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Tony Todd: Five Genre Defining Roles
Thank the higher powers that be that there are active performers who hold no fear of being typecast. Sylvester Stallone is going to smash someone’s face during a big budget actioner, Adam Sandler is going to reach for laughs in another family-friendly comedy, and Tony Todd… well, Tony Todd is going to do his best to shock the hell out of viewers in the latest chiller to smack the big screen (Final Destination 5 anyone?).
Tony is, unquestionably fearless of potential industry branding. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Tony on a few occaons, and this man oozes that trademark dark-yet-suave persona he brings to film, and it really lends to his overall endearing charm. I think Tony may believe life is an actual horror film that demands he never break general character; Throw a few drinks in a man with that kind of demeanor and you’re in for a lot of wild tales and pasonate reminiscing. Believe me: I’ve witnessed the magic first hand.
I believe it requires an unparalleled pride in one’s craft to never completely separate work from pleasure: Even a man who loves his job has a few rough days. But you’d argue that point after chatting with Mr. Todd, who relishes his public role.
And good for him, why not live it up to the fullest? The man has been afforded opportunities that some actors only dream of, and he’s made the best of every break. Tony’s carved out iconic status in his depiction of the immensely popular Candyman. He’s landed recurring roles in one of today’s most prosperous horror franchises, Final Destination.
Tony’s worked with legendary directors like Michael Bay and Mick Garris, oppote some insanely talented peers like Sean Connery, Ed Harris and Virginia Madsen, and found himself surrounded by some of the finest special effects men in the industry, including Greg Nicotero, Tom Savini and Robert Kurtzman. That’s a monstrously successful career in my humble opinion.
Having touched down on some of Tony’s history, it’s time to get right down to buness, and let you the fans and followers know what five characters have truly defined the prolific thespian’s legacy.
: I’ll step out on a limb and presume this is the least recognizable selection of the list.<br /><br />
For those unfamiliar with the picture, it’s actually an installment from the second series of Showtime’s Masters of Horror series. MOH creator Mick Garris himself spearheads this offering, and unlike his previous season installment, Chocolate, this one is actually extremely enjoyable.<br /><br />
Don’t t down to watch this one expecting perfection, t down and expect a fun flick with some interesting twists that originated in the corridors of Clive Barker’s mind. There’s a slight complexity to the story, and I won’t speak too much on plot details, as it would certainly be extremely easy to spoil this one, but I’ll say that Todd’s submison to the film is fantastic.<br /><br />Prepare for a fairly rare shift in Tony’s typical M.O. This time around, rather than relying completely on his haunting stare and deep, husky voice, Greg Nicotero and crew have the 6’5” Todd all worked up as a devilish creature. It’s fun to see the icon portray a very phycally different character (which is clearly the case) and the strong script adds a further level of reward. I won’t leap to praise the cast, though I’ll tip my hat to Christopher Lloyd, who provides a fine performance.Super underrated, but definitely a shining career point (and worthy of a feature length sequel; bring it on Barker!), you must check out the amazing Tony Todd in Valerie on the Stairs.<br /><br />
http://youtu.be/r0r7L8tS2L0<br /><br />4. Night of the Living Dead (Ben): In all honesty this picture should probably place higher on this list. It doesn’t for the fact that a. it’s a remake (a damn fine one I should add!) and b. Todd’s portrayal of Ben, while great, is still inferior to Duane Jones’ 1968 performance.<br /><br />All the same, it’s an iconic role that Todd was destined to land. It’s also another piece of relevant cinematic history.<br /><br />The momentum is gaining.<br /><br />http://youtu.be/3C33S_cqiJ8<br /><br />3. Hatchet (Reverend Zombie): Let’s be honest with each other: Hatchet is the most relevant slasher franchise to see creation in the last ten years. That’s not to say it’s the best of more recent efforts, but between the hype surrounding filmmaker Adam Green, the incluon of genre favorite, Kane Hodder and the controversy the violent nature of the film sparked, ensure this one is unrivaled in contemporary relevancy.<br /><br />The old Rev is creepy as Hell, and though Todd’s on screen time is quite limited in the first film, he lands a lead role in the franchises second installment and, well, you just never know what to expect from a now planned third Hatchet film.