- Horror movies often get a bad wrap -- too violent, too exploitative, too cliche, too many women walking around casually not wearing bras (because don't we all wear button downs half undone with nothing underneath?) -- but if we look at them a little closer, we see the great equalizer of the cinematic universe.That's right. Horror movies are a place where many of the brightest stars in the Hollywood firmament once appeared early in their careers, including unexpected actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlize Theron, George Clooney, Jon Stewart, and Katee Sackhoff. And these roles that need to be celebrated for the star-making turns they (maybe, probably, kinda) were.Did you fall in love with Renée Zellweger singing "Sugarhigh" to you in Empire Records? Then light a jack-o-lantern for her terrorized prom goer in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, which was filmed before Empire, but released after. Bonus co-star? Matthew McConaughey, playing perhaps the most psychotic role of his career as Vilmer Slaughter. Do you swoon over George Clooney or stand in awe of his seemingly endless reservoir of screen talents? Then dig Return to Horror High out of moth balls and behold the majesty of his pre-ER mullet. But don't blink! He's a first kill. And yes, that isMarcia Brady erotically rubbing blood all over her body - for no reason! Think the new Carrie is Chloë Grace-Moretz's first brush with the horror cannon? Go back and re-watch The Amityville Horror from 2005 (above). Though we understand if you can't see past Ryan Reynolds' pre-ScarJo six-pack (24 pack?).Contrary to appearances, these fine specimens of stage and screen were not grown in labs. They were not flown in from some magic island and dropped into our laps camera-ready. They worked long and hard, putting in their time getting murdered by cornstalk monsters, aliens, and sadistic sociopaths. Remember, having skeletons in your closet is some JV material. But having Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, or Leatherface kicking around in there? That's when you've made the varsity team.Check out some of the best pre-A-list horror performances above.Above:
Chloë Grace-Moretz
Movie: The Amityville Horror (remake)Year: 2005Age: 8Role: Chelsea Lutz, youngest of the Lutz daughtersFate: LivesSince then: Now starring as the title character in the new Carrie Jon Stewart
Movie: The FacultyYear: 1998Age: 36Role: Professor Edward Furlong, high school science teacherFate: Lives, but briefly becomes an alien host and loses an eye and four fingersSince then: Host of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning The Daily ShowJoseph Gordon-Levitt
Movie: Halloween H20: 20 Years LaterYear: 1998Age: 17Role: Jimmy Howell, well-meaning neighborhood boyFate: Dies first, by ice hockey skate to the faceSince then: Wrote, directed, and starred in this year's indie romantic comedy Don JonRenée Zellweger
Movie: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next GenerationYear: 1994Age: 25Role: Jenny, Final Girl/heroine who has to survive the Slaughter family on her prom nightFate: Lives (uncovers Illuminati plot)Since then: 1 Oscar win, 2 more nominationsGeorge Clooney
Movie: Return to Horror HighYear: 1987Age: 26Role: Oliver, an actor playing a cop on the set of horror movieFate: First to dieSince then: 2 Oscar wins, 6 more nominationsMila Kunis
Movie: American Psycho II: All American GirlYear: 2002Age: 19Role: Rachael Newman, criminology student who became obsessed with serial killers after watching Patrick Bateman kill her babysitterFate: Lives after faking deathSince then: Esquire's sexiest woman alive, all-around hilarious and hotBen Affleck
Movie: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The only clip we could find was in Spanish.)Year: 1992Age: 20Role: Basketball player who shows up for a matter of secondsFate: Lives (Probably. It's unconfirmed.)Since then: 2 Oscar winsKristen Stewart
Movie: Panic RoomYear: 2002Age: 12Role: Sarah Altman, one half of the mother-daughter combo stuck in a panic roomFate: Lives, survives asthma attackSince then: Became Bella Swan, Snow White, Joan Jett, GF of R.Pattz, perfecter of hair-flippingJennifer Lawrence
Movie: House at the End of the StreetYear: Filmed in 2010, released in 2012Age: 20Role: Elissa, heroine starting a new life with her mom who befriends the troubled boy in the house at the end of the streetFate: Lives, starts a new life with her mom, againSince then: 1 Oscar win, 1 more nomination, Mystique and Katiniss EverdeenTaylor Kitsch
Movie: The CovenantYear: 2006Age: 25Role: Pogue Perry, super hunky prep school student and member of the Sons of Ipswich warlock collectiveFate: Lives, wears a speedo in swim classSince then: Tim. Riggins.Charlize Theron
Movie: Children of the Corn III: Urban HarvestYear: 1995Age: 20Role: Young woman (uncredited), child of the cornFate: Death by mutant corn stalk monsterSince then: 1 Oscar win, 1 nominationChris Hemsworth
