Top 10 Over the Top Horror Acting Performances

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Over-the-Top Horror Acting Performances. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most exaggerated performances in horror movies. We’re not using “over-the-top” to mean “bad,” necessarily … just extremely theatrical. We’ll be mentioning some major plot points, so a spoiler warning is in effect. What did you make of these performances? Tell us as dramatically as possible in the comments!

#10: Al Pacino

“The Devil's Advocate” (1997)
Al Pacino certainly knows how to chew the scenery, and often plays larger-than-life figures with big emotions. In the case of “The Devil's Advocate”, he portrays Satan himself. Pacino hams it up as the Devil, giving the role the exaggerated personality that it deserves. He shouts at the top of his lungs and delivers fiery, grandiose monologues. His magnified performance is made even starker next to Keanu Reeves, who gives a typically more … reserved performance. It’s a match made in movie heaven, leading to some gripping scenes in an otherwise mediocre movie.

#9: Crispin Glover

“Willard” (2003)
Crispin Glover has a distinct personality and acting style. Often seen as eccentric, Glover was the perfect choice to play Willard Stiles. The title character is more than a little odd, and eventually turns evil when he starts controlling a colony of flesh-eating rats. Glover gives a great performance, coming across as suitably kooky. That said, the movie often borders on parody. Willard is the prototypical outcast, both in looks and personality, and Glover mines the character for all its hammy worth. Watching him is a ton of fun.

#8: Piper Laurie

“Carrie” (1976)
Carrie’s mother Margaret might not be the main character in Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s epistolary novel. But actress Piper Laurie sure does put Margaret front and center. A religious fanatic obsessed with sin, Margaret spends a lot of her time on screen praying, screaming, or abusing her daughter. While Laurie received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, she never took the film - or her character - very seriously. She initially thought Margaret was so over-the-top, the movie must be a satire, and would laugh between takes.

#7: Jeff Goldblum

“The Fly” (1986)
David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” is a body horror masterpiece, following a scientist who gradually turns into a humanoid insect. It’s B-movie material, but it’s elevated thanks to strong direction, Oscar-winning special effects, and a great lead performance. Gleefully over-the-top, Jeff Goldblum bellows, slams tables, and throws himself wholeheartedly into “Frankenstein”-esque monologues about nature and “insect politics.” It’s somehow goofy, and compelling at the same time - but then again, that’s kind of Goldblum’s forte.

#6: Matthew Lillard

“Scream” (1996)
Casting Matthew Lillard as one of the villains in “Scream” was a brilliant move. No one would suspect Lillard’s character, goofy Stu Macher, of being a murderer. He’s likable, funny, and even a little kooky. Yet in the end, it’s revealed that Stu was working with his buddy Billy the whole time. Even during the shocking reveal and bloody climax, it’s hard to take him seriously. Lillard is clearly having the time of his life, putting on silly voices, cracking jokes, and toying with Sidney like a kitten batting a mouse. He comes across as genuinely unhinged, and it’s glorious to watch.

#5: Nicolas Cage

“The Wicker Man” (2006)
Nicolas Cage has made a career out of over-the-top roles. This has worked well when paired with the right character. But Edward Malus in the 2006 remake of “The Wicker Man” was not one of those characters. As always, Cage commits 100% to the role. But the result is a B-movie character in a horror film that tries to play it straight, and the contrast doesn’t do anyone any favors. Cage’s most outlandish scenes have become memes, and for good reason. They’re utterly hilarious. The bees, indeed.

#4: Bette Davis

“What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962)
This film from director Robert Aldrich expertly toes the line between psychological horror and camp, with the latter coming through in Bette Davis’ outlandish performance. She plays the titular Baby Jane Hudson, a former child star who has become an alcoholic. Believing herself responsible for a car accident that left her sister Blanche paraplegic, the guilt-ridden and resentful Jane torments her sister, relishing her condition. Davis chewed the scenery to a tenth Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Jane is the poster child for insane characters, and it’s all thanks to Davis’ enthusiastic performance.

#3: Kathy Bates

“Misery” (1990)
Stephen King sure knows how to write over-the-top characters. One of his greatest creations is Annie Wilkes, a deranged fan of author Paul Sheldon. Annie houses Paul after a car accident and forces him to rewrite the ending to his beloved “Misery” series. Infantile and entitled, she flies into aggressive tantrums in ways that are meant to exaggerate the ‘obsessed fan’ trope. Bates is spectacular in the role, expertly shifting from kind and caring to completely psychotic. It’s no wonder she took home the Oscar for Best Actress.

#2: Robert De Niro

“Cape Fear” (1991)
Robert De Niro is not typically one to overact. But he goes for broke as the vengeful Max Cady in “Cape Fear”. After Max gets out of prison, he begins stalking his old lawyer, Sam Bowden. Max takes great glee in tormenting his old attorney, and De Niro is clearly enjoying the opportunity to play such a fun character. He’s excellent throughout the film, blending camp and genuine terror into a unique concoction that is hard to pin down. He even speaks in tongues as he drowns. This could have been a disaster in the wrong hands, but De Niro makes it work.

#1: Jack Nicholson

“The Shining” (1980)
No one plays crazy like Jack Nicholson, and “The Shining” is his masterpiece in that regard. Jack Torrance slowly loses his mind throughout the film, thanks to the influence of the haunted Overlook Hotel. There were signs, however, from the beginning. He can barely stand the company of his own family, and he eventually descends into the type of full-on madness that only Nicholson can portray. His angry outbursts make for some of the most iconic scenes in movie history, with Nicholson hamming it up to an almost comedic degree. It’s undoubtedly over-the-top, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.