Robin Moon
With the recent release of Longlegs—a film that deserves every bit of hype it’s getting—it’s nice to see Nicolas Cage in the limelight again. The actor rose to fame mainly through a swathe of action movies in the late 90s/early 00s (not to mention becoming somewhat of a meme), but as his career has progressed, he’s traversed many genres. As well as being an actor, Nic Cage is also a film producer, having founded Saturn Films in 2000. In more recent years, he has used this acclaim to star in and produce a fair few horror films; some wacky, some downright creepy. Longlegs is one of the latter films well worth a watch, but I think it’s wise to use this spotlight to draw attention to some of Cage’s other bizarro horror films.
Mandy (2018)
This bloody revenge thriller is probably the most hyped-up film on this list, and for good reason. Although I personally didn’t enjoy Mandy as much as I expected to, Panos Cosmatos’ psychedelic horror is still an impressive feat of cinema.
The story kicks off when Red Miller (Nic Cage) and his girlfriend Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough) have a run-in with some cultists. They kidnap Mandy and burn her to death in front of Red. It’s as horrific as it sounds. After freeing himself, Red dedicates himself to enacting revenge on the cultists and biker gang who murdered Mandy. From here on out, Mandy is essentially a neon nightmare of gore and violence as Red cuts down all those who are to blame for their horrendous crime.
Cage’s portrayal of a man in mourning, bloodthirsty and filled with righteous rage, is a treat to watch. His actions are incredibly cathartic and deeply entertaining; he forges a BATTLE AXE, for goodness’ sake. It’s so cool! There’s not a whole lot of plot occurring in Mandy, but the stunning visuals make up most of the appeal, as well as Cage taking center stage.
Color Out of Space (2019)
Richard Stanley’s adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft’s short story of the same title is nothing short of a spectacle. I am admittedly biased here, being a fan of Lovecraft, body horror, and cosmic horror. In the original story, there isn’t much action, as it’s more about the unspoken, indescribable terror than actual events. But the movie adaptation takes the concept and runs with it.
Nic Cage plays Nathan, the father of the family whose backyard the eponymous color out of space (depicted as a kind of meteor) lands in. The whole family becomes contaminated by the strange effects of the color, each responding in different ways. Cage’s performance as a father exhibiting uncharacteristic rage and slowly spiraling into insanity is about as spot-on as you’d expect. It’s as entertaining as it is devastating. There are some choices he has to make that give a lot of tension to the narrative and make for a deeply disturbing viewing experience. You’ll want to desperately look away, but you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the screen.
The Wicker Man (2006)
As well as being a remake of the 1973 film of the same name, Neil LaBute’s version of The Wicker Man also draws from the original source material, David Pinner’s 1967 novel, Ritual. This remake was met with a lot of negative reviews, but I would implore you not to dismiss it so easily! I genuinely enjoyed it as much as the original film, and I think it very much has its own merits.
The Wicker Man follows policeman Edward Malus (Nic Cage) as he travels to a remote island off the coast of Washington in search of his ex-fiancée’s missing daughter. The island is home to a group of neo-pagans whose customs Malus is entirely unused to. Of course, things aren’t all as they seem, and the situation unfolds as Malus attempts to find the missing girl. The central plot of the 2006 remake is much more personal than the original due to the relationship of the protagonist to Willow and, by association, her missing daughter. This personal element, although arguably not necessary, adds an extra layer of investment for Malus.
Cage plays this confused, sometimes explosive desperation extremely well. Sure, the “not the bees!” scene has been joked about a lot, but don’t let it undermine Cage’s stellar performance. The protagonist is supposed to be unlikeable, and he gets the balance between that and being fun to watch just right.
Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
Despite seeming like a Five Nights at Freddy’s knockoff, Willy’s Wonderland is an unexpected gem of a horror film. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic pushed back the film’s release, and it never ended up getting a worldwide theatrical release. I ended up watching it on a whim on streaming services when it got released, and I was glad I decided to!
Kevin Lewis’ wacky horror focuses on an abandoned family entertainment center in Nevada. The animatronic mascots of the place, left to rot, turn out to be sentient and, of course, murderous. Nic Cage’s character, simply known as “the Janitor,” ends up trapped in the building after taking a job as a night-shift janitor in return for getting his car fixed. Alongside him, a group of teens attempting to burn Willy’s Wonderland to the ground get swept up in the action trying to save the Janitor. They know the real story behind the center and animatronics, which is why they’re trying to get rid of it once and for all.
Throughout the entire runtime, Nic Cage doesn’t utter a single word, yet his performance speaks volumes. The Janitor is stoic, efficient, and completely unfazed by the terrifying homicidal creatures around him. The way he continues his mundane tasks of cleaning and maintaining the equipment in spite of the chaos around him is both grounding and the most bizarre aspect of the story. He gets some fantastic kills too, which is always a hoot.
Renfield (2023)
When I saw that a re-imagining of Dracula centered on his servant Renfield, starring Nicholas Hoult and Nic Cage as Dracula himself was coming out, it instantly shot to the top of my watchlist. And let me tell you, Renfield did not disappoint. From start to finish, it’s an explosive, gory, goofy roller-coaster of a film, and I had a blast the whole way through.
In Chris McKay’s vision of Dracula, the vampire overlord is essentially an abusive employer. He manipulates Renfield into capturing victims for him, granting him immortality and special powers in return. After relocating to New Orleans, Renfield joins group therapy and works to overcome his codependent and toxic relationship with Dracula. As well as this, the duo becomes involved with a crime family and has to deal with that too.
An oddly perfect metaphor, action-packed plot, and visually impressive aesthetics provide the backbone of Renfield. But Nic Cage’s performance as the infamous vampire is every bit as excellent as I imagined it would be. He’s sadistic and aggressive, while also providing comedic moments that will make you laugh out loud. Plus, it seems Cage was having the time of his life in the role!
Vampire’s Kiss (1988)
It would be remiss of me not to mention the most recognisable, original Nic Cage horror; the wonderfully absurd Vampire’s Kiss. This film is a masterclass in horror-comedy. Don’t let the memes undercut the value of it! Robert Bierman perfectly executes a story that initially seems to be humorous, but gradually becomes darker and more disturbing as it unfolds.
Nic Cage plays Peter Loew, a narcissistic and sleazy literary agent with severely declining mental health. His hedonistic lifestyle leads him to unexpected circumstances, and the remainder of the film depicts his response to this. This is undoubtedly Cage’s most out-there performance to date. I mean, the man insisted on eating cockroaches instead of a raw egg because it would “shock the audience”, wanted to use a real bat instead of a remote control one, and legitimately broke most of the props in the room when going on a rampage in Loew’s office. No one can say he’s not dedicated, that’s for sure.
What I love about Vampire’s Kiss is, à la American Psycho, the ambiguity surrounding the events of the story. Is Peter actually experiencing the supernatural, or is he completely delusional? It very much seems to lean towards the latter, but it’s ultimately for the audience to decide. Aside from this, the film is utterly compelling and is certain to leave a mark.
When you’re at the comfortable later stage of your career as Nic Cage is, why not do whatever the hell you want? His performances and characters are all so varied that you know you’re always going to get something different. The only typecast that applies is ‘slightly-to-very unhinged man’, especially in horror, and Cage always puts his all into his portrayal of this. Whatever the role, he is always completely convincing. So if you’re in the mood for an insane horror movie, Nic Cage is the way to go. Sit back, relax, and let the madness unfold.
