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Who Became Famous From The Faculty Movie

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Scary Movies and Series

The Faculty Starred A Lot Of Famous People

The Faculty (1998) was a break out movie for so many actors and actresses we now know as totally famous today.  There are many actors who had also already well-established themselves going into their role in the alien-invasion horror thriller. And the all-star cast of The Faculty work very well together, despite much of the talent being very early in their careers. The movie was hip and a real gem to be a part for everyone involved.  It is scary, suspenseful, interesting and a little funny at times (keeping it light for all types of audience members).  So, who ultimately got their break out role from The Faculty in 1998? Let’s take a look at both, some of the newcomers at the time and also some of the established actors who took part in the sci-fi horror flick!

Famous People Starring In The Faculty

There are a lot of famous actors and actresses in The Faculty. This is the comprehensive list, in order of whom most likely benefited the most from playing in the movie. Careful, there may be a couple small spoilers strewn throughout!

Josh Hartnett

When many people think of The Faculty, they think of Josh Hartnett.  He played the ultra-cool “repeating his senior year” Zeke Tyler, who drove an awesome muscle car and dealt drugs (his own concoction).  After The Faculty, Hartnett moved on to star in several other films, including horror flick 30 Days of Night.

Elijah Wood

No one can think of The Faculty without also recalling Elijah Wood‘s infamous performance as the bullied nerd that saves the world. He even ends up getting the girl in the end!  After saving the world from aliens, Wood would go on to star in the Lord of the Rings franchise (and other films).

Jordanna Brewster

Jordanna Brewster may have played a total b*tch throughout most of The Faculty, however, her character was most certainly believable and memorable.  Her break out performance in The Faculty would land her several other roles in many other movies, including the extremely popular The Fast and The Furious franchise.

Clea DuVall

Clea DuVall played the science nerd who comes up with the “full conspiracy theory” and how to resolve the situation. Her character was critical in overcoming the aliens.  Since The Faculty, DuVall has taken several other roles, both in movies and several TV shows.

Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen did a great job of playing a rather complicated role in The Faculty, a teacher that does a complete 180 degree personality adjustment.  She goes from being an innocent, shy, rather pathetic English teacher, to a snarky, witty and sleek dressing alien who knows how to defend herself.  Following The Faculty, she would become the famous Jean Grey in the X-Men series.

Laura Harris

Laura Harris had a great opportunity to play one of the central roles in The Faculty, very early in her career. She was responsible for being the new student in school, as well as the queen alien.  Playing both a heroine and a villain is complicated, but she did great! Harris has since landed roles in several other projects, including TV shows Dead Like Me, Women’s Murder Club, and the ever-popular 24.

Shawn Hatosy

Shawn Hatosy played Stan in The Faculty, a jock who decides he wants to quit the football team and improve his study habits. As other characters point out, this change in character comes at a rather convenient time, when everyone is suspicious of whom could be an alien.  Hatosy picks up several other roles after The Faculty, in such movies and projects as Alpha Dog, Reckless, and Southland.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek came into The Faculty with some previous experience, and already having attained fame.  This did not stop her from providing an outstanding performance as the school nurse in the movie, and going on to star in several other films afterwards.

Usher

Usher plays a key role in the movie, the jock that replaces Stan as he quits the football team (the team always needs a captain). He makes for a rather scary alien who becomes a problem multiple times throughout the film. Usher has obviously had plenty of success since The Faculty.

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart is a science teacher at the high school in The Faculty.  He is both, a convincing teacher and also a terrifying alien.  He suffers probably one of the most gruesome deaths at the hand of Hartnett’s character, Zeke.  Stewart has had plenty of success, both before and after The Faculty.

faculty movie famous castRobert Patrick

Robert Patrick plays one of the most iconic villains in the movie, the coach of the football team. He is a brutal competitor, wanting to push his team to success at all costs. This obsession of success and dominance only becomes amplified as an alien.  Patrick played in many other films and television series, both before and after The Faculty.

