Nicolas Cage’s 10 Essential Horror Performances (So Far)

He’s an Oscar victor whose filmography contains nearly each genre—drama, comedy, action, romance, Spider-Man, “I stole the Declaration of Independence”—but Nicolas Cage, ne'er 1 to clasp back, truly goes full-throttle successful his fearfulness roles. Audiences volition soon get the eventual dose of Cage frights erstwhile Longlegs arrives July 12, but it’s conscionable 1 notch connected a database of memorable fearfulness performances.

Here are our 10 favourite Nic Cage fearfulness roles truthful far—so far, due to the fact that we expect he’s got a batch much successful him yet to come.

Longlegs, Longlegs (2024)

The movie’s not adjacent retired yet (read io9’s reappraisal here), and Nicolas Cage’s creepy serial slayer is already inching toward horror-icon status. His quality successful Longlegs unsocial is profoundly unsettling, but the malevolence of his quality and his crimes lurk astir each framework of the movie. Catch it successful theaters July 12.

Paul Matthews, Dream Scenario (2023)

While Dream Scenario itself mightiness beryllium much of a phantasy thriller than a fearfulness movie (read io9’s reappraisal here), what happens to Cage’s character—a desperately mean antheral who abruptly starts appearing successful the dreams of loved ones, acquaintances, and full strangers—is each kinds of terrifying. Stream connected Max.

Count Dracula, Renfield (2023)

The vampire’s long-suffering adjunct is the main quality successful this gory fearfulness drama (read io9’s reappraisal here), but casting Cage arsenic a colorful, ruthlessly campy rotation connected Dracula is the movie’s not-so-secret weapon. Stream connected Prime Video.

The Janitor, Willy’s Wonderland (2021)

The movie itself–about animatronic characters astatine a family-fun edifice that travel to murderous life–might person been overshadowed successful the pop-culture rankings by the akin (yet mode much high-profile) Five Nights astatine Freddy’s. But Freddy’s doesn’t person Cage arsenic a drifter who proves to beryllium rather the resourceful ass-kicker erstwhile he’s locked successful overnight with the kill-crazy critters. Stream connected Freevee.

Nathan Gardner, Color Out of Space (2019)

Cage goes Lovecraft successful this adapted communicative astir a begetter who moves his household to a farm—only to spot agrarian beingness instrumentality a monstrous crook aft a meteor hailing from an highly psychedelic satellite lands successful their yard. That’s what you get for moving anyplace adjacent anyplace called “Arkham.” Stream connected AMC+.

Red, Mandy (2018)

This hallucinatory travel into madness and revenge is elevated by Cage’s show arsenic a antheral unafraid to crook to utmost unit erstwhile his woman is kidnapped and killed by a cult person who has a demonic, acid-gobbling biker pack astatine his beck and call. Stream connected Shudder.

Brent, Mom and Dad (2017)

In this pitch-black fearfulness comedy, a abrupt improvement transmitted arsenic static done screens mind-controls parents everyplace to slaughter their children. Cage’s quality starts disconnected the movie with 2 kids, truthful you cognize he’s going to crook deliciously murderous—and past his ain parents amusement up with likewise diabolical desires. Stream connected Starz.

Behmen, Season of the Witch (2011)

Cage buddies up with Ron Perlman successful this communicative of 13th period knights whose galore worries see gruesome crusade assemblage counts, the bubonic plague, and–oh yeah–a pistillate accused of witchcraft who mightiness really beryllium possessed by a demon instead. In lawsuit you’re disquieted Season of the Witch plays immoderate of this excessively seriously, request we punctual you who its main co-stars are. Stream connected Peacock.

John Milton, Drive Angry (2011) 

Cage plays a feline truthful determined to forestall a Satanist from sacrificing his granddaughter to the cause, helium escapes from Hell, commandeers a vintage Dodge Charger, and, well: spot movie title. If you truly privation to perpetrate to “Cage, furiously burning down the highway,” flip connected his not-really-horror Ghost Rider movies (2007 and 2012) portion you’re astatine it; they’re not rather up to Marvel Cinematic Universe levels of quality, but they do diagnostic Cage playing a feline whose skull periodically erupts into flames. Rent oregon bargain connected Prime Video.

Peter, Vampire’s Kiss (1989)

Not galore actors get to play two wholly antithetic riffs connected vampires, but adjacent those who bash would person occupation besting either of Cage’s arsenic over-the-top yet chiseled interpretations. He famously eats a cockroach successful this one. Stream connected Freevee.

Honorable Mention – Edward Malus, The Wicker Man (2006) 

A misguided remake, but 1 that begat Cage’s most-memed fearfulness show to date. Of course, the social-media masses haven’t seen Longlegs yet… truthful that’s taxable to change. Rent oregon bargain connected Prime Video.

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