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Author Topic: What happened to all the great Horror actors?
Osi Osgood
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 - posted April 15, 2011 10:30 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I was writing on another forum about this issue, and it occured to me that there really are not any great "Horror" actors today. Have you noticed that?

We once had Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Peter Lorre, Boris karloff, Chistopher Lee (still have Lee) ect. ..

... but no great Horror actors today, and we really haven't in about thirty years.

Why is this?

My personal opinion is that all the actors mentioned above, (plus too many to mention) were classically trained actors and could appear in any genre comfortably and just happen to make thier mark in one specific genre more notably than in any other. They were capable of much more, while todays horror films actors are just required to hack and maim, heavily made up (in make-up) for the parts.

What are your observations folks?

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Winbert Hutahaean
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 - posted April 15, 2011 10:40 AM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Horror movies are no longer of the interest of many people, making they cannot get money now.

Action, Sci-Fi, Romantic comedy (and pure comedy) as well as CGI are the best choice now.

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Winbert

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Dan Lail
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 - posted April 15, 2011 11:00 AM      Profile for Dan Lail   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I think it is because some people now are very narcissistic and shallow just looking for there 15 minutes in the spotlight. Pretending is no good without an intellectual basis of true knowledge. You see it everywhere, even on Youtube. [Smile]

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Steve Klare
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 - posted April 15, 2011 11:34 AM      Profile for Steve Klare   Email Steve Klare   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I disagree: there are a lot of horrible actors today!

Could it be that horror as a genre is kind of obsolete these days?

-all you need to do is tune in the nightly news and see stuff that makes Frankenstein and Dracula seem kind of tame!

Maybe instead of Horror films what we need lately is something more like "Everything is Wonderful Films".

(Where's Jimmy Stewart when we really need him?)

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Pasquale DAlessio
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 - posted April 15, 2011 12:00 PM      Profile for Pasquale DAlessio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The horror genre is non existant. It was replaced by splatter films. The actors of today don't pay their dues as did the Bela Lugosi's etc. Even remakes such as Wolf with Jack Nicholson don't add up to The Wolfman with Lon Chaney Jr. There was something about those films that make them impossible to beat. They were certainly more believable than the films of today. [Wink]

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Osi Osgood
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 - posted April 15, 2011 12:56 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Interesting comments all.

There are good horror films that still come out today, well, "The Others" may not be horror actually, (though I like it immensely).

I always considered the "splatter" films horror films. Would it be more appropriate to call them "shock" films.

My pick for the best of the modern horror film would be "From Hell" about jack the ripper ... fine film.

I would agree, however, that they are few and far between.

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Joe Caruso
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 - posted April 15, 2011 01:24 PM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I was an actor in WOLF, so maybe I'm a part of history (background anyway), but on to the question; CHILLER THEATRE has been trying to get Chris Lee to the show, but not yet

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Michael O'Regan
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 - posted April 15, 2011 01:50 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Horror movies are no longer of the interest of many people,
Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can agree with that Winbert. There are a lot of so called horror films being churned out still though I have yet to be able to sit through such work as DRAG ME TO HELL, the SAW series ( is torture-porn classed as horror??)

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Mark Williams
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 - posted April 15, 2011 03:30 PM      Profile for Mark Williams   Email Mark Williams   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Horror Films are actually more popular than ever these days,just look at the box office takings for Scream 4 and the latest SAW movie!!!

Yes I agree the quality of most of them are pretty poor but every so often a great one appears such as Daybreakers or The Night Watch movies.

Torture Porn? no not really these are just o;d fashioned horror movies at heart,so nothing really new there that wasnt done at the parisian grand guigol theatre centuries ago [Smile]

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Michael O'Regan
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 - posted April 15, 2011 04:57 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've actually only seen clips from the SAW series and torture porn is the only way I can describe what I saw. Audiences lap such violence up.

