15 Seemingly Terrible Horror Castings That Totally Paid Off

Horror movies have a long history of actors playing against type. These dark, surreal characters are an ideal way for actors to explore a different side of themselves, and it's also a dream for casting directors. Having a totally unexpected actor in the mix can be one hell of an effective marketing tool, and such performances will often hit even harder due to what a shock to the system they are for viewers. 

These following fifteen performances are just some of the fantastic examples of this throughout the horror genre. The actors are a varied bunch, ranging from former teen heartthrobs to rom com leads, from comedy legends to beloved, wholesome Hollywood stars.

What they all have in common is this: they approached a horror role which they did not seem well-suited to in the slightest and then absolutely killed it, reaffirming what an exciting sandbox horror movies actually are for actors, even if awards bodies usually ignore such performances. 

So, the next-time you see a seemingly ill-suited horror casting, restrain your judgement until you see the movie. Need further proof? Check out these...

When M. Night Shyamalan was developing his horror-thriller Trap - which gestated when he imagined what The Silence of the Lambs would look like if it unfolded at a concert - he went down an unexpected route when casting the movie's serial killer antagonist. He ultimately went for... Josh Hartnett, that noughties heartthrob whose career hasn't had much momentum for many years now. 

Hartnett has always been a capable actor, having done good work in films like The Virgin Suicides and an underseen Shakespeare adaptation called O, but let's not forget he's also been in a lot of garbage, especially Michael Bay's Pearl Harbour. Furthermore, even in his better turns, he's generally excelled at quieter acting rather than the hammier turn Shyamalan's new villain needed. 

What a shock it was, then, when Josh Hartnett delivered pretty much the best work of his career. As the murderous Cooper, Hartnett is exactly right - he's kooky and frightening in equal measure, performing this psychopath with a malevolent glee and just the right level of camp. Trap does go off the rails in the final act but it's still a very fun watch for the most part, and a lot of that is down to Josh Hartnett. He's in virtually every scene and effortlessly carries the whole thing.