Movie: The Cabin in the WoodsYear: Filmed in 2009, released in 2012Age: 27Role: Curt Vaughn, the hottie buff-guy friendFate: Dies thirdSince then: ThorKatee Sackhoff
Movie: Halloween: ResurrectionYear: 2002Age: 22Role: Jen, the wild child friendFate: Killed fourth, by decapitationSince then: Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica and recently starred in RiddickMatthew McConaughey
Movie: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next GenerationYear: 1994Age: 25Role: Vilmer Slaughter, alpha male/head sadist of the Slaughter familyFate: Death by plane propellerSince then: Coming up in Martin Scorcese's The Wolf of Wall StreetJohnny Depp
Movie: A Nightmare on Elm StreetYear: 1984Age: 21Role: Glen LantzFate: Dies after Freddy pulls him into a hell hole through his bedSince then: 3 Oscar nominationsKeira Knightly
Movie: The HoleYear: 2001Age: 16Role: Frankie Smith, boarding school girlFate: First to dieSince then: Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and (roughly) 1 million period piecesNaomi Watts
Movie: Children of the Corn IV: The GatheringYear: 1996Age: 28Role: Grace Rhodes, heroine who comes home to work in the local doctor's office only to find the town's children possessed by a demon forceFate: Saves the daySince then: 2 Oscar nominationsMaggie Gyllenhaal
Movie: Donnie DarkoYear: 2001Age: 24Role: Elizabeth Darko, sister of DonnieFate: Lives because Donnie sacrifices himself for the worldSince then: 2 Oscar nominationsRooney Mara
Movie: A Nightmare on Elm Street (remake)Year: 2010Age: 25Role: THE Nancy Holbrook, Final Girl/heroine and nemesis of Freddy KruegerFate: LivesSince then: 1 Oscar nominationViggo Mortensen
Movie: Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3Year: 1990Age: 32Role: Edie "Tex" Sawyer, murderous member of the infamous Sawyer clanFate: Death at the hands of the heroine, MichelleSince then: Played Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings moviesMichelle Williams
Movie: Halloween H20: 20 Years LaterYear: 1995Age: 25Role: Molly Cartwell, student at the boarding school presided over by an incognito Laurie StrodeFate: Lives, tries to kill MichaelSince then: 3 Oscar nominationsHilary Swank
Movie: Buffy the Vampire SlayerYear: 1992Age: 18Role: Kimberly, wack friend who jacks Buffy's swag, sells her out to vampiresFate: Lives, gets knocked out by school principalSince then: 2 Oscar winsPaul Rudd (credited as Paul Stephen Rudd)
Movie: Halloween: The Curse of Michael MyersYear: 1995Age: 26Role: Tommy Doyle, hero and all grown up version of the boy Laurie Strode babysat in the originalHalloweenFate: Lives, "kills" Michael Myers (who can't be killed)Since then: Judd Apatow movie darling, coming up in Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesMichael Emerson
Movie: SawYear: 2004Age: 50Role: Zep Hindel, troubled man caught in Jigsaw's webFate: Beaten to death with toilet tank coverSince then: Benjamin Linus on LostLiev Schreiber
Movie: ScreamYear: 1996Age: 31Role: Cotton Weary, acquitted for the murder of Maureen PrescottFate: LivesSince then: Currently playing title role in Showtime series Ray DonovanKate Mara
Movie: Urban Legends: Bloody MaryYear: 2005Age: 22Role: Samantha Owens, heroine who solves the vengeful hauntings by the ghost of Mary BannerFate: LivesSince then: Currently playing reporter Zoe Barnes in the acclaimed Netflix series House of CardsLucy Hale
Movie: Fear IslandYear: 2009Age: 20Role: Megan/Jenna, an underclassman who stows away to join the island getaway of a bunch of cool high school friendsFate: Dies last by stabbingSince then: Currently starring as Aria Montgomery on the hit ABC Family show Pretty Little LiarsEmily Mortimer
Movie: Scream 3Year: 2000Age: 29Role: Angelina Tyler, plays Sidney Prescott in Stab 3, secretly slept her way to the partFate: Dies fifth, by stabbingSince then: Currently starring in HBO's Aaron Sorkin show The NewsroomElizabeth Olson
Movie: Silent HouseYear: 2011Age: 22Role: Sarah, terrorized heroine cleaning out her family's vacation homeFate: LivesSince then: Coming up in the English-language remake of OldboyAmber Heard
Movie: SideFXYear: 2005Age: 19Role: Shay, a teenager caught up in the world of a medieval sex drug that turns users into bloodthirsty monstersFate: ?Since then: Currently playing an agent undercover as a Texas beauty queen in Machete Kills
Read More......
Chloë Grace-Moretz, Jon Stewart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Renée Zellweger, George Clooney, Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Kitsch, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Katee Sackhoff, Matthew McConaughey, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Naomi Watts, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rooney Mara, Viggo Mortensen, Michelle Williams, Hilary Swank. Paul Rudd (credited as Paul Stephen Rudd), Michael Emerson, Liev Schreiber, Kate Mara, Lucy Hale, Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Olson, Amber Heard,
Please share the posts to any social networks you are on. The more people visit the more content I will add. Live Chats are on the way.
