11 Top Cops in Horror
Scott Hallam
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The Devil’s Rejects – Sheriff John Quincey Wydell
Sheriff Wydell is nothing if not driven. Played by the chameleon-like William Forsythe, Sheriff Wydell goes on a revenge-fueled rampage against the Firefly clan in answer to the murder of his brother, Lieutenant George Wydell, as seen in House of 1000 Corpses. From an insane interrogation scene that resulted in the death of Mother Firefly to some seriously deviant torture of Otis Driftwood, Captain Spaulding, and Baby Firefly (with some especially intense cruelty toward Baby), Sheriff John Quincey Wydell was the only lawman that was able to give The Rejects a run for their money. Of course, in the end Tiny emerged from the darkness to tip the scales toward the Fireflys, but considering how everyone else fared against them, Wydell had one helluva run. Fuck Groucho!
From Dusk Till Dawn – Texas Ranger Earl McGraw
Texas Ranger McGraw didn’t last very long in From Dusk Till Dawn. He really didn’t last very long at all. But goddamn, he was funny. Played by Michael Parks in the few short minutes Earl McGraw is onscreen, he came up with some fantastically memorable lines in his interaction with liquor store clerk Pete Bottoms. McGraw was quoted as saying, “Well, it’s been one long goddamn hot miserable shit-ass fuckin’ day every inch of the way,” “I think I’m gonna get tanked tonight,” and “Jesus H. Christ, Pete. When you gonna learn that microwave food’ll kill you faster than a bullet? I mean, them damn burritos ain’t good for nothing but a hippie when he’s high on weed.” You can also throw in another quote when Earl refers to a mentally challenged local resident as a “potato head.” For sheer entertainment quality per minutes onscreen, Texas Ranger Earl McGraw may be the undisputed champ.
Last House on the Left – Sheriff and Deputy
Sheriff and Deputy. That’s how they are credited. To give credit where it is due, Marshall Anker played Sheriff, and Martin Kove was Deputy. Certainly, when this duo were shooting their ridiculous scenes (of course you all remember the insane chicken truck riot), they could never have imagined that their work would still be hailed as one of the most beloved, groundbreaking horror films of all time. The police officers played an incredibly important part in The Last House on the Left… comic relief. It’s often forgotten that amongst the insane brutality of Last House that Wes Craven made an effort to give audiences a break with a pair of laughable, zany police officers running amok. So thank you, Sheriff and Deputy, for helping us get through The Last House on the Left. Incidentally, horror icon Steve Miner appears uncredited as another member of the force, listed only as “Hippie Taunting Deputy.”
