Tony Todd passed away on November 6, 2024, and was unforgivably overlooked at this year’s Oscars’ In Memoriam. A legend within the horror community, he was perhaps best known for his chilling performance as the titular character in the 1992 psychological horror film Candyman, but his career goes far beyond that.
Tony Todd starred in dozens of other films, including all the Final Destination movies except for the fourth installment, and will posthumously reprise his role in the upcoming sixth installment, Final Destination: Bloodlines. Todd was also in The Crow alongside Brandon Lee, the Night of the Living Dead remake, as well as The Rock, the Academy Award-winning film Platoon, and the biopic Lean on Me.
Never one to be afraid to take risks and a staple within the horror genre, here we’re looking at 10 great movies starring Tony Todd that are criminally underrated and never got the respect or recognition they deserved.
9
‘Caught Up’ (1998)
Caught Up
Release Date
February 27, 1998
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
Darin Scott
-
Cynda Williams
Trish / Vanessa
A story about an ex-con who finds himself drawn back into his old ways might not sound like the most original concept for an urban crime drama, but there are enough twists and turns to keep viewers engaged throughout, along with a healthy injection of humor to balance the drama.
Cynda Williams Is the Real Show Stealer
Tony Todd does a fine job as the parole officer, bringing his signature gravitas to the role and exuding an air of authority and quiet menace. Elsewhere, Bokeem Woodbine, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Clarke Duncan all deliver noteworthy performances, but the real show stealer is Cynda Williams and her portrayal of the ex-con’s new girlfriend. Her alluring presence commands attention whenever she’s onscreen, with a blend of charm and quiet intensity. If you’re able to look past the low budget, Caught Up is a stylish, unpredictable crime thriller that deserves more attention than it got.
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8
‘Frankenstein’ (2015)
Frankenstein
Release Date
August 29, 2015
Runtime
89 minutes
Director
Bernard Rose
Mary Shelley’s story of Frankenstein has been retold countless times through the medium of cinema, from the classic Universal Monsters and Hammer Horror adaptations to Tim Burton’s own takes on the story in both Frankenweenie and Edward Scissorhands. Told from the monster’s point of view, 2015’s Frankenstein takes the creation from its original 19th-century gothic setting and brings it into the modern age.
‘Frankenstein’ Focuses on Emotional Storytelling Over Typical Horror Tropes
The original story is one of emotion, heart, and humanity—a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition—and 2015’s movie iteration captures this sentiment by choosing to focus more on emotional storytelling than on typical horror tropes. Adopting this tone makes the violent and horrific moments all the more shocking. Tony Todd brings much of this heart and emotion to the movie, playing a blind, homeless man who takes the monster under his wing after feeling a connection and recognizing his childlike soul.
7
‘Badland’ (2019)
Badland
Release Date
November 1, 2019
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Justin Lee
Set after the American Civil War, Badland follows a Pinkerton detective who is hired by a newly appointed African American senator, played by Tony Todd, to track down the worst of the Confederate war criminals.
Don’t Expect All-Out Action
Badland, while a revenge story at heart, is a slow-burning, atmospheric, character-driven film that focuses just as much on the internal struggles of its lead protagonist as it does on the apprehension of the criminals. Full of dusky landscapes and desolate towns, director Justin Lee immerses viewers in a gritty Wild West inhabited by outlaws and bounty hunters. The film was mostly overlooked by mainstream audiences at the time of its release, but one can’t help but wonder how different this might have been had it been released during the Western genre’s heyday.
6
‘Army of the Damned’ (2013)
Army of the Damned
Release Date
November 7, 2013
Runtime
85 minutes
Director
Tom DeNucci
Producers
Carl V. Dupré, David Gere, Anthony Gudas, Claire Severance, Chad A. Verdi, Gino Pereira, Michael Corso, David Lussier, Sherry Lussier, Seth Rosenblit
-
Michael Berryman
Crazy Earl
The filming of a reality TV show goes horribly wrong when police are called out to a “domestic disturbance” that proves to be anything but a routine call. All hell breaks loose as the small-town police force finds themselves battling a malevolent force and supernatural creatures while simultaneously providing the TV crew with the best footage they could have dreamed of.
