Even a villain has more than one side to explore.
Many actors, especially younger actors, get their start doing scary movies. Although often looked down on by acting gurus, horror and thriller films have an important place in the industry. To make a successful movie, directors need good acting performances. Acting in scary films draws on some of the same skills as acting in other movies; you simply have to tweak your technique and stay focused.
Playing Bad Guys
A bad guy, or villain, in a scary movie should be more than just bad; he must be evil. However, he also must be human, with at least one redeeming quality that makes the viewer question his motives. When the villain's evil side takes over, the audience will hate him even more. When playing a bad guy, explore all the character's layers. Play him as a person--one who does evil, horrible things but is human just the same--and not a monster.
Playing the Victim
The victim is a person who is outplayed or surprised by the "bad guy" killer. As the victim, you want the audience to feel for you, try to help you avoid your deadly situation and ultimately mourn your death. The victim is usually a common everyday person, so the character should be played as any other, with distinctive personality traits and interests that make him or her unique. As the death scene approaches, allow your character to become more apprehensive, unsure and tense (if your character thinks the killer might be after her). Your death scene is your big movie moment, so make the most of it by really "selling" the death and making it memorable. Screams are a big key to playing a memorable victim, so perfecting your screech is recommended.
The Scream
Having a great scream is a must to be successful in scary movie acting. Breathe in through your nose, then out through your mouth. Think of something horrifying or shocking that happened to you and remember how you felt. Use those emotions to propel your acting to the next level and bring out that scream. Drink lots of water to keep your lungs moist and enable you to power out your voice.
Working With Props
Scary movies often use props such as weapons, fake blood, body parts and other gore-filled elements. Ask to see or touch the props you'll be working with prior to rehearsals and filming, then you won't be surprised in the wrong way while on camera. Even if you touch a knife or severed hand ahead of time and know what's coming, you must act surprised when the actual shooting begins. Remember your reaction when you saw and touched the props for the first time as you prepare for your next scene. Convince yourself the props are real and you'll convince your audience.
Horror Versus Thriller
Horror film acting and thriller film acting have a couple of differences. Horror films allow for more "over the top" acting to produce appropriate reactions to the horrible situations on screen. Thriller films require more subtle acting. Thrillers are developed around dialogue and the suggestion of terrifying things (such as serial killers, monsters and the supernatural) rather than showing those things in gruesome detail to the audience, the way a horror film does. When acting in a thriller, focus on the dialogue and how you react to your scene partner's lines.
