!
Pumpkinhead: I’m going to go ahead and say it now: Pumpkinhead affords Henriksen his most emotional role to date. In the early goings of the flick, we see a loving, compassionate father. Fast forward, and we see a completely broken man. Fast forward yet again, and we see a man driven by rage and the lust for vengeance. And finally we come full circle to see a father who understands he’s lost control of himself, all for his son, and he just wants the terror to end. A much more intricate monster movie than it probably should be, Pumpkinhead is a stellar creature feature.
Near Dark: Just how badass can Lance Henriksen be? That’s a fine question. It’s also a very, very easily answered question; watch Near Dark to get a glimpse of Henriksen not giving two fucks about anyone or anything. Holy shit, does the man’s presence bleed from the screen. The only performer capable of rivaling Henriksen’s work in Near Dark is Bill Paxton (who also appeared alongside Henriksen in Aliens and The Terminator), who himself turns in one of his greatest performances.
Damien: Omen II: While I’m not a huge fan of this film (therefore, I’ll keep it short), Henriksen’s work is – yet again – impressive. In fact, Henriksen’s performance as Sergeant Neff was one of the only things about the film I personally enjoyed.
Kids vs Monsters: I’m still a fan of family-friendly horror, and Kids vs Monsters is not only family-friendly, it’s pretty funny and damn entertaining. In the movie Henriksen plays a bumbling servant of Satan who recruits a group of malicious parents who want their spoiled children disposed of. In exchange for the execution of the kids, Satan gets the souls of the parents. And none of it could be possible without the work of the bad joke-cracking sidekick played by the great Lance Henriksen. This is just a blast of a production.