October is outlined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t trouble wanting it up; it’s true. Most individuals take that to imply highlighting one horror film a day, however right here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or 9 by celebrating every day with a prime ten record. This text concerning the prime ten horror performances by Brad Dourif exterior of the Baby’s Play franchise is a part of our ongoing sequence 31 Days of Horror Lists.
I’m undecided if you understand this, however the “no small elements” adage was invented to accommodate Brad Dourif, an actor seemingly incapable of placing in a uninteresting efficiency. Whereas Dourif can (and has) made his mark on different genres, horror followers know in our hearts that this man is ours. One thing about Dourif’s uncanny sincerity and whole abandon makes him an ideal match for a cinematic house able to accommodating each large swings and quiet tour-de-forces. Horror is a refuge for actors courageous sufficient to get ugly, bizarre, and impressionistic. And Dourif is a residing testomony to that reality.
He’s introduced sympathy and coronary heart to scumbags and saints alike. And even when he’s taking part in a categorical freak, he can’t assist however inject pathos into their fury, terror, and insanity. He’s one of many greats whose mere presence is sufficient to auto-bump a B-movie onto your watchlist. For those who see his identify within the credit, you understand you’re in for an excellent time. Talking of which, under you’ll discover our prime ten favourite Brad Dourif horror film performances, as ranked by Rob Hunter, Chris Coffel, Brad Gullickson, Jacob Trussell, and yours really. We’ve chosen to exclude the Baby’s Play franchise to broaden issues up. However let it’s recognized that now we have no intention to fuck with the Chuck. We simply need extra people to observe Spontaneous Combustion, that’s all.
10. Dying Machine (1994)
Within the distant way forward for 2003, mega-corporation Chaank Industries is the main producer of weapons expertise. The corporate’s pet challenge is Challenge: Arduous Man, an enhanced tremendous soldier. The challenge goes off the rails when it malfunctions and slaughters harmless civilians at a roadside diner. Chaank’s new chief govt is set to scrub up the corporate’s picture and begins by shutting down the challenge and firing the principle weapon designer, Jack Dante (Dourif). Not solely does Dante refuse to be shut down, he’s additionally engaged on an excellent extra tremendous secret challenge codenamed Warbeast. As soon as his work is threatened, Dante prompts Warbeast, jeopardizing extra than simply the corporate. Director Stephen Norrington‘s Dying Machine must be nothing wanting a beloved cult basic, carried by a stellar efficiency from Dourif. Large combating robots, futuristic tech from the early ’90s, and Dourif sporting stunning lengthy locks. Merely good. (Chris Coffel)
9. Physique Elements (1991)
When our hero, Invoice Chrushank (Jeff “not Billy Zane” Fahey), learns that his arm transplant got here from a serial killer on dying row, he decides to pay the opposite “recipients” a go to. Amongst them is the carefree painter Remo Lacey (Dourif), who inherited the assassin’s different arm. In contrast to Invoice, Remo is unbothered by the grisly backstory behind his new appendage. Positive, since his operation, Lacey’s work have gone somewhat Francis Bacon-y. However why query an excellent factor, you understand?
Lacey’s by no means been so profitable! And in waltzes this sweaty killjoy making an attempt to inform him his arm is possessed with the malicious intent of a mass assassin. The place does he get off, precisely? As ever, Dourif steals each scene he’s in as an optimist, making an attempt to make the most effective of a morbid state of affairs. One man’s horrific physique horror nightmare is one other man’s creative inspiration, I suppose. (Meg Shields)
8. Halloween II (2009)
I’ve beforehand gone on report as not being the most important fan of Rob Zombie’s Halloween remakes. However gripes apart, there’s no denying that Brad Dourif’s Lee Brackett is the beating coronary heart of those two movies. In a world eager to choke out any trace of a contented dwelling life, the Sheriff of Haddonfield is a heat, humane, and overwhelmingly sort presence. Even in Halloween II — which sees the kindly sheriff because the parental determine of two deeply traumatized younger ladies — he’s doing his best possible to create a protected house. And whereas issues do take a tragic flip, Brackett isn’t responsible: he’s a lady dad doing his finest in a Rob Zombie film for chrissakes.