Bebe Neuwirth

Bebe Neuwirth played the unforgettable Principle Drake, who many of the heroes and heroines believe is the lead alien.  She is very convincing, both as a good guy and a bad guy.  She is very well-known for roles before and after The Faculty.

Christopher McDonald

Christopher McDonald is the father of Elijah Wood’s character in The Faculty.  He looks, talks and acts like a real dad would from that time and does a great job of disciplining his kid.  He has been known for many films both before and after The Faculty.

Jon Abrahams

Jon Abrahams is often overlooked in The Faculty, but he plays a character that does have a recurring role throughout the film, labeled as one of the students in the high school.  He is the boyfriend that is fighting with his girlfriend throughout the first part of the movie. He later stars in many films himself, including another horror flick, The House of Wax remake in 2005.

Final Words About The Faculty Cast

The Faculty is one of the most underrated alien-horror films out there. It’s got a truly “all star” cast, and they do a great job of capturing the high school era at the time, while making the alien invasion plot as believable as it could be.  The movie is chilling, cunning, and creates true paranoia in the characters and audience alike.  Who could be an alien? Who could be the head alien? And how do you stop them?  The Faculty is a sci-fi horror thriller that all horror fans should watch at least once!

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Who Became Famous From the Halloween Movies?

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Scary Movies and Series

Famous Actors and Actresses that Started In the Halloween Franchise

The Michael Myers Halloween films date back to 1978 and have featured some pretty radical kill scenes…however, there were some truly talented actors and actresses who got their big break from starring in one of these horror slashers.  The franchise was such a success, right from the start, that it spawned success that would be experienced across a number of careers! Check out some of the biggest winners from the horror favorite that is the Halloween franchise.

Actors Made Famous From Starring in the Halloween Movies

Jamie Lee Curtis

As a horror movie icon from her time spent as Laurie Strode in 7 of the 13 Halloween movies (including the in-production 2018 film), she cannot be ignored as a clear number one winner emerging from the franchise. Jamie’s first role of any real notoriety absolutely boils down to the first Halloween movie in 1978.  She put on a fantastic performance fleeing her brother back then, and has since graced the horror franchise with her presence in subsequent chases throughout the years. Jamie Lee Curtis’ character might be one of the only people able to truly understand, control, trap or otherwise kill her famed Halloween-killing brother, Michael Myers.

Josh Hartnett

Josh got pretty good traction in the horror genre, and specifically was very positively received in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. Playing John, the son of Laurie Strode, he is one of the prime targets when Michael Myers returns to wreak havoc! Josh and Jamie have a seemingly instinctual dynamic between them that makes their mother-son relationship in the movie feel extremely natural and real.  Honestly, Josh does so well that it is pretty unbelievable that Halloween was his first feature film.

Jodi Lyn O’Keefe

Like Josh Hartnett, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe’s first hollywood movie credit rests well with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998).  Jodi Lyn plays Sarah, who suffers one of the most terrifying deaths of all of the Halloween movies, including the use of a dumbwaiter!  Sarah’s character may not have survived the entire flick, but her death was not in vain…for Jodi Lyn’s performance would launch the successful career she enjoys today.

Tony Moran

The first actor to play Michael Myers in the Halloween original (1978), was Tony Moran.  Although he would receive a small amount of work throughout the following few decades, it seems the last few years have been much better to Tony.  Perhaps he is finally getting the recognition he deserves for his stellar performance as one of the first most horrific slashers, who changed the horror genre forever!

Nancy Stephens

Crazy Dr Loomis’ nurse, Marion can be found in 3 of the Halloween films. Before the 1978 Halloween hit, Nancy would only achieve success in TV…making Halloween her break out movie role!  She reprises her role in Halloween II (1981) and again in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). Unfortunately, Marion is killed off rather early in the beginning of the 1998 film, along with the explained death of Dr Loomis.  Still, Nancy died with dignity and put on a heck of a show!

