Where are the horror stars of today?

**Count Yorga** · 01-09-2008, 06:09 PM

I dont follow modern horror films that much, but has there been any newcomers to replace the likes of Robert Englund or Kane Hodder which to me seems to be the most recent?

Seems like a dying breed

/Y

**Vaughan** · 01-09-2008, 06:47 PM

Interesting question. Personally I think the star system is severely broken and increasingly irrelevant. We have actors who are in two movies and people want to praise them as the best thing since sliced bread. Awards are given for mediocre television work - musicians are hailed as one the greatest ever..... after one album. It's all rather silly.

But to change your request just a little, I began to think about it a little differently. I changed the question in my mind to: "What stars draw you to a movie simply because they're in it?"

For example - I watch anything Boris Karloff is in. Anything. Ditto Peter Cushing. If his name is somewhere in the cast, i'll at least give it a chance. Chris Lee too.

But in modern times..... I'm struggling to think of a single one. I grew up being told Pacino was one of the best, Nicholson, Hoffman, etc. but over time they've been in some right nonsense. They're good, very good, but for me they're a but tainted. I guess it's always been that way.

Who are the real stars, I don't know. I've found horror have grown ever more fickle to be honest, and reaching consensus on such things isn't too easy....

**it'smebilly** · 01-09-2008, 10:22 PM

The only actor closely associated with the genre today is Tobin Bell, at least no one else is springs to mind, so I know what you mean.

Vaughan I also agree with, I'd add DeNiro to that list as well. He is just trading on his solid reputation these days, what and when was his last really great film? He used to be so careful and picky about his roles but now he just seems to accept any old crap!

**Tim Rogerson** · 01-09-2008, 10:56 PM

De Niro has a lot of kids and several ex-wives to support which I think has largely been responsible for his increased output in the last 10 years.

**Peter Neal** · 03-09-2008, 07:48 AM

Torbin Bell is a good canidate, indeed.

On the female front, only "May"'s Angela Bettis springs to mind.

Then there are of course a few genre veterans from the 80's/90's, like Bill Moseley, Tony Todd or Brad Dourif, still doing the rounds in genre flicks, albeit mostly for cameos.

**Vaughan** · 03-09-2008, 09:08 AM

Torbin Bell is a good candidate, indeed.

Nah. He's not done enough to rise to being a "star", and what he's done is basically the same character in one series..... Personally I think this is a large part of the "star problem" these days. Do a little, make it worth a lot.

He doesn't qualify for me. Let's see if he's still making horror films once the Saw Franchise has run out of steam.

**ForestFilmsUK** · 03-09-2008, 09:14 AM

tis topic often comes up at some of the filmmakers parties I go to here in the Midlands.
There was a time when everybody knew horror stars like Christopher Lee, Vincent Price etc.
Nowadays it's only the hardcore fans who know the likes of Robert Englund, Bruce Campbell and Doug Bradley. It's a real shame, and a reflection on how the genre had become disregarded as Hollywood's mainstream big budget approach gets ever stronger.
I know a great actress called Eleanor James who's done a few low budget horrors (I've worked with her a few times), who's on the threshold of becoming a 'mildly recognisable name'. She's done a few horrorzine interviews already, and is getting increasing roles. She's georgeous and takes her clothes off a lot, which is good

Hopefully she'll make it.