Positive, withholding the reality from Laurie Strode about her connection to Michael Myers won’t have been the most effective transfer. But it surely felt merciful on the time. Whereas Dourif is proficient at taking part in villains, his efficiency as Sheriff Brackett is a pathos-rich reminder of how candy it’s when he will get to play an excellent man. The way in which you actually know Brackett is Good, by the way in which, is that he sucker punches Malcolm McDowell’s Dr. Loomis within the face, a factor all of us want we might do. (Meg Shields)
7. Halloween (2007)
Rob Zombie’s Halloween has an (admittedly deserved) fame for being a dirty, disagreeable, and remarkably brutish viewing expertise. Then once more, it’s a Rob Zombie film. So I don’t know what we had been all anticipating. Even so, the doomers overlook the one kindly presence on this movie: Lee Brackett, portrayed with insufferable sorrow and empathy by Brad Dourif. Enjoying in opposition to sort, Dourif brings palpable decency to the position of Sheriff Brackett, a kindhearted man who finds himself thrust to the frontlines of an unspeakable tragedy.
In contrast to Carpenter’s unique movie, Brackett is repositioned because the guardian angel who saved Laurie as a child, defending her from her insidious heritage for so long as potential. The burden of his intervention weighs heavy on Brackett’s shoulders, a contrition Dourif effortlessly relays by watery downward glances, light whispers, and futile efforts to guard his city (and his women) from Michael’s return. His presence is bittersweet and deeply transferring, a small oasis of dignity in an in any other case pitch-black repackaging of considered one of horror’s biggest (or, on the very least, largest) sons. (Meg Shields)
6. The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
Whereas an excellent chunk of horror followers view Eyes of Laura Mars as “the opposite factor John Carpenter did in 1978,” true aficionados respect Irvin Kershner’s psycho-thriller for what it’s: peak male costume design. There’s Tommy Lee Jones wanting uncannily like Anton Chigurh. There’s Raúl Juliá, embodying slime incarnate. After which there’s Dourif as Tommy Ludlow, human mud bunny, switchblade on the prepared, eyes darting round like a trapped animal. Because the chauffeur of New York’s most provocative photographer (Faye Dunaway), Tommy needs to be ready for something. He hasn’t informed his employer but, however his avenue smarts have a sordid origin story; he’s an ex-con, reformed, in fact, and he’s able to do no matter it takes to maintain his boss protected and stay gainfully employed. Sadly, Tommy’s darkish previous and proximity to Laura make him a chief suspect for the horrifying copycat murders emulating Laura’s artwork. It’s to Dourif’s credit score that he’s in a position to straddle the road between sympathetic and suspicious. He’s a weirdo making an attempt his finest, like the most effective Dourif characters. Sadly for Tommy, good intentions aren’t bulletproof. (Meg Shields)
5. Alien Resurrection (1997)
If you understand something about Alien Resurrection, it’s in all probability that it’s the sequel the place the US army makes a bunch of horrifying hybrid Xenomorph/Ripley clones. Say what you’ll about this premise, however the casting of Dourif as one of many scientists overseeing this affront to nature is, in a phrase, good. The person was born to play house Frankenstein or Igor … take your decide. Dr. Gediman is probably not right here for a very long time. However he’s right here to hammer dwelling the fuck-around-and-find-out nature of the entire “let’s tame the xenomorphs” enterprise. Regardless of being one of many extra subdued weirdos Dourif has ever performed, Dr. Gediman continues to be an unequivocal spotlight of an in any other case messy film. For those who make kissy faces at an acid-blooded alien by a glass statement tank, you’re inviting chaos into your life. It’s good to know that tiny little ponytails nonetheless exist within the yr 2381. (Meg Shields)
4. City Legend (1998)
