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Five Finest Rutger Hauer Performances

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Some actors simply play a character in a film, but rarely will an actor make that character seemingly become real. Rutger Hauer is such an actor. His performances aren’t over the top, nor are they phoned in and infamously bad, but they are hypnotic in a way that feels nearly dangerous. It’s one of those rare instances where an actor disappears into a role and becomes something else. You don’t even notice he’s vanished and instead of seeing him on the screen, you see the character coming to life.

Having appeared in over 150 films to date, Rutger has undoubtedly played some of the most unnerving, psychotic and memorable characters in cinema history, undeniably able to convincingly become that character, like a nightmare come to life. So to celebrate his birthday, I’ve decided to take a look back at five of his performances that define how far he is able to take his talent.

Flesh + Blood
Rutger Hauer plays the least immoral and disgusting character in a film by Robocop director Paul Verhoeven full of despicable people, but hey… they didn’t call it “the dark ages” for nothing. Like most people of that era, Hauer’s character Martin is selfish and violent and you should, for every reason you will see, hate him. But this is where Rutger is able to show you what acting is and takes you for a little mind ride, as you actually start to side with this guy. Sure, he starts to make the right decisions, but does that make him a good person? It truly is debateable and you will be thinking about this long after the movie is over.

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Blind Fury
Unless this were a Zatoichi film, I would scoff at the idea of a blind samurai/Vietnam veteran rescuing the son of one of his buddies, but you throw Rutger Hauer in there and give him a sword, it will work. Now, I’m sure a stunt double was used for some of the sword fighting, but Rutger didn’t use this as an excuse to half ass it. Not only does the guy have to pretend he is blind, but he has to convincingly handle a sword. I couldn’t do either of those, one at a time, if I tried. And that fight scene with legendary Sho Kosugi…

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Blade Runner
Roy Batty is right, because this android is absolutely batty! This is the role he is probably best known for. He’s just an android who wants a longer life span and will do whatever it takes to get it, even if it’s impossible. He’s absolutely ghastly, but once again, you can’t help but feel where he is coming from and his desire to live a full life. Sure, he’s going about it a totally wrong and violent way, but is that because he was made that way? Either way, I don’t want to argue semantics, since we are here to talk about his performance, but maybe I just answered my question. It’s Rutger’s performance that is so (no pun intended) lifelike that makes it debateable.

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The Hitcher
If there anyone ever gives you the impression that you should be afraid of them, it’s definitely John Ryder. All the dangers of picking up a hitchhiker your parents warned you about are brought to life in this film. At first, he seems (kinda) normal, but quickly escalates into a shell of a person with no conscience or remorse, as he plays the world’s most shocking game of cat and mouse with the wimpy kid from Red Dawn. Such a raw intensity is brought to the role and even if you look at it like a cheesy horror flick, there is no denying that whenever Rutger popped up on screen, you were frightened and nervous. What Jaws did for swimming, I think The Hitcher did for people who pick up hitchhikers.

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Hobo With a Shotgun
Bringing the titular character to life in Jason Eisener’s larger than life, low-down dirty homage to exploitation films, he’s a character that has been through it all and seen it all… and he’s sick and tired of it. All he wants is to save some money to buy a lawn mower to earn an honest living, but society keeps spitting in his face until one day, he can’t take it anymore. He begins to deal out justice one shell at a time! You really feel sympathetic for this character and I have to admit, I questioned how maybe I have been treating others. Not that I treat people like crap, mind you, I just became more aware of it. For a low-budget film that was originally a fake trailer as part of a the Grindhouse contest, he really puts everything he has into this role to make you feel something for a character in a film that would be viewed as b-movie trash. Rutger turns this hobo who’s sick of society and crime running amok into a fearful vengeance machine. He’s just as loveable as he is dangerous, but you have nothing to fear as long as you are a good person.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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