LL Cool J

It is true that LL Cool J had a small handful of roles before Halloween H20…however, many attribute his break out “on-screen” role to Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). LL Cool J played a likable protagonist (Ronny), an inspiring erotic novelist working as a very convincing security guard.  He almost gets murdered by Michael and narrowly escapes an almost fatal accident to end up surviving! After the experience, Ronny decides to write a romantic thriller.

Larisa Miller

Larisa also received her first feature film role in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), like many others. She played Claudia, who barely survives an encounter with Michael Myers while taking her daughter to the bathroom in the beginning of the movie. She would go on to have a small bit of success in TV, however, must have chosen to retire after 2007…despite a career seemingly on the uprise from her part in the movie.

Other Hollywood Icons and Legends Who Got Their Start in Halloween

Severed head from Halloween Horror Movie

John Carpenter

John Carpenter is an extremely talented individual, contributing a number of credits to so many titles throughout his career. He even contributed to the Halloween soundtrack, writing the main theme song to Halloween that still makes the audience tremble today.  It is more than arguable that Halloween could have been Carpenter’s true break out role as a director…as it is much more widely known than his only real prior hit, Assault on Precinct 13.  And Carpenter, without a doubt, was the spine of the original Halloween movie.

Rick Rosenthal

Another famous director responsible for a lot of hits that are enjoyed today, Rick Rosenthal, got his big feature film break directing a Halloween film.  Rosenthal was responsible for Halloween II, which is amazing considering the success of the first film and Rosenthal only having a single episode of TV as experience in directing. Regardless, he would produce an incredible scare that has been admired for years to come that is the first sequel in the hit horror franchise.

Final Notes About the Halloween Franchise

It would not be right to address famous actors and actresses getting a big break from the Halloween movies without mentioning the actor who famously played Dr Loomis.  Donald Pleasence is a huge part of the story line and suspenseful drama throughout the movies.  While Donald was widely known and quite famous before assuming the role of the demented killer’s mental doctor…there is no questioning his notoriety and glory living on larger and more vibrant than ever through the Halloween films.

There is absolutely no doubt that the horror franchise, especially the slasher sub-genre, would ever be the same without the influence from the Halloween franchise horror films.   Each person played their part (pun intended), creating the legend the still haunts the screen on the occasional Halloween. And while Michael Myers may be immortal through his on-screen terror, he could not have done it alone.  Without the collaborated effort of all the crew and cast involved in the making of the Halloween movies, these movies simply would not be the polished horror we know them as today!

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Who Became Famous From the Jaws Movies?

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Scary Movies and Series

Famous People Who Acted in a Jaws Movie

Although there were only 4 Jaws movies, it certainly feels like there were going to be more. In fact, there is even a joke about it in Back to the Future Part II which features a “Jaws 19” holographic movie promotion.  Still, there are a number of Hollywood gems who sparkle throughout the sea fairing horror film.  And while some are more notable than others, Jaws has done a great job in truly bringing out the best in many! Let’s go over some of the biggest Jaws stars, who weren’t so big when they took the role.

Who Got a Big Break in the Shark-based Horror Franchise, Jaws

Roy Scheider

Although Roy had a somewhat lengthy career pre-Jaws, he had remained mostly an unknown.  He was also not Spielberg’s first choice.  He did, however, turn out very well and the film would not be the same had anyone else been cast as Chief Martin Brody.  After Jaws, Scheider would receive many other roles and see a very fruitful career, all the way up until his death in 2008.

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard is a super convincing oceanographer, Matt Hooper.  Basically, Richard plays the role of an educated pursuit of the unknown very well and his character develops into an extremely resourceful survivor by the end of it all!  Richard most certainly contributed to the stellar performance that is Jaws…so much so he would go on to see a great deal of additional success throughout his career (even to this day)!

