Similar Films: What other films have the actors been in?

The Grudge

Sarah Michelle Gellar: She was known for playing the main role in the TV series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This shows that this actress has previously starred in something that holds a convention of the horror genre, meaning she may play a good role in a horror film. She has also starred in other horror films such as:

• I Know What You Did Last Summer
• The Grudge 2(sequel)
• Scream 2- in this film, she played a ditzy soroity girl who became a victim of the killer because she ran upstairs instead of getting out of the house. This shows that Sarah Michelle Gellar does not always play the main role of the protagonist, as in Scream 2, she was playing the role of a character paradigm, as audiences of horror films will be expecting the film to include a ditzy blonde female character.
• The Return

As well as horror, she has also starred in the live action versions of Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2, which are films that include conventions of horror films, such as monsters and ghosts, but it suitable for children.

The Ring

Naomi Watts: she starred in the sequel, The Ring 2, but overall is not known for being in horror films, as she has starred in films that vary in genre, including dramas or romantic films. Despite not being an actor familiar with the horror genre, she still received positive reviews for her performance in The Ring, with critics saying "She is excellent in this leading role, which proves her stellar performance in Mullholland Drive was not a fluke. She strikes a perfect balance between sceptism and the slow realisation of the truth in regard to the deadly power of the videotape."
This proves that actors who have not been in a horror film before can exceed the expectations of the audience and the critics.

The Crow

Brandon Lee: He was not known for making films outside the genre of Kung-Fu action, like his father, Bruce Lee. However, making the supernatural horror fantasy The Crow gained him critical acclaim, especially after his tragic death before the filming finished. The Crow proved to the critics that Brandon Lee could act in other films as well as Kung-Fu action and that he could potray emotionally damaged characters.

Tony Todd: played a villain in The Crow. This actor has been in several horror films including:

• Night of the Living Dead (1990)
• Candyman
• Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh
• Candyman: Day of the Dead
• WishMaster
• Hatchet
• Hatchet 2
• The Final Destination franchise

This shows that this actor is well-known for starring in horror films and because of the roles he has played, directors of horror have chosen him to act in their films, as he will be able to make a character from the horror genre work because of his experience, especially seen as he received high critical acclaim for playing the role of The Candyman.

Drag Me to Hell

Justin Long: This actor starred in the film as the victims boyfriend. He is mainly known for starring in comedy films or family films such as:

• Dodgeball
• The Break-Up
• The Alvin and The Chipmunks live action films
• Herbie Fully Loaded
• Funny People
• Pineapple Express
• Going The Distance

Although, he has acted in the action movie Die Hard 4.0 and some horror films which are Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2 and After.Life.
This shows that actors who are well known for only starring in a certain genre can sometimes pull away and star in something that is of a completely different genre to what they are known for.