‘Army of the Damned’ Was Made on a Shoestring Budget
Army of the Damned breaks no new ground, nor does it try to. Instead, what we get is a good old-fashioned action-horror romp full of over-the-top practical effects and cheesy one-liners. It’s worth noting that despite being billed as a main star, Todd only appears for several minutes. The leading role duties fall on Godsmack frontman Sully Erna, who rises to the occasion as the hometown hero cop. Elsewhere, horror icon Michael “Crazy Earl” Berryman also makes an appearance. If you love yourself some low-budget action-horror silliness, this may well be a hidden gem waiting for you to discover.
5
‘Death House’ (2018)
Release Date
February 28, 2018
Runtime
88 minutes
Director
Harrison Smith
-
Cody Longo
Agent Jae Novak
-
Cortney Palm
Agent Toria Boon
Death House follows two agents fighting for their lives as they try to escape a secret prison that houses the deadliest killers known to man. Covering all bases by combining the slasher genre with zombies, monsters, and supernatural elements, Death House is a surefire hit for fans of Todd and the horror genre in general and remains criminally underrated.
‘The Expendables’ of Horror
Similar to how Sylvester Stallone assembled a vast array of action icons, past and present, for The Expendables film series, Death House writer Gunnar Hansen initially intended for the film to feature as many horror legends as possible. Notable actors from the world of horror featured in the film, aside from Tony Todd, include Kane Hodder, Barbara Crampton, Bill Moseley, Dee Wallace, Camille Keaton, Sid Haig, Felissa Rose, Adrienne Barbeau, and Michael Berryman.
4
‘Hell Fest’ (2018)
Release Date
September 27, 2018
Writers
Seth M. Sherwood, Blair Butler
Directed by Gregory Plotkin, Hell Fest is a blood-soaked slasher flick that centers around a group of teenagers relentlessly stalked by a serial killer at a traveling Halloween carnival.
Tony Todd’s Appearance Is Small but Memorable
Tony Todd plays the part of a creepy carnival barker. Adorned in full carnival regalia, the horror icon’s haunting, inimitable voice and presence serve as an omen of the horror to come. The movie is a great throwback to the classic slashers of the ’80s and ’90s, providing plenty of gory deaths and sudden scares that will go down a treat with fans of the genre.
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3
‘Minotaur’ (2006)
Minotaur
Release Date
March 11, 2006
Runtime
93 Minutes
Director
Jonathan English
Before he rose to superstardom, Tom Hardy appeared in the low-budget horror film Minotaur alongside genre icons Tony Todd, Ingrid Pitt, and Rutger Hauer. The film is a loose retelling of the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.
What ‘Minotaur’ Lacks in Sheen and Polish, It Makes Up for in Grim Atmosphere and B-Movie Charm
Those looking for groundbreaking special effects and huge action set pieces will find little to quench their thirst here, but if grim, atmospheric horror with an endearing B-movie charm is more your bag, Minotaur has it in spades.
2
‘Hatchet II’ (2010)
Release Date
October 1, 2010
Runtime
85 Minutes
Released in 2006, the original Hatchet was a fantastic, blood-soaked throwback to the classic slashers of yesteryear. Despite mixed reviews and initial struggles at the box office, it later went on to develop a strong cult following among horror fans. As a result, there have since been three sequels, with another two reportedly in the works.
Tony Todd Is Given a Bigger Role
Tony Todd reprises his role in Hatchet II as Reverend Zombie, a shady conman and voodoo shop owner who profits off the legend of the killer Victor Crowley. This time, given a far larger and more crucial role, he is also, *spoiler alert*, killed off in one of the most brutal ways in the franchise. Despite receiving the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of the series, many horror buffs prefer it to the original due to its more creative and violent kills and the way it expands the Victor Crowley mythos.
1
‘Sushi Girl’ (2012)
Release Date
December 7, 2012
Runtime
98 minutes
Director
Kern Saxton
Sushi Girl takes place over the course of a sushi meal served atop a silent, naked woman, hosted by a ruthless crime lord. As he and four other members of his gang dine together, the evening soon descends into bloody chaos as they turn on one member and try to extract the whereabouts of a hidden stash of stolen diamonds from him.
‘Sushi Girl’ Evokes Tarantino in the Best Kind of Way
Unfolding through a series of nonlinear flashbacks, Sushi Girl plays out in classic Quentin Tarantino fashion, with director Kern Saxton clearly wearing his influences on his sleeve. Filled with intriguing characters, sharp dialogue, and dark humor, Sushi Girl is a modern grindhouse classic, doused in bouts of extreme violence and featuring strong performances from its talented cast of genre favorites, including Tony Todd and Mark Hamill.
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