You may know that actor Robert Pattinson has been in the media a lot lately. Not only is he famous for his role as the titular vampire in the Twilight movies, but he also has a fashion line that has recently been featured on the covers of several high-profile magazines. Most recently, his performance as Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has added fuel to the fire.
If you’re a horror movie fan, there’s no question that you’ve heard of him as well. After all, he is the star of some of the most popular horror movies of all time. While you may know his work in the genre, it’s always nice to learn more about his personal connections to these fright flicks. Keep reading for more information on this popular British actor.
The Twilight Saga
As mentioned above, it’s been an eventful couple of months for Robert Pattinson. Not only is he in the media a lot, but he’s also been on the cover of several magazines. He started the year by appearing in a major film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Since then, he has starred in several other high-profile movies, ranging from comic adaptations (Deadpool) to historical dramas (The Great Gatsby).
It’s this last project that he is most famous for. Although it’s yet to be released, several of his colleagues and fans have had the opportunity to see it and appreciate his work. On the other hand, the Twilight franchise has continued to thrive, despite some rough patches along the way. The latest installment, Twilight Saga: Eclipse, came out in theaters this past summer, and has currently accumulated a worldwide total of over 750 million views on YouTube!
Children of the Corn 2
There were quite a few horror sequels in the ‘90s, some of which are absolute classics. One of the most successful franchises of the era was the Child of the Corn series, which began with 1992’s Children of the Corn and followed up with two more installments in 1994 and 1996. The films’ plots generally involve a group of teenagers who band together to fight off a horde of murderous creatures that emerge from the corn crows.
It would be great to have all three of these films on regular television stations, but they’ve been unavailable for many years. Finally, in 2018, Netflix debuted the complete trilogy, with two new installments added to the mix. While the new films aren’t exactly scary, they do explore a wide array of emotions, including a bit of suspense and horror. If you’re in the mood for a scary movie, this is absolutely the best way to experience it. Just make sure you have your eye masks handy, because it gets pretty gory!
Silence Of The Lambs
Another film that didn’t get the attention it deserved is William Petersen’s Silence of the Lambs. Before it became an award-winning drama, Silence of the Lambs had premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1993, and went on to win several awards, including Best Picture at the 1994 Oscars. The film’s story follows a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling, as she investigates the murder of a high profile socialite. Along the way, she uncovers a serial killer who is the perfect embodiment of the silent menace that she is determined to bring to justice.
The film was originally inspired by Petersen’s real-life experiences working on a police force in New York City. He had previously appeared in several TV movies and miniseries, including the miniseries adaptation of Mildred Adams’ 1974 novel The Stepford Wives. He also portrayed Dr. John McAndrew, the creator of the Stepford Wives, in the 1999 made-for-TV movie The Mystery of Elizabeth Peters. This is one of the great performances from Petersen, who brings a touch of humour to the role while also embodying the cold detachment of a forensic scientist. What’s more, he manages to make the character seem almost sympathetic, despite the fact that he’s a serial killer. It has been widely reported that Petersen turned down a part in the X-Men trilogy, so he could fully dedicate himself to acting. It was a decision that he would come to regret.
Scared Straight
The last in our list of influential British actors is Richard Simmons. While some may know him from his work as a fashion and style commentator, Simmons also appeared in several horror films in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Most notably, he portrayed the demonic Father Burke in George A. Romero’s classic zombie movie, The Crazies. Simmons’ character is the leader of a small religious cult, and is responsible for the mutilation and murder of many people. The actor later commented, “I liked playing a bad guy. It’s something new for me.”
The fact that Father Burke is one of the most iconic bad guys in film history makes Simmons’ role all the more significant. Not only does he add a frightening layer of authenticity to the character, but he also manages to imbue him with a certain charm that is somewhat reminiscent of Marlon Brando. The character was so well-received that he has appeared in several works of fiction, including The Zombies of London series, in which he has a significant role to play. It would be great to see a film adaptation of one of these stories, in which Simmons can bring the scary and the funny, as he does so well in real life.
Which One Is Your Favorite?
It’s quite difficult to pick a favorite among these fantastic films, but we’ll go with Dead Rising: Frank’s Big Trouble. This 2019 Capcom/Video Game Glorious adaptation of the popular video game series stars Bruce Campbell, the legendary ‘70s actor and comedy legend. While the rest of this year’s Halloween sequels are pretty decent, this is definitely the most original entry. It was co-written and directed by George A. Romero, so it really is an old-school horror movie. What’s more, it was filmed in Cape Cod, using locales such as Falmouth and Yarmouth as stand-ins for the Seattle cityscape. So, rather than just appearing in a few scenes, Campbell actually plays a fairly significant role, which makes this film quite unique.
Speaking of which, the original games’ plot involves a virus that turns the living into zombies. In a nutshell, a group of survivors, led by Frank West, venture into a zombie-infested city to save their own lives. It’s an all-star cast that includes several other well-known Hollywood actors, including Lance Henriksson (Tomb Raider), Bill Moseley (Conan The Barbarian), John Larue (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and more! Once again, this year’s Halloween sequels aren’t quite as good as this original, but they are still pretty damn good.
The Man Of Steel
Among the various projects that he is currently working on, one of the most interesting is the Man of Steel, in which he will play the role of Jor-El, father of Clark Kent. Filmmakers have confirmed that the character of Jor-El will be the “unbreakable” of the new film, which was announced earlier this year. Interestingly, in addition to his role in the upcoming Man of Steel movie, Richard Simmons has also been cast in the upcoming Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale, in which he will play the part of Paul, the father of Fred and George. It’s going to be great to see this talented actor in more than one high-profile project at the moment.