Lorraine Gary

Although Lorraine would retire shortly after her success in Jaws, she would retain her role as Ellen Brody from the original Jaws film, two more times (playing in a total of 3 Jaws films). She also starred in 1941 and a couple other hits post-Jaws involvement.

Jeffrey Kramer

After Jeffrey played Deputy Hendricks in the Jaws franchise, he found a great deal of success both as an actor and a producer alike.

P.H. Moriarty

Mr. Moriarty started acting much later in life than most…however, saw a skyrocket in the value of roles offered to him after he played Jack Tate in Jaws 3-D (1983). He would go on to be known for hits such as Patriot games and ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’.

Dennis Quaid

Although it could be argued Dennis got his start in a number of films, some predating his role as Mike Brody in Jaws 3-D, he most certainly saw a tremendously GREAT DEAL of success post-Jaws.  Dennis  is known for starring in blockbusters like: Frequency, Far from Heaven, In Good Company, The Day After Tomorrow, and Vantage Point.

Simon MacCorkindale

Jaws 3-D also spawned success for actor Simon MacCorkindale…who played Philip FitzRoyce in the shark-terror flick.  Post-Jaws, Simon would be offered roles such as Professor Jonathan Chase in Nightman and Peter Sinclair in Counterstrike.

Lea Thompson

Lea Thompson played Kelly Ann Bukowski in Jaws 3-D and then shortly thereafter be noticed for the Back to the Future franchise.  Lea would receive the valuable role of Lorraine Baines in all three of the Back to the Future movies…as well as a well-sought after role of Beverly in Howard the Duck.

Jaws horror movie painting of a shark attacking a man on a boat

Karen Young

Like Lea Thompson, Karen luckily received her role in the Jaws franchise relatively early in her career. She was cast as Carla Brody in Jaws 4: The Revenge (1987). Subsequently, she would receive notable roles in hits such as 9 ½ weeks (as Sue), Torch Song Trilogy (as Laurel), and Daylight (as Sarah Crighton).

Final Notes About the Jaws Franchise

Despite the many actors and actresses which have found fame and greater success from playing in a Jaws movie…there are many other performers who have contributed greatly to making the Jaws franchise what it is today.  If it were not for the many well-known associated actors and considered actors (who didn’t take the role or were turned down), the brand would never have provided so much fuel for those who needed the big break!

A special tip of the hat goes to Robert Shaw, who played Quint…a Horror Enthusiast favorite!

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Who Became Famous From the Saw Movies?

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Scary Movies and Series

 Any Famous People Come From Saw?

The Saw movies are one of the most gruesome and sadistic horror franchises of them all!  As much as the franchise focuses on the torture and suffering of its death scene victims…a few talented performers had their break out role in a Saw movie.  Here are some of the most prominent actors and actresses which got their real start from dying in a Saw movie…

Leigh Whannell

Wayne is well known today for his roles in the Insidious franchise, among other films. Before Insidious, however, Leigh played Adam Faulkner-Stanheight in the original Saw movie…where all his magic began!

Erik Knudsen

The younger actor playing Detective Matthew’s son in Saw II, Erik Knudsen, saw a plethora of opportunities after his performance in the Jigsaw torture house! Being that Erik was only 16 at the time of the first Saw movie, he has had the opportunity to grow more diversely into the opportunities that have been presented.  Some of Erik’s more recent work includes: Youth in Revolt (2009), Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010), and Scream 4 (2011).

Shawnee Smith

Although Shawnee was known from the movie “The Blob” in 1988, it was not until she assumed her role of Amanda Young in the Saw franchise that she received mainstream success. Although she would receive many other roles in a number of other projects after the original Saw, she would also go on to play Amanda 3 more times in Saw II, Saw III and Saw VI.

