Great Horror Performances: Martin Balsam in PSYCHO

by Erika Bromley

“My name is Arbogast, friend. I’m a private investigator.”

Great Horror Performances: Nicolas Cage in VAMPIRE'S KISS

by Rosalie Lewis

Adam Levine isn’t the only one who’s got the moves like Jagger.

Great Horror Performances: Sheri Moon Zombie in 3 FROM HELL

by Patrick Bromley

A great performance from an actor too often dismissed.

Great Horror Performances: Simon Pegg in SHAUN OF THE DEAD

by Michael Pomaro

Anyone who has known me for more than 10 minutes knows that Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead is one of my favorite movies. No matter how many times I watch it, and I watch it a lot, I discover new things to love about it. My wife and I caught it on cable a few weeks ago, so naturally we left it on. It was on this viewing that Simon Pegg’s performance stuck out to me in ways it never has before and it left me wondering why.

Great Horror Performances: Tom Atkins in HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH

by Adam Riske

Who needs Michael Myers when you have Dr. Dan Challis?

Great Horror Performances: David Naughton in AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

by Jan Bottiglieri

When it comes to horror films, my advanced age (achieved through balanced diet, fresh air, and an ancient demonic curse) gives me a slight advantage. For many of the 1980s-era (era) classics, my first watch was not on a VHS rental at a slumber party full of pre-teens, but in a giant darkened theatre full of other adults. An American Werewolf in London is one such film, and let me tell you—when this film was released in 1981, the audience reaction was NUTS. Zombie Nazis machine-gunning children? A werewolf transformation, complete with nonstop screaming? Wise-cracking corpses, decapitated policemen, and full-frontal nude male balloon stealing? Yes, please!

Great Horror Performances: Griffin Dunne in AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

by JB

Can I have some toast?

Great Horror Performances: Scott H. Reiniger in DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)

by Jan Bottiglieri

"You’ll take care of me, won’t you, Peter? You’ll take care of me… when I go.”

Great Horror Performances: Dwight Frye in DRACULA (1931)

by JB

Want to know how great Dwight Frye is in the original sound Dracula? Alice Cooper wrote a song about him. I don’t see Alice Cooper writing elegies to any other semi-obscure 1930’s character actors…

Great Horror Performances: Clarence Williams III in TALES FROM THE HOOD

by Adam Riske

There’s never been a better horror emcee.

Great Horror Performances: Lauren Cohan in THE BOY

by Patrick Bromley

Kicking off our annual series with a surprisingly great performance in a surprisingly good horror movie.

Great Horror Performances: Caroline Williams in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2

by Patrick Bromley

We end this year's Great Horror Performances series with one of the all-time great final girls.

Great Horror Performances: Fiona Dourif in CULT OF CHUCKY

by Heath Holland

The iconic killer doll Chucky makes a triumphant return In 2017’s Cult of Chucky, but it’s Fiona Dourif who steals the show.

Great Horror Performances: Toni Collette in THE SIXTH SENSE

by Adam Riske

Look at my face. This is a great performance.

Great Horror Performances: Joaquin Phoenix in SIGNS

by Rob DiCristino

“I’m a miracle man. Those lights are a miracle.”

Great Horror Performances: Vincent Price in THE TINGLER

by JB

Like bacon, Vincent Price improved whatever he was in.

Great Horror Performances: Dee Wallace in THE FRIGHTENERS

by Stephanie Crawford

Calmly smoothing black and grey hair away from her eyes, we see the face of America's Greatest Film Mom. It is at this moment that we know she'd probably laugh while planting an ax through our forehead.

Great Horror Performances: Boris Karloff in The Bride of Frankenstein

by JB

Although Karloff’s performance in the original Frankenstein is groundbreaking and unique, I keep going back to the sequel.

Great Horror Performances: Fredric March in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

by Patrick Bromley

The very first horror performance ever awarded an acting Oscar is still one of my favorites.

Great Horror Performances: Stephen McHattie in Pontypool

by Cass Cannon

A gruff tenor in a cowboy hat, Grant Mazzy is having none of your zombie shit.