Josh Hartnett will forever be the quintessential teenage heartthrob of the ’90s and early 2000s with his roles like Trip Fontaine in The Virgin Suicides and his incredible ability to take on the sleazy and cool teenager effortlessly. However, some of Josh Hartnett’s best roles come from his underrated place in the horror genre. His brooding nature was able to seamlessly cross over from the teenager typecast and into darker horror movie roles where the extent of his talent can really be recognized.
Despite the varying quality of some of the films Josh Hartnett found himself in, he has thrived just as much in these horror roles. With his Hollywood comeback in M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap, it only feels right to take time and recognize other roles and horror movies that Josh Hartnett has excelled in.
4 Trap (2024)
Newly released and directed by the infamous M. Night Shyamalan, Trap is a gripping, though somewhat cringe and kitschy, serial killer story starring Josh Hartnett as “The Butcher.” Divided among critics, Trap is a new age horror film featuring Hartnett’s character, Cooper, as he attends a concert with his daughter. Cooper soon realizes the entire concert is a trap in order for police to find and apprehend “The Butcher.”
Trap is filled with clichés and unintentionally funny moments, but it is still an interesting horror story reminiscent of some of M. Night Shyamalan’s stronger films and twists. The performances, including M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter, who plays Lady Raven, are surprisingly dynamic, and it adds a touch of realism to the artificiality the film suffers from.
Though drawn out and only mildly scary, Trap remains a great addition to Hartnett’s repertoire, especially considering this is one of his first major roles in Hollywood since quietly retiring.
Trap
A man and his teenage daughter realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.
- Release Date
- August 2, 2024
- Cast
- Josh Hartnett , Hayley Mills , Marnie McPhail , Vanessa Smythe , Saleka Shyamalan , Malik Jubal , Jonathan Langdon , Peter D’Souza , Ty Pravong , Kaitlyn Dallan
Josh Hartnett’s Dedication to The Character Is Obvious
Josh Hartnett’s portrayal of the serial killer who suffers from OCD and past abuse is incredibly well done. Josh Hartnett masters his expressions and perfectly balances the charismatic side Cooper uses in front of his family, as well as his sociopathic edge when he wants something done.
Undoubtedly, the film would have been stronger if Hartnett’s serial killer status wasn’t revealed until closer to the end. However, this doesn’t stop Josh Hartnett’s performance from being engaging throughout Trap. Though goofy at times with poorly-timed jokes and out-of-touch attempts at teenage lingo, Hartnett still tackles the film completely and expertly, making it a film worth watching just for his comeback alone.
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3 The Faculty (1998)
The Faculty, directed by Robert Rodriguez is an intensely fun and subversive sci-fi horror film that is centered around a star-studded cast of high schoolers that discover their teachers are actually aliens planning on taking over Earth. With amazing performances by celebrities like Elijah Wood, Clea DuVall, and Salma Hayek alongside Josh Hartnett, The Faculty already cements itself as a ’90s sci-fi/horror classic.
Though the film manages to use a lot of typical high school tropes, such as stereotypical outcasts, geeks, athletes, and bad boys, The Faculty completely subverts this idea by the end of the film and the multi-faceted personalities and talents are revealed, just like the aliens were in the beginning. Even its CGI effects still hold up relatively well and would still make modern audiences grossed out.
Josh Hartnett Subverts the Bad Boy Trope
Josh Hartnett plays Zeke Tyler, a troubled kid and drug dealer who missed his finals and had to repeat his senior year of high school. Hartnett completely nails the bad boy stereotype as he’s convincingly mean and uncaring in the beginning of the film. Despite his initial qualities, during the alien invasion, he is revealed to be one of the smartest kids in the school. Zeke then uses his scientific intellect to help save the world alongside his unlikely classmates.
Though Josh Hartnett was often type-casted into these roles, it’s what he ends up thriving in, and Hartnett reveals the humanity of his character while also saving the world. In all, this makes The Faculty an incredibly engaging and fun take on the genre and reveals one of Josh Hartnett’s most loveable performances.
2 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Though the franchise is both beloved and frustrating due to its many, many sequels, and many impossible revivals of Michael Myers, Halloween H20 revisits Laurie Strode after she has faked her death and moved to California under a new identity. In this time, she had a son, played by, of course, John Hartnett. Compared to more recent interpretations and sequels to the franchise, Halloween H20 is one of the last movies to really handle Laurie’s character with thought and care.
By trying to implement Laurie into normal society and move past the majority of her trauma, the Halloween Franchise gave itself multiple opportunities to expand her story and the film successfully brings originality to the franchise. With an impressive cast, Halloween H20 definitely stands out as a valuable addition to the Halloween universe.
Josh Hartnett Is The Perfect Addition to Halloween
As always, Josh Hartnett gives a very convincing and smart performance of a teen stuck in a suffocating household due to Laurie’s trauma. John’s addition to the franchise is also the perfect outlet to continue Laurie’s character arc, instead of limiting her to the victim in every movie in the franchise.
Moreover, the acting between Jamie Lee Curtis and Josh Hartnett is extremely well-done, and their arguments feel very real and tense, which adds to the overall suspense of the film outside of just Michael Myers.
1 30 Days of Night (2007)
Directed by David Slade, 30 Days of Night is a newer, but underrated, classic vampire horror movie that is surprisingly scary and subversive considering other vampire movies like Twilight and Bram Stoker’s Dracula that lean towards fantasy romances. By avoiding the trope of seductive vampires, 30 Days of Night reveals a unique and influential take on vampires.
Produced by Sam Raimi, his influence is clear as the effects efficiently create a horrific and desolate view of a haunted Alaskan town going through its annual 30 days of night. The film follows the town sheriff, Eben, as he defends his town from vampires who have decided to invade during the winter. The film manages to balance action, gore, and humane moments that showcase the relationship Josh Hartnett’s character builds with the town and with his wife in the movie, Stella.
Josh Hartnett Acts as an Understated Hero
Josh Hartnett is an unexpectedly endearing horror protagonist as he protects his town from vampires. Even prior to the dire situations the town runs into, Eben is still a good person and cares about every individual who finds themselves staying there in the winter. Spoiler: Josh Hartnett’s character even makes one final sacrifice and becomes a vampire so that he can effectively fight back against them with his newfound strength.
This film is immensely intriguing by not only subverting the vampire genre, but by also highlighting Josh Hartnett in the “hero” role he doesn’t usually receive. 30 Days of Night showcases his talent across all genres and scenarios while also making it clear with his performance the underrated nature of this film.
