Movies - TV
90s Scream Queens That Kept the Horror Movie Genre Alive
By JENN ADAMS
Kathy Bates
The ‘90s started with a bang with Rob Reiner’s adaption of Stephen King's “Misery,” with Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes. Bates’s performance as the unhinged nurse and obsessed fan earned her an Academy Award, and the scene where she hobbles Paul is considered one of the scariest in the genre, establishing her as one of the decade's best scream queens.
Winona Ryder
Ryder’s first foray into horror was as Mina Murray in Francis Ford Coppola’s adaption of “Dracula,” which remains one of horror’s most romantic films. Ryder then made a name for herself in Tim Burton’s quirky horror comedies "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands,” before starring as the mysterious crew member, Call in “Alien: Resurrection.”
Virginia Madsen
The titular character of “Candyman,” may be one of the decade's most beloved killers, but Virginia Madsen’s performance as Helen Lyle the final girl who becomes entranced by the sympathetic villain is also noteworthy. Madsen’s portrayal of Helen is her most notable of the decade, but she secured her scream queen title in two other ‘90s horror films.
Heather Langenkamp
In the ‘80s Heather Langenkamp cemented her horror reputation in Wes Craven’s “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and 10 years later she reprised her scream queen role in the ‘90s with “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.” In the film, Langenkamp plays herself as she is hunted by Freddy Krueger in real life, for a meta-horror movie loaded with cameos and Easter eggs.
Natasha Henstridge
Horror movies might conjure up images of monsters, clowns, and homicidal maniacs, but Natasha Henstridge’s performance as the alien/human hybrid Sil in “Species” proves that horror can come from anywhere. Henstridge returns in “Species II” as Eve, the docile clone of Sil, for a sci-fi horror franchise with commentary on female sexuality and gender norms.