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Graham Ritchie
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 - posted April 15, 2011 10:26 PM      Profile for Graham Ritchie   Email Graham Ritchie   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I agree with Winbert....although I was never much of a fan of horror movies. The last time I jumped at the movies was way back in 1975 and it was a packed cinema the movie was... "Jaws" [Eek!]
The cinema where I work we avoid the so called horror films of today and keep to family and quality stuff instead [Big Grin]

Graham.

PS I should say that was second last time I jumped at the movies. The last time was at "True Grit" that was a real horror story but for a different reason, never did see the end of it, that cinema is still closed as its badly damaged and will be for a long while yet.

[ April 16, 2011, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: Graham Ritchie ]

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Winbert Hutahaean
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 - posted April 16, 2011 04:45 AM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can agree with that Winbert. There are a lot of so called horror films being churned out still though I have yet to be able to sit through such work as DRAG ME TO HELL, the SAW series ( is torture-porn classed as horror??)


Mike, when we are talking Horror sometime they are Thriller. For me Horror is something with ghost, dracula, sixth sense, zombie etc. I wouldn't say "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" as a horror that we collect in super 8mm, although IMDB category it as horror.

Secondly, when you listed horror movies nowadays, you can only count tens titles from hundreds (or even thousands) other genre films released in a year.

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Winbert

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Osi Osgood
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 - posted April 16, 2011 10:32 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Funny, I always thought of "Jaws" as a action adventure. I never really thought of it as horror.

Maybe the classification of horror has become rather muddled. When I think of horror, (for instance) I think of a film that gives me a creepy sense of dread and even a little repulsion.

Something that makes me feel very uncomfortable and unsecure leaving the movie theater.

When I first saw the original version of "The Fog", I kind of felt that, (course, I was only 14 or so)

Splatter films just disgust me, and that's not the same thing.

Hey Shorty! Who'd ya play in "Wolf"? I'll keep an eye out for you! [Big Grin]

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Joe Caruso
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 - posted April 16, 2011 02:17 PM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Random book publisher

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Michael O'Regan
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 - posted April 16, 2011 02:22 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hey, Shorty, I tried to spot you in MIGHTY APHRODITE but....no luck.

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Brad Kimball
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 - posted April 16, 2011 10:52 PM      Profile for Brad Kimball   Email Brad Kimball   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I doubt that Mr. Lee will be attending 'Chiller'. He's 89 as of this May and he's had heart surgery not too long ago which I'm sure has slowed him down. Recent photos of him show him in a wheel chair whenever arriving or leaving an event. I actually had the privelage of meeting him about 10 years ago in Maryland at a book signing for his autobiography. He was touring all over at the time and I can't tell you what a thrill it was for me to shake his hand and tell him how much I admired his work. Unfortunately, it was all too brief being that there were alot of fans present who paid the special price that I did to be afforded the same opportunity so you were granted about 60 seconds with this great actor. One of the greatest moments of my life that I shall always treasure. He was an absolute gentleman. Funny tidbit... Before he entered the room we were advised not to applaud or make any fuss (Mr. Lee does not feel comfortable with big demonstrations and nobody was to bring up memorabilia to show him being that we could be assured he already owned countless items (props and such) from all the movies he was in and that it would just take too much time. Well, in he walks and everyone rises and proceeds to give him a big ovation. It was quite obvious that he was startled, but he simply smiled - waved for a few moments - and thanked everyone with such grace. What a class act!

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Joe Caruso
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 - posted April 17, 2011 07:26 AM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Don't worry, I didn't have any luck either, spotting myself at the racetrack (no luck betting as well), but I'm there - Saved all my paystubs from these movies as proof to those who want to know

I think all the more reason why Mr. Lee would appear at 'Chiller' - An appearance at the greatest sci-fi/thriller show ever, well they are trying

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Michael O'Regan
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 - posted April 17, 2011 12:16 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
...as proof to those who want to know
It's not that I don't believe you were there - it just would've been fun to spot you is all.
[Smile]

