10 Famous Actors That Debuted In Horror Movies
7. Sam Rockwell - Clownhouse (1989)
This controversial movie follows three brothers who choose to attend a carnival that has come to town shortly before Halloween. Unfortunately, three lunatics also escape from a nearby asylum and choose to disguise themselves as the carnival clowns for the night, zeroing in on the brothers and their isolated home.
Shortly after Clownhouse was released, director Victor Salva was arrested and imprisoned for molesting the film's star, Nathan Forrest-Winters. This gives the entire film an extremely uncomfortable vibe. The three young leads are often seen scantily-clad and are constantly in peril, and Salva's convictions hang over the entire experience.
Forgotten in this horrific shuffle is the fact that Clownhouse is the film debut of Oscar winner Sam Rockwell. Here, the 20 year-old is the standout as he gleefully plays the antagonistic oldest sibling. One can tell Rockwell is having a ball as he teases his co-stars about their irrational fear of clowns and sulks at them for "cramping his style" with his carnival date.
Rockwell shows all the promise of the talent that would ultimately take him to the heights of his career today. However, despite his enigmatic performance, it is perhaps for the best that Clownhouse remains little-seen.