Tobin Bell

Tobin Bell as Jigsaw

There may be a little hesitation in adding Tobin Bell to this list, as he did have a huge acting history before Saw (dating all the way back to 1979, in fact).  Truth be told, however, most of Tobin’s roles were uncredited or too insignificant to land him mainstream publicity.  Playing John Kramer (aka Jigsaw) in Saw (2004), nearly 25 years after his first movie role, landed Tobin his international fame and household recognition status.  Tobin would reap continued success from the Saw franchise for years to come.

Michael Emerson

Michael is another actor who had many roles before Saw, but did not seem to achieve mainstream success until making an appearance in Saw. After his role in the first Saw movie, Emerson would be picked up for a number of big projects and lead roles including: 4 seasons of Lost (TV), 5 seasons of Person of Interest (TV), and even the Joker in the 2013 Batman movie!

Final Notes

The Saw franchise is most notorious for the torture devices and creepy Jigsaw killer (doll included). Although the number of actors and actresses which get funneled through the death scenes is rather large, very few of the faces seem to turn up mainstream success afterwards.  Still, the movies are made in an extremely realistic fashion and all actors or actresses who die a Jigsaw death deserve a round of applause!

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Who is the Smartest Horror Movie Killer?

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Featured Scary Movies and Series

HORROR MOVIE KILLER WITH THE HIGHEST IQ


When it comes to horror movie killers, some are simply smarter than others! As a horror fan, one realizes quickly that the variations between franchises and their villains can be widely diverse. Some horror movies feature hyper-intelligent killers who are able to outwit nearly any protagonist…keeping the audience’s jaw fixed to the floor. Other horror movies invite super dumb killers to the screen who chase their victims best, but with little to no cunning or wit at all! Ultimately, all horror movie killers can be ranked by IQ and their intelligence in kills. So who is the smartest horror movie killer?

Horror Movie Killers, Ranked by Intelligence (IQ)

Puzzle Box Horror has included the most notable killers along with their IQs per our expert opinion. Here is a complete list of our favorite horror movie slashers and killers ranked by intelligence!

Jigsaw [IQ: 158]

jigsaw with one of his genius traps
jigsaw in real life

Saw’s Jigsaw Killer, John Kramer is so smart that he continues to kill movie after movie, long after his autopsy where we see messages being extracted from his very corpse! One of the most influential factors which make Jigsaw the #1 Smartest Horror Movie Killer, is that he planned all of these additional killings (in one fashion or another) in advance of his own predicted death. If planning weren’t enough, Jigsaw’s traps absolutely reek of genius. He always manages to add a personal flair and the chance of painful retribution for his victims, ultimately making them the bringers of their own demise through choice.

Pinhead [IQ: 154]

what is pinhead's iq
how smart is pinhead

Clive Barker’s ingeniously sadistic Hellraiser series brought us one of the more recognizably stylish and unmistakably brutal of horror movie killers, Pinhead. Pinhead is an interesting entity; ominous and authoritative in speech and with a wide variety of demonic torture methods at his fingertips. Summoned with the Lemarchand Configuration, Pinhead draws from another realm entirely, making him far less restricted as a killer than someone of earthbound flesh. In all, Pinhead is one of the most powerful and intelligent killers on this list, with prospects of taking over the entire world!

The Zodiac Killer [IQ: 145]

Based on a real-life killer and told in meticulous detail (The producers even hired a private investigator to track down the real-life Zodiac survivor, Mike Mageau!) David Fincher’s Zodiac gives us a glimpse into a devious and cunning killer with an obsession with ciphers and cryptograms that he would send to the police, claiming that if they were not printed publicly then further killings would occur. The self-named Zodiac was never caught to this day, and some of his codes have yet to even be cracked!

Hannibal Lecter [IQ: 140]

Hannibal Lector's iq
how smart is Hannibal

Silence of the Lambs spawned Hannibal Lecter, a devious killer who is able to literally cut open someone’s skull, remove, cook and eat the victim’s brains, all right in front of their eyes! Hannibal is educated, assumes the identity of a doctor, and convinces others to kill and mutilate, making him a super manipulative killer, and the third most intelligent horror movie killer.