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Brad Kimball
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 - posted April 17, 2011 08:00 PM      Profile for Brad Kimball   Email Brad Kimball   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Chrisopher Lee and Peter Cushing have both attended horror conventions in the past with great apprehension. From what I've been told by people who have worked at these events A-List celebrities get very nervous at these things. It's not an "I'm above that sort of thing" attitude as much as it's fearful for their own safety. They're often concerned they may encounter a psychotic fan who may bring them harm (intentional or not). There's alot of mental illness out there and conventions tend to attract all kinds. One Chiller employee told me that William Shatner refers to it as "mob psychology" and he's had more than his share of bad experiences (some very dangerous). Shatner will impose severe limitations before he'll even consider a live appearance anywhere. I met Mr. Shatner some years back in White Plains, NY at a convention. Only 100 of us were lucky enough to go backstage and meet him. We were told not to shake his hand and not to try to engage him in conversation. He simply smiled at me - signed an 8X10 photo - and then you're out. During his one man show, which preceded the backstage photo signing, there was a Q&A during which one young man became outraged that Bill would not read his screenplay which, naturally, was "Star Trek" oriented. This fellow was clearly not playing with a full deck. These are the moments celebrities fear the most because they have no way of predicting how far someone is willing to go before somebody gets hurt. Having been raised by someone in show business many years ago I can empathize with how they feel. They are in the industry because they love to entertain. They appreciate the fan base they acquire, but they prefer to be admired from a distance. It's often perceived as a "tude", but it's a self-preservation instinct. Let's face it, there's alot of nuts in the world out of touch with reality who actually believe the actors are indeed the very characters they portray. How does one deal with a person like that? Unless you're trained in how to deal with psychoses - you're in a very precarious situation.

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Osi Osgood
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 - posted April 18, 2011 10:32 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Very true Brad ...

My wife and I have talked a lot about whether this song I'm working on will finally open doors and success could come about. We're really private folks (besides my outgoing nature on the internet!) and were wondering how we would process people wanting to know you.

However, I know I'll always be the same old lovable slob on here!

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Joe Caruso
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 - posted April 18, 2011 12:24 PM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well, just an idea is all - I understand and agree with the performers and those who are cockeyed in their quest to be up close and personal with the performer - I'm in this business and have seen it all too often - I was merely thinking how nice it would be to see some of the last survivors at a show, but the golden age of those times are joyous shadows we must cherish in good memory

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Michael O'Regan
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 - posted April 18, 2011 12:49 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Worrying about how to handle stardom, Osi??

There are a million songwriters out there would love to
1) Have your confidence
2) Know your secret.
[Roll Eyes]

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Dan Lail
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 - posted April 18, 2011 01:01 PM      Profile for Dan Lail   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
My wife and I have talked a lot about whether this song I'm working on will finally open doors and success could come about.
Brad K. wrote...
quote:
This fellow was clearly not playing with a full deck.
Some think the monkey men in WOZ are frightening too. [Big Grin]

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Brad Kimball
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 - posted April 18, 2011 03:50 PM      Profile for Brad Kimball   Email Brad Kimball   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Joe, I 100% agree it would be marvelous to have the few surviving legends of Cinema Yesteryear attend. I would love the opportunity to come face-to-face with these wonderful performers once again. I am in no way sticking a pin in your balloon. Your idea is a great one. I'm simply theorizing on the "Why Not" criteria that may stand in the way of it happening. Joe, Osi and Gary, I have got to see you fellas in action someday. You sound like extremely capable and talented entertainers. God Bless the gift of performance. This world needs more of you. It's because of fellas like yourselves that we all have this hobby to enjoy.

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Joe Caruso
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 - posted April 19, 2011 05:39 AM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Brad, I thought we met at CINESEA in Wildwood - If not, maybe we'll catch up at CINEVENT - The performers we so revere are almost all gone now, and we'll feel the pang of sorrow, which will only be quelled by watching their greatest works over and again, talking about them and forever basking in that glow - Shorty

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