Having already written a slew of articles about gorgeous young starlets and iconic (as well as future) scream queens, it seemed appropriate to craft a piece aimed at the ladies who follow horror. Women make up a sizable chunk of the fan base dedicated to our beloved genre, and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a few recommendations.
Who are the noteworthy young studs contributing today? Who should be making more horror films? Who should you be keeping an eye on? We’ve got answers… 20 of them to be precise!
Lou Taylor Pucci: Lou Taylor Pucci looks comfortable in front of the camera. He’s no ugly duckling, and from the few films we’ve seen him in, he looks to be a versatile performer. He’s already turned in excellent showings in the remake of Evil Dead, the insanely bleak Carriers and the recently released avant-garde creeper Spring. Keep your eyes on this kid; he could become a genre staple.
Dane DeHaan: The list’s young Leo (come on now, he’s damn near a spitting image!) has a certain spark about him that sets him apart from a large portion of his peers. This kid delivers with heaping portions of passion, and when he goes in for a role, he goes all in! Check him out in the surprisingly entertaining Chronicle, the arthouse werewolf flick Jack & Diane, and the recently released zom-com Life After Beth.
Bo Keister: There’s no shame in this statement: I love Bo Keister. That sounds wrong for more than a single reason, but by god it is true! Bo’s an awesome, approachable guy who enjoys what he does. That much is extremely evident. If you look into The Cabining, The Taking of Deborah Logan and all four volumes of The Hillbilly Horror Show, you”ll likely reach the same assessment. Keister’s found a niche that works like a charm; we’ll see if he continues to nurture his cinematic strengths.
Xavier Samuel: Never mind the whole Twilight business, this pretty Australian can actually act. Better yet, somehow, despite his petite frame, he makes for a fine hero and a resilient gent! His work in Bait was awesome, he was sound in Road Kill, and he absolutely slayed in The Loved Ones. The youngster will also make an appearance in the upcoming Frankenstein.
Ace Marrero: Ace is a cool cat. A really cool cat, in fact. We’ve shared more than a few conversations, and in doing so, I’ve come to realize that the man really cares about the horror genre (and MMA, which earns huge points in my book). I like that, and I like his work in front of the camera. He’s versatile (playing a rugged tough guy in Madison County, while portraying a very vulnerable victim in Roadside), and he’s got a grown man handsomeness that’s going to propel him into the upper echelon of the celebrity circle. Here’s hoping he continues to dedicate a large chunk of his time to the horror genre, as we need guys like him occupying the landscape.
Jonathan Cherry: Jonathan Cherry hasn’t always signed up for the greatest films (here’s looking at you, House of the Dead), but he has appeared in a few noteworthy features, like Final Destination 2 and the recently released treasure Wolfcop, in which he steals the show as a wise-cracking sidekick. Cherry’s been in the game for well over a decade, and he’s been involved in some memorable work outside of the genre, but horror is where he belongs. He’s a perfect fit for our gruesome brand of entertainment.
David Banks: You may not be too familiar with David Banks, but I assure you that he’s a certified badass. This guy can do it all. What may be more impressive is the fact that he’s proven he can do it all in the confines of a single film. Don’t believe it? Check out Cut!, a super spirited indie that calls for a pretty wide variety of emotions from Banks, who definitely owns the show. I’m chomping at the bit to see more work from this gent, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that he embraces a villainous role. The man was born to terrify, whether he realizes it or not.
Rhys Wakefield: Rhys Wakefield is still just a baby, but being well south of 30 with 18 credits to his name, he’s already proven he’s a perfect fit for the freaky flicks. He was good in +1, but he was damn good in The Purge. His upward trend and consistent improvement as a performer are good signs. His boyish good looks also open the door for some deceptive roles, which are always welcomed. We’ve got to see this guy embrace the bad guy role more. He’s good when he’s out to kill the innocent, as terrible as that sounds.
Brendan Fletcher: Now here’s a guy who’s been around for ages, lending his talents to a number of compelling genre pieces. He looked like the lone polished performer in Freddy vs. Jason; he was the only good thing about Leprechaun: Origins; he owned Rampage, Uwe Boll’s only decent film; and he proved his worth in more than one Ginger Snaps flick. Those are just a few of his memorable roles. The truth is, if Fletcher continues to invest his time working in horror, he could eventually become a modern day Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee or Vincent Price. He may not boast the physical presence of the aforementioned legends, but technically he’s up to par and is extremely dedicated and likable. We’re rooting for Fletcher and hoping he continues his assault on horror.
Anthony Bravo: A complete unknown, Anthony Bravo has a special gift that he’s able to apply to his trade. He proved that time and again in the extremely underrated Shock Value, which just so happens to be one of last year’s strongest indie efforts. Bravo’s performance is genuinely jarring, and if he can deliver with the same intensity in the future, he’s going to be a star. He’s already a star in these eyes; I’m just holding out hope that the horror genre calls to the man on a regular basis.