John Doe [IQ: 132]

David Fincher’s Se7en gave us one of the sharpest, and easily one of the downright creepiest killers to ever grace the screen with John Doe. As he plays out his master plan of sin-related carnage he stays two steps ahead of the pursuing detectives at all times, only appearing to them, and the audience, when he so chooses. Patient and methodical to a terrifying extent, John Doe is responsible for one of the most chilling endings to a horror film ever, and Kevin Spacey’s skin-crawling performance ensures he stays in your mind long after the credits roll.

Patrick Bateman [IQ: 125]

Mary Harron’s American Psycho is more a pitch-black deconstructive jab at yuppie culture than a straight-up slasher, though the gleefully psychotic centerpiece of this story, the sadistic Patrick Bateman, helps it tread confidently between the two. Patrick is cool, suave and sophisticated, wealthy enough to maintain an illusion of pure class while he satiates his bloodlust in the shadows. He seems to use serial killing as a form of self-improvement and while he is one of the more unstable entries on this list (see his reaction to a colleague’s superior business card for example) he is also one of the more successful and intelligent.

Freddy Krueger [IQ: 121]

Freddy Krueger with knife glove

Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger is a little predictable, but still puts on a really good show. Freddy pulls off a number of creative deaths and outsmarts a lot of really resourceful protagonists. One of the most important factors to consider, is that Freddy often comes back for victims that have survived the past movies, finding new ways to overcome and slay them. Freddy Krueger maintains a respectable 5th place when it comes to horror movie killer IQs!

Chucky [IQ: 111]

characters' myers briggs
Chucky

Child’s Play’s Chucky is a doll inhabited by a desperate fugitive serial killer, Charles Lee Ray. Charles is not too bright himself, often being outwitted or otherwise outdone by a child or other dimwit character. However, given the nature of most other horror movie killers, Chucky still rakes in a strong 6th place!

Ghostface [IQ: 102]

Ghost Face Horro rMovie Killer in his costume

Scream’s Ghostface killer ends up being two of the high school students involved in the plot from the start. Protagonist Sidney Prescott’s boyfriend (Billy) and her friend (Stu) are the killers, sharing the same outfit in order to manipulate the characters throughout the scenes faster and with less suspicion. Still, a team of high school killers hatch a plan smart enough to outscore a lot of the more traditional hack and slash jobs!

Michael Myers [IQ: 78]

what is michael myers iq
how smart is michael myers

Halloween’s Michael Myers has a variety of movies to showcase his intelligence, but he just doesn’t meet the bar! He is constantly outsmarted by characters that get away time and time again…most notably being Dr Loomis, who can be found in a number of Halloween movies constantly trying to reacquire and actually track Michael Myers.

Jason Voorhees [IQ: 69]

what is jason voorhees's iq
how smart is jason voorhees

Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees is portrayed as a disabled child in Freddy Vs Jason (2008) and has had several other references made throughout his films insinuating he is mentally challenged. He still manages to kill an astronomical amount of people rather quickly…probably because he is too stupid to play with his food!

Leatherface [IQ: 67]

Leatherface with his saw acting crazy and not so smart


Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface wins the award for the most deranged killer, being that the character is literally mentally challenged. Leatherface is supposed to be the result of a redneck, Texas inbred family (referenced in some of the flicks themselves), who lives life by following family orders. Still, as low of an IQ as Leatherface might have, he is no less entertaining, finding ways to make the same types of kills interesting every time!

Final Word on Who is the Smartest Killer


Not all of the killers we see in horror flicks are slashers, making the running a lot harder for first place! There are many creative ways a smarter killer is able to showcase a death and a lot of these movies feature proof of exactly that!

Have a killer you’d like to see ranked? Leave your comment below and we’ll assess the monster/slasher and add them to the list!

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