In considered one of his shortest performances on the record, what makes Dourif’s position in City Legend so memorable is that it leans full-tilt into his chops as a personality actor. Within the movie’s opening scene, Dourif performs a stuttering gasoline station attendant on a lone stretch of highway in the course of a stormy night time. He’s immediately positioned as a menace, his rough-around-the-edges power elevating purple flags for school pupil Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner). However that is solely used as an ironic twist. For whereas Dourif could seem like a budding killer, he’s nothing greater than a involved citizen making an attempt to warn Michelle a couple of killer reenacting one of the well-known city legends of all time. As he screams, “Somebody’s within the backseat,” we each cheer at having the ability to say, “I get that reference,” and shiver as we make psychological notes to at all times test the again of the automobile earlier than embarking on our subsequent highway journey. (Jacob Trussell)
3. Spontaneous Combustion (1990)
For all its grotesque gore and rad flame results, Spontaneous Combustion is a movie about inner torment leading to exterior agony. Dourif excels in promoting the effervescent ache inside as Sam struggles to grasp his origin and the unusual command he has over fireplace. His screams harm, and his whines ache. And he does lots of each over the course of Tobe Hooper‘s movie. Within the fingers of one other performer, the position would in all probability come off as annoying. However Dourif is all relatable ache. Spontaneous Combustion drifts into B-movie trash every so often. And you’ll forgive the lead from rolling down that hill, too. Nonetheless, Dourif treats his time right here as he does on each challenge: giving what he has for what’s wanted. Don’t overlook this underrated outing from a top-tier character actor and a top-tier style director. (Brad Gullickson)
2. Graveyard Shift (1990)
I’m a easy girl. If an esteemed character actor performs an unhinged Vietnam vet exterminator, I’ll clap like a contented child. Whereas the remainder of the so-called civilized world has but to acknowledge the brilliance of Graveyard Shift, this web site’s wonderful contributors are a small oasis of fine sense. One man’s sub-par Stephen King adaptation is one other (smarter) man’s goopy delight. Graveyard Shift tells of a rotten deathtrap of a cotton mill, which additionally occurs to have a large rat drawback (in additional methods than one).
Whereas the dubiously Maine-accented foreman (Stephen Macht) is very happy to throw his underpaid staff on the drawback, even he’s sensible sufficient to ship for a real skilled. Enter Tucker Cleveland, the Exterminator. Armed with state-of-the-art chemical warfare, his trusty terrier, and a red-hot hatred for the vermin used to torture his fellow GIs by the Vietcong, Tucker is as unhinged as a sliding glass door. Is he shell-shocked? Sure. Does he begin crying on the mere suggestion of rodent-killing? Sure. Does he endure one of the brutal deaths of any Brad Dourif character? Additionally Sure. Graveyard Shift is maybe the best occasion of anybody giving Dourif a clean test to be as bizarre and weepy as he needs. Extra films ought to do that. (Meg Shields)
1. The Exorcist III (1990)
It’s wild that all of us agree on the most effective Exorcist movie being William Peter Blatty‘s The Exorcist III (1990). Tremendous wonderful, I do know I’m alone on that one, however extra of you’re in all probability on my aspect in terms of the most effective Brad Dourif efficiency in a horror movie (exterior the Chucky franchise) being his transient flip right here because the Gemini Killer. He’s bodily restrained, seated, and actually in a straitjacket, however his efficiency is full of violent life as he recounts working for “the Grasp” and murdering with creative abandon. There’s no actual hazard right here, however it’s as menacing, threatening, and ominous a supply as you’ll discover. Anger, ego, and devilish confidence collide as he shifts from regaling us with the main points of a kill to singing a spiritual tune to sharing a love of performs. It’s managed insanity, and it’s unforgettable. (Rob Hunter)
Don’t cry as a result of it’s over. Cry as a result of it occurred. Oh, and when you’re weeping, head on over to our archive of previous 31 Days of Horror Lists!
Associated Subjects: 31 Days of Horror Lists, Horror
Primarily based within the Pacific North West, Meg enjoys lengthy scrambles on cliff faces and cozying up with an excellent piece of Nineteen Sixties eurotrash. As a senior contributor at FSR, Meg’s goal is to unfold the great phrase about the most effective of sleaze, style, and sensible results.
