Hello, and welcome to the final full week of Horrorfest 2020! It’s insane to me that we are already at the end of the month of October, but all good horror must come to an end. This week, I am focusing on some of the most influential actors and actresses in horror and their terrific performances that have made our favorite scary stories that much scarier. Please enjoy our final full week of Fandom Horrorfest!
Vincent Price
A lot of people don’t realize it, but horror movies have been with us for over 100 years! Since the first horror film–The House of the Devil–graced humanity way back in 1896, some of the most prolific actors have performed in the medium during their careers, some of them quite often. There’s a lot of arguments over who is the best or most influential horror actor over the course of history, and while I’m not sure there is a definitive answer, Vincent Price is inarguably in the conversation. It’s difficult to find a classic horror movie that he’s not in, and possibly even more difficult to find a modern horror movie that isn’t a remake or reimagining of something he originally starred in. Price is well-known for his work in such famous horror classics as The House of Wax, House on Haunted Hill, The Fly, Theater of Blood, Tower of London, and countless more. While his worth to the development of horror is iconic, it is also important to study the man behind the screen, for Price’s personal development–much like his black-and-white performances–is something that needs to be understood within the context of its history.
Price’s daughter outed his anti-Semitism and Nazi sympathies in her biographical book and shared his private support of blacklisting certain minorities in Hollywood. This is a dark chapter in Price’s life, and while many people may be quick to brush it aside and chalk it up to “It was a different time back then,” I’m not OK with doing that. And to be honest, I feel rather vindicated in that stance by the fact that Price himself later felt the same way about his prejudices. Beginning in the 50s, Price renounced his earlier anti-Semitic and racist opinions and urged the country to push for racial tolerance. Further, Price was a massive supporter of gay rights–a tenuous position to take in the 50s and 60s for someone of his stature–and worked for years to build support for the gay community in America. Price’s personal life displays the ability to change for the better, to realize the error in one’s own prejudices, and to work to undo the damage one might have caused in their ignorance. I’ve seen cancel culture advocates try to discourage a celebration of Price’s accomplishments in film, including horror movies, and while I understand the detestable nature of Price’s earlier convictions, it’s irresponsible to also ignore the attempts at repairing the damage he had done as the late actor grew older and wiser. I believe he can also be used as an example of what exposure to other cultures and backgrounds can do for people regardless of situation. Price was a rich, privileged white male actor who found fame in the 40s; if anyone could be said to be a lost cause for progressive ethics, it would be someone like him. But the people who meant the most to him never stopped working on his heart, and as a result he became an active supporter of racial and sexual minorities within the industry. It’s difficult and unfair to examine the evolution of horror if we don’t also consider the development of one of horror’s greats and consider how we too might grow and be better to our fellow humans in the scope of some of the nightmares we live through now.
My favorite Price movie is The Last Man on Earth, an early adaptation of the book I Am Legend. It’s an excellent example of early existential horror and showcases Price’s ability to carry a scene by himself. Additionally, any true horror fan or general film buff owes it to themselves to watch the original House on Haunted Hill, perhaps Price’s most well-known role.