Joseph Morgan: Why the hell is this guy not jumping on any decent horror script to land in his lap? He’s passionate and commanding enough to carry a film all by his lonesome, which he proved with the pretty damn entertaining Armistice, and he sure as hell didn’t disappoint in another recently released, highly enjoyable terror piece, Open Grave. Morgan’s currently working on the somewhat cookie-cutter series “The Originals,” and while it’s good to see him sticking to genre work, he’s a guy worthy of stronger, far more intense productions.
Rupert Evans: Evans may not be the busiest guy out there. but his talent makes up for any lull in his work schedule. He just reminded us all how great he is with his jarring lead performance in The Canal, and he proved it previously with awesome efforts in Hellboy and the profoundly underrated creeper Asylum Blackout. He’s a beast on set, and the only complaint coming from this direction is that he hasn’t worked on more sinister material. We’ll see how the upcoming dark thriller Belly of the Bulldog turns out. It may just be enough to hold us over… temporarily.
Matt Mercer: Matt Mercer frequently appears in Eric England’s flicks, which seem to be getting better with each outing. Madison County was decent, but Contracted was a huge leap in quality on all fronts. Mercer doesn’t limit himself to England collaborations, however. He also appears in the inspired indie The Poisoning, Alien Encounter, Diary of a Serial Killer and the really fun short Trick or Treater: Part II, which for the record is directed by England. He’s got a great future, and his geeky good looks (I know this is a real phenomenon, as I’ve got a vocal wife; don’t think about it, Matt; I’ll dump you on your head!) guarantee him work in Hollywood.
Mark Webber: 13 Sins caught everyone off guard. It’s one of those low-key horror installments that doesn’t necessarily arrive on the heels of outrageous anticipation, but it did successfully steal the adoration of fans. It’s an awesome movie so there’s good reason. It’s also an important film because it really supports the belief that Webber should be making more horror films. A lot more. Webber’s already established himself a very capable guy (by the way, he can actually rap his ass off as well; he’s a man of multi talents), but he’s got to jump back into our world soon; he’s just too damn good to deprive us!
Arash Marandi: We’ve got another virtual unknown here, but his good looks and ability to mold himself to characters should change that sooner rather than later. If you happened to see A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, you know he’s got the chops to take center stage. His work in the upcoming Under the Shadow will likely see his stock continue to rise, which could very well open the door for future American genre productions, something many of us already ache to see him involved in. Keep your eyes on this kid!
Jesse Moss: Jesse Moss is already a young horror boss. He’s a good-looking kid who has been tearing his way through awesome Canadian productions and some strong television roles. He’s not a stranger to the genre, and he needs to keep it that way. It’s rare to see a handsome youngster pull off the villain convincingly, but Moss does it time and again. A few strong feature-length recommendations include Wolfcop, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Ginger Snaps, Final Destination 3, Extraterrestrial and The Uninvited; but you may have caught him shining on the small screen in shows like “iZombie,” “Are You Afraid of the Dark?,” “The Outer Limits” and “The Twilight Zone.” This guy rocks, and his place among horror greats will be irrefutable should he continue to deliver the chills in the years to come.
Max Thieriot: Max is a badass. Seriously, when you can lend something endearing to a movie like My Soul to Take, you know you’ve got something going for you. But Thieriot’s genre credentials don’t end there. He turned in a solid performance in House at the End of the Street, and he’s completely mesmerizing in the strange but addictive A&E hit “Bates Motel.” Max is another youngster who seems destined to carve a legacy in the genre, and we’re showing full support of the man!
Harry Treadaway: Treadaway is one of those guys you’ll likely recognize but won’t be able to name. That’s okay because things won’t remain that way for the youngster. He’s been showing up to showcase surprisingly polished chops in works like Cockneys vs. Zombies and the sleeper creep-out of 2014, Honeymoon. And now he’s moved on to impressive series work in Showtime’s kick-ass series “Penny Dreadful.” Harry, if you read this, do us all a favor and keep your eyes on the macabre prize; it’s working like a charm!
Rob Mayes: Where the hell is Rob Mayes? This guy blew minds in John Dies at the End and has yet to return to the genre. That’s a damn shame because this dude brings the kind of animation to film that we desperately need. We could, however, be in store for more greatness as Rob is currently filming the comic book creeper Day Six. Could it be the launch of a fine horror run? We’re certainly hoping so because this guy’s got the goods.
Jonathan Sadowski: If you want to see what a comfortable young performer looks like, look no further than the resume of Jonathan Sadowski. The Illinois native managed to emerge one of the most memorable players in the 2009 reboot of Friday the 13th, only to follow that up with a wicked performance in the Oren Peli-produced Chernobyl Diaries. He’s a comedian by nature, and there’s always room for laughs in this genre. Currently working in television, Sadowski needs to make a return to big screen shocks immediately. He could be something very, very special.