14 Awesome Performances In Otherwise Awful 2015 Movies

7. Jared Harris - Poltergeist

The Movie: Simply, was there anyone really desperate for a remake of the classic 1982 horror flick? Though ably directed, the main problem with the new Poltergeist is that it's just not very scary, a general problem with PG-13-rated horror flicks (though remember that the original was a PG when it came out). The worst thing that can be said about it is that it's incredibly boring, wasting a peculiar amount of screen time on needless subplots and annoying children rather than ratcheting up the intensity. The Performance: Harris plays the exorcist appointed to rid the family home of the titular paranormal entity, and is so far above the material it's ridiculous. He's about as fun and compelling as the movie gets, walking a fine line between ham and genuine gravitas, and ultimately becoming the hero of the tale in spectacular fashion. Even with the likes of Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt filling out the core cast, it's Harris who rises to the top, giving by far the most memorable turn in the movie, making his most gallant attempt to sell the fairly ropey material.