10 Horror Movies Actors Want Us To Forget
6. George Clooney: Return To Horror High (1987)
This entry was a difficult choice, as resident Hollywood silver fox George Clooney has appeared in more than one low-budget horror picture in his career. Ultimately, this author chose Return to Horror High as writing about Killer Tomatoes just seemed too ridiculous.
After rising to super stardom in 1994 after being cast as Dr. Doug Ross on E.R., Hollywood couldn't get enough of George Clooney. Soon he was the most in-demand leading man and made the smart move to play against his nice-guy image in 1996's From Dusk Til Dawn. Clooney's reasoning behind taking this part was not only to play an antagonistic lead, but also because it was a "surprise horror movie," claiming he'd never done a horror film.
Hold on, George, don't you remember Return to Horror High in 1987? One could forgive Clooney if he didn't - his part is small and he is the first on-screen victim to meet his maker - but what is interesting about this seemingly insignificant role is how it would go on to mirror Clooney's real life. He plays Oliver, a spritely young actor wanting to get out of cheap horror films to pursue TV stardom with the offer of a pilot. One can't help but smile knowingly at the scene in hindsight, as seven years later that is exactly what happened. "Gonna be a star, Oliver?" the embittered Lori Lethin asks snidely, "Gonna try!" Clooney chirps with adorable enthusiasm. Unfortunately, he's murdered moments later.
Clooney has never spoken about his early roles, and given its comparisons to his eventual career, it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on Return to Horror High being his first feature film. Surely it can't be more embarrassing than Batman & Robin?