All 4 of Josh Hartnett’s Horror Movies, Ranked

Josh Hartnett He will forever be the quintessential teen star of the 90s and early 2000s with his roles as Trip Fontaine in Virgin Suicide and his amazing ability to effortlessly take on the cheap and cool teenager. However, some of Josh Hartnett's best roles come from his underrated status in horror His melancholic nature was able to seamlessly transition from the stereotypical teen to darker horror movie roles where his talent could really be seen.

Despite the uneven quality of some of the films Josh Hartnett has been in, he has been equally successful in these horror roles. And with his return to Hollywood in M. Night Shyamalan's trapIt seems appropriate that we take the time to learn about the other horror roles and films that Josh Hartnett has excelled in.

4 Trap (2024)

Recently released and directed by acclaimed director M. Night Shyamalan, trap It's a thrilling, if somewhat awkward and cliched, serial killer story starring Josh Hartnett as “The Butcher.” Critics were divided between trap A new age horror film, the story revolves around Hartnett's character, Cooper, who attends a concert with his daughter. Cooper soon realizes that the entire concert is a trap so that the police can find and arrest “The Butcher”.

trap The film has plenty of clichés and unintentionally funny moments, but it's still an engaging horror story that's reminiscent of some of M. Night Shyamalan's more powerful and twisty films. The performances, including that of M. Night Shyamalan's daughter, who plays Mrs. Raven, are surprisingly dynamic, adding a touch of realism to the film's artificiality.

Although it is lengthy and somewhat scary, trap This film remains a great addition to Hartnett's repertoire, especially since this is one of his first major roles in Hollywood since his quiet retirement.

Josh Hartnett's dedication to the character is evident.

Josh Hartnett's portrayal of a serial killer with OCD and a history of abuse is incredibly well done. Hartnett masters his expressions and perfectly balances the charming side Cooper uses in front of his family, as well as his psychopathic side when he wants to do something.

There’s no doubt that the film would have been stronger had Hartnett’s identity as a serial killer not been revealed until near the end. However, that doesn’t stop Josh Hartnett from being engaging throughout the film. While he’s occasionally silly due to inappropriate jokes and his failed attempts at teen slang, Hartnett handles the film with a complete and professional quality, making it a film worth watching just for the sake of it.

3 College (1998)

the collegeDirected by Robert Rodriguez, this sci-fi horror film is a very fun and rebellious film about a group of high school students who discover that their teachers are actually aliens planning to take over the Earth. With amazing performances from celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Clea Duvall, Salma Hayek, and Josh Hartnett, the college It has already established itself as one of the sci-fi and horror classics of the 90s.

Although the film manages to use a lot of high school stereotypes, such as stereotypical outcasts, nerds, jocks, and bad boys, the college The film completely upends this idea by the end of the film, revealing the multifaceted characters and talents, just as the aliens were at the beginning. Even the CGI effects are still relatively solid and still leave modern audiences feeling disgusted.

Josh Hartnett turns the bad boy concept on its head.

Josh Hartnett plays Zeke Tyler, a troubled kid and drug dealer who missed his final exams and had to repeat his senior year of high school. Hartnett perfectly embodies the image of a bad boy, appearing mischievous and carefree at the beginning of the film. Despite his initial traits, during the alien invasion, he is revealed to be one of the smartest kids in school. Zeke then uses his scientific intelligence to help save the world alongside his unlikely classmates.

Although Josh Hartnett was often cast in these roles, he ultimately succeeds in this one, and Hartnett reveals his character's humanity while also saving the world. Overall, this makes the college An incredibly fun and engaging take on the genre and reveals one of Josh Hartnett's most beloved performances.

2 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

While the franchise is both beloved and frustrating due to its many sequels and impossible Michael Myers revivals, Halloween H20 revisits Laurie Strode after she fakes her own death and moves to California under a new identity. By this time, she has given birth to a son, played of course by John Hartnett. Compared to the more recent interpretations and sequels of the franchise, Halloween H20 is one of the last films to truly treat Laurie’s character with thought and care.

By trying to bring Laurie into normal society and get past most of her trauma, the Halloween franchise has given itself multiple opportunities to expand its story, and the film succeeds in bringing authenticity to the series. With an impressive cast, Halloween H20 certainly stands out as a worthy addition to the Halloween universe.

Josh Hartnett is the perfect addition to your Halloween.

As always, Josh Hartnett gives a very convincing and intelligent performance as a teenager stuck in a claustrophobic home due to Laurie’s trauma. Adding John to the franchise is also the perfect outlet to continue Laurie’s character arc, rather than restricting her to the victim in every film in the franchise.

Furthermore, the acting between Jamie Lee Curtis and Josh Hartnett is excellent, and their arguments feel 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 It's a new, underrated, classic vampire horror film that's surprisingly scary and subversive compared to other vampire films like twilight And Dracula by Bram Stoker These novels tend toward fantasy romance. By avoiding the idea of ​​seductive vampires, 30 days of night Reveals a unique and poignant perspective on vampires.

Produced by Sam Raimi, the film's influence is evident as the effects effectively create a terrifying, desolate scene of a haunted Alaskan town undergoing its annual 30-day night. The film follows the town's sheriff, Eben, as he defends his town from vampires who have decided to invade it during the winter. The film manages to balance action, gore, and human moments that highlight the relationship Josh Hartnett builds with the town and with his wife in the film, Stella.

Josh Hartnett plays the humble hero.

Josh Hartnett is an unexpectedly likable horror hero who protects his town from vampires. Even before the horrific situations the town faces, Eben is still a good person and cares about everyone who finds himself living there for the winter. Josh Hartnett's character even makes one final sacrifice and becomes a vampire so that he can effectively fight them with his newfound strength.

This movie is incredibly interesting not only because it upends the vampire genre, but also because it puts Josh Hartnett in the spotlight in a “hero” role that he doesn't usually get. 30 days of night He shows his talent in all genres and scenarios while also demonstrating through his performance the underrated nature of this film.