Stay on the Horse!
I think there needs to be a surge of horror westerns from the movie makers over the next couple of years. I love horror and westerns and think there should be way more cross overs made (and written). Obviously one of the key requirements of staring in a western is an ability to stay on a horse – not quite as essential in the majority of horrors.
So let’s take a look at the actors who have crossed from one genre to another (and see if they spend any time in the saddle when they’re not filming.
We should start with the obvious ones first I think….
Kurt Russell
Let’s face it he just has the right face for it, and then there’s that amazing ability to just suit the long sideburns and whiskers. He also seems to know his way around a horse. And if that wasn’t enough he has a lovely gravelly voice that lends itself to trail weary rider and don’t cross me or you’ll meet your maker horror characters.
Riding Outside of acting: He’s been doing westerns forever! And has owned and ridden horses most of his life, so it’s no wonder he looks so damn good riding.
Westerns: The Hateful Eight, Bone Tomahawk, Tombstone, The Quest, Gunsmoke, and many more (apparently I’ve been watching him my whole life in westerns and never connected him from one to the next).
Horrors: Bone Tomahawk, The Thing, Death Proof, Terror in the Aisles
Horror Westerns: Bone Tomahawk
Val Kilmer
Who could forget his portrayal of Doc holiday- ‘I’m your Huckleberry’- in Tombstone? Val always looks comfy on a horse because, not only does he ride them in movies, he’s owned several of his own.
Riding Outside of acting: Has owned his own horses and recently shared a picture of one of his late horses on Facebook.
Westerns: Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Tombstone, Billy the Kid, The Missing,
Horrors: The Thaw, 7 Below,
Horror Westerns: 0
Johnny Depp
It almost feels wrong including Johnny, but it has to be said that he did act in a couple of westerns and he’s done a few movies that are considered horror. But I always think of him s Captain Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean (I like pirates too).
Riding Outside of acting: Adopted the horse he rode in one of his movies. His mother owns a horse ranch, but no matter how hard I dig I can’t find anywhere that says he rides regularly outside of acting roles.
Westerns: Dead Man, The Lone Ranger,
Horrors: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Sleepy Hollow, Dark Shadows, Sweeny Todd, Secret Window, Edward Scissorhands, From Hell, The Ninth Gate,
Horror Westerns: 0
Samuel L. Jackson
The way I hear it Mr Jackson waited a long time for the right western to come along, and is it any surprise a Tarantino movie gave him the opportunity to fulfil a dream? He does make a good cowboy, although I’m not sure about his riding skills, he seems a little ungainly in the saddle (maybe it’s his height). As for horror movies well there was that one time he was in snakes on a plane…does that count?
Riding Outside of acting: Not sure that he does – couldn’t find anything to suggest he’s a natural born horseman
Westerns: Hateful Eight, Django Unchained
Horrors: 1408, Deep Blue Sea, Snakes on a Plane, Juice, Sphere, Def by Temptation, Cell, Twisted, The Exorcist III,
Horror Westerns: 0
Ethan Hawke
An actor who seems to have done a bit of everything through the years. But I think he is paying more attention to what he chooses to act in and what he brings to the role. A hard worker by all accounts I’ve been loving some of his recent horrors. As for westerns, Ethan has starred in a few.
Riding Outside of acting: Not a pleasure rider but learned to ride for his movies.
Westerns: In a Valley of Violence, The Magnificent Seven, The Newton Boys
Horrors: Regression, Sinister
Horror Westerns: 0
Mads Mickleson
Well here’s a versatile actor if I ever did lay eyes on one. Hannibal brought him fully to my attention – what that man can do in the kitchen! But only in 2014 did he star in the western The Salvation. And that’s not his only horror or western or movie riding horses. He does look good on a horse, and comfortable too, like he’s meant to be there. I’d like to be his horse.
Riding Outside of acting: A great rider who puts in a lot of practice to get it right.
Westerns: The Salvation
Horrors: Hannibal
Horror Westerns: Cut Throats Nine
Daniel Craig
Best known for his role as Bond I would be lying if I said I didn’t want him to keep on in that role. But he’s also ridden a beauty of a horse in Cowboys vs Aliens (and well I might add), as well as staring in a number of horror films.
Riding Outside of acting: None – the reason he looked so accomplished in the saddle? Stunt double.
Westerns: Cowboys & Aliens
Horrors: Dream House, Shockers: The Visitor, The Hunger, Tales from the Crypt
Horror Westerns: 0
Tom Hardy
With his recent stint alongside Leonardo Dicaprio Tom has now been indoctrinated into the world of movie westerns. That’s a thing! Seriously! Okay, no it’s not. And he’s done a horror movie or two as well. As to his riding skills…I hope he can get over his fear and do a few more movies in the saddle.
Riding Outside of acting: Horses scare him
Westerns: Lawless, The Revenant,
Horrors: Sweeny Todd
Horror Westerns: 0
Leonardo Dicaprio
Thought we’d best mention him too, what with his recent movie with Tom Hardy. He’s done a western or two. And there’s definitely been at least one horror.
Riding Outside of acting: I’m thinking it’s not something that’s widely known if he does.
Westerns: Django Unchained, The Quick and the Dead,
Horrors: Shutter Island,
Horror Westerns: 0
Horror Westerns
So all these guys have done westerns and horrors, I don’t see why there aren’t more of these crossovers. I guess there has to be someone with a good script idea, someone to write it, someone to look at it and think ‘Yip, that’ll work’ and someone to put some money behind it. If you include movies that aren’t necessarily westerns but are set in the pioneer times, when Europeans were first going across to America, like The Witch, there is a lot of scope for these types of movies. And I for one would love, love, love to see more. People battling the elements as well as the nasties – what could be better?
Kate xxx
Horror and Fantasy Author – Also writing as K.T. McQueen. Love Western Horror, cowboy boots, my cactus Collin, & my Demon Cat.
Moths – I hate moths, the way they flutter at your face!
