Cary Elwes is a popular actor known for cult classics The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, but his role as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in Saw made him stand out as a talented film star who excels in and elevates the diverse horror scene. Elwes began acting for the genre in 1985 and has accumulated a short yet quintessential filmography of horror films. Each Cary Elwes horror movie can be ranked by its macabre quality and impact.
Though Cary Elwes does not play the antagonist in every horror film he's starred in, he shines when he is portraying the darker side of mankind even outside of horror. In the fairytale comedy Ella Enchanted, he perfectly chews the scenery up as the conniving Edgar who would do anything to become king. He has proven, namely in Elwes' role of Dr. Lawrence Gordon, that he can exude a seamless dichotomy of good and evil in one character. Elwes' range has landed him several distinct roles in the world of horror movies. Here are all of Cary Elwes' horror movies, ranked from worst to best.
Hellgate (2011)
Hellgate is an American-Thai horror film written and directed by John Penney, which sees Cary Elwes and acclaimed actor William Hurt star alongside each other in a paranormal thriller. The plot followed Elwes, who survives a crash and begins seeing ghosts because his soul has separated from his body, leading him to the only spiritual expert who can help him. The reception for the film wasn't altogether poor, as several critics pointed out that it hinges on the family drama, an element that gives the movie its heart. Saw actor Cary Elwes successfully uses his vast experience to dial up the sympathy for his character who just lost his wife and son in a crash. Hellgate isn't irredeemable, but it is a relatively forgettable horror film without much in the way of fright factor.
Psych 9 (2010)
The American-Czech horror film Psych 9 is directed by Andrew Shortell and written by Lawrence Robinson. An outlandish plot of a woman taking a haunted night shift at a hospital only to find out her husband may be an active serial killer sells the viewer more than the execution of the film does. The campy plot is as fun as it is overcomplicated but the film is still endearingly dedicated to its genre. Psych 9 is reminiscent of John Carpenter's terrifying horror movie The Ward, but never quite reaches the level of nuance it needs to pack a punch. Cary Elwes plays a timid Doctor at the hospital and is a perk of the movie. His suspenseful duplicitous performance makes it so the audience is never sure whether or not he can be trusted.
Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013)
From the same producer as Twilight comes Hansel & Gretel Get Baked, a horror parody. A brother and sister are lured into the woods by a woman concocting an enticing blend of marijuana, but she turns out to be a witch who plans on cannibalizing them. While Cary Elwes only appears briefly as a meter man and is practically indistinguishable, this film has a lot of laugh-out-loud humor and jests that put it higher on his filmography of horror moves. The simple gimmick is used to its full potential without overdoing the drug jokes, working in the horror movie parody's favor.
The Unholy (2021)
In The Unholy, a young girl develops the godly power to heal the sick but a journalist suspects she may be possessed by something satanic. Sam Raimi produced the film, which was also the directorial debut for Evan Spiliotopoulos. Cary Elwes delivers one of the best performances in The Unholy, along with Supernatural's Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Elwes plays a Bishop with skewed morals and is once again the source of suspense in a predictable narrative. As far as religious-themed horror movies go, however, The Unholy is an original effort in the subgenre despite its stilted execution.
The Bride (1985)
Cary Elwes' first horror movie The Bride shows a glimpse of the onscreen charm and charisma that became refined by Elwes' role in The Princess Bride. The film is loosely based on Mary Shelley's classic story Frankenstein. A dead woman is resurrected to be the mate of the undead creation of Baron Frankenstein, but the undead monster goes on a rampage when she rejects him. The woman, Eva, ends up falling for the young Captain Josef Schoden (Elwes). The Bride is a beautifully atmospheric period piece, but the film never manages to stand out as a unique Frankenstein adaptation.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
Shadow of the Vampire is a vampire horror movie about the infamous German film director F.W. Murnau. The story follows his creative process of directing Nosferatu as he employs the help of a real vampire. Cary Elwes portrays Fritz Arno Wagner, the cinematographer of Nosferatu. His character's sycophantic demeanor blends perfectly with the escalating antics the metafiction has to offer. The horror movie plays its exaggeration of history completely straight, which only adds to the terrifying concept. It is also a fascinating look into filmmaking but the concept of exposing the backstage circumstances of making a silent film isn't used to its full potential. Elwes' performance is elevated by the immense cast of A-list actors who work towards absorbing the audience in the world of moviemaking in 1921.
Black Christmas (2019)
Sophia Takal's Black Christmas is the second adaptation of Bob Clark's 1974 horror film of the same name. The story revolves around a house of sorority sisters who decide to take matters into their own hands when a cloaked figure starts a killing spree on campus. The reception is mixed, since many consider the film to be better than the 2006 remake of Black Christmas, but not nearly as clever as Bob Clark's. Cary Elwes plays a devious college professor who adds the much-needed spark of vibrant personality to a consistency of stale acting. Nonetheless, Black Christmas is colorful, suspenseful, and overflowing with Christmas motifs which make it a perfect thriller for the holidays.
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter is the seventh installment in the Saw franchise and was seemingly the end of the series until it revived itself with Jigsaw in 2017 and Spiral in 2021. Though it was received poorly by critics and some fans, Saw 3D answers many of the franchise's most pressing questions, like what happened to Dr. Gordon following the events of the first Saw. Cary Elwes finally returns to reprise his role as Dr. Gordon, and he delivers a shockingly chilling performance that elevates the film from a fun time into a monumentally memorable experience. There is no holding back with the gore in Saw 3D. It makes the audience suspend their disbelief, but for the benefit of absorbing them into the entertainingly obscene world of Saw.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Bram Stoker's Dracula is a 1992 film adaptation of the 1987 novel by Stoker. The movie is an intensive replication of the classic story and follows Mina, her husband Harker, and Count Dracula separately after their lives start to intertwine. The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola heightens the sexuality and macabre atmosphere of the original vampire story to create an epic gothic romance that doubles as a horror movie. Cary Elwes joins another cast of A-list actors that all work together to keep the film engaging for the entirety of its two-hour run. Elwes plays a suitor to Mina's friend Lucy and plays a believable aristocrat of the 1800s. Critics have noted faults in continuity and historical accuracy, but Coppola's Dracula is likely the most comprehensive adaptation of the classic available for viewing.
Saw (2004)
Acclaimed filmmakers Leigh Whannell and James Wan's 2004 breakout hit Saw proves that low-budget films can become major franchises if there are good characters and an original concept. Saw reinvented the "splatter" subgenre when it mixed the elements of the classic thriller mystery with horrifically grounded body horror. Cary Elwes stars in the first Saw movie alongside Leigh Whannell (director of The Invisible Man and Insidious 3). They play two men, Dr. Gordon and Adam, who wake up together in a twisted serial killer's version of an escape room. Its low budget can be dismissed for its intensive performances, especially from Elwes who must portray internal grief and physical pain simultaneously. Saw was the perfect beginning of what would become an unstoppable horror franchise.
Cary Elwes continues to act in several projects at a time and will be returning to blockbusters for Mission Impossible, yet some of his best work can be found in the world of horror. He may always be remembered as Westley from The Princess Bride, but he will also be remembered as Dr. Lawrence Gordon from Saw, who still has a chance to return to the big screen. Ultimately, Cary Elwes has balanced horror movies alongside his other performances admirably, managing a roster of hits that prove he could provide scares just as efficiently as he could provide charm.