<br /><br />Fun flicks full of homage and clasc gore; this is a brainless, but bad ass franchise that isn’t disappearing anytime soon.<br /><br />http://youtu.be/3lFxWo_C2qs<br /><br />2. Candyman (Candyman): While I’d like to list this as Tony’s definitive masterpiece, it won’t be remembered in the same way that the Final Destination franchise will. First off, you’ll already find plenty of newer genre followers who have yet to see Bernard Rose’s beautiful 1992 adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story, The Forbidden, while just about every one of those same youngsters has likely seen all five Final Destination films, at least once. Second, the Candyman franchise faded fast, heading straight for home releases after the immediate follow-up “Farewell to the Flesh” tanked at the box office.<br /><br />
Don’t get me wrong, the Candyman is a far more frightening character than any specific scene or moment in the entire FD franchise, and the first film redefines genuine terror while Final Destination makes for an entertaining popcorn experience. That said, the facts don’t matter much to today’s viewers, who seem to have a fraction of the attention span they once possessed; eight of ten will prefer a quick, cheap, gory thrill over a well-developed, perfectly executed, emotional shocker today, and that’s just come to be the landscape of horror, and the state of today’s society.http://youtu.be/lP4Psj7d1ZI<br /><br />1. Final Destination (Bludworth): Based on my assessment of Candyman, you should have a reasonable grasp on my opinion of the Final Destination films; they are for the most part, completely self-indulgent, pretentious trash, with the exception of the franchise debut, which was a shockingly refined product that captivated viewers back in 2000. Sadly, it’s been rinse and repeat nce, with the final product long a bit more sheen as each installment is churned out.<br /><br />As I mentioned, the role of Bludworth will likely serve as the pinnacle for Todd, and that’s really due to the fact that the brainless youth of today continue to dish out their money at the box office for recycled goods, which has enabled the series to run about four films too many.<br /><br />According to early rumors, a xth Final Destination film is likely to head into production in the next year, though Final Destination 5 just seriously underwhelmed at the box office, opening to a disappointing $18 million take. I’d traditionally gear up to say that seals the deal, but the first two FD films debuted to even lower numbers (though they were superior films).<br /><br />http://i53.tinypic.com/353ckfs.jpg)
No matter how you shake a stick at it, Tony Todd has done some wonderful things for lovers of the macabre. He’s built a masve fanbase as a result of his unquestionable pason for the genre. The fact that he’s established monumental characters, and rejuvenated preexisting icons speaks further testament to Mr. Todd’s brilliance. Cheers to you Tony, I’m hoping to bump into you again before too long!
Matt_Molgaard
Tuesday 8/16/2011 at 01:23 PM | 80759
I would of put Candyman as the first one, nce the article was called Genre Defining Roles, and I don't see his appearance in FD as defining anything really.
To mention, I think horror is one of the few genres where new fans often start to hunt down the older movies, so they should , hopefully at least, find Candy man at some point.
To mention, I think horror is one of the few genres where new fans often start to hunt down the older movies, so they should , hopefully at least, find Candy man at some point.
HorrorDaily
Tuesday 8/16/2011 at 02:25 PM | 80767
I would of put Candyman as the first one, nce the article was called Genre Defining Roles, and I don't see his appearance in FD as defining anything really.
To mention, I think horror is one of the few genres where new fans often start to hunt down the older movies, so they should , hopefully at least, find Candy man at some point.
I hope you're right. As you can tell I clearly feel Candyman is the superior work, but Tony's name has come to ring synonymously with the Final Destination franchise, and I think your typical (IE: I watch a horror movie every now and then) viewer is far more familiar with the more commercially embraced FD franchise than Candyman. If for no other reason than the fact that Candyman hit the market during a slasher slump, while the FD franchise is giving bloodthirsty viewers everything they want, right now.
To mention, I think horror is one of the few genres where new fans often start to hunt down the older movies, so they should , hopefully at least, find Candy man at some point.
I hope you're right. As you can tell I clearly feel Candyman is the superior work, but Tony's name has come to ring synonymously with the Final Destination franchise, and I think your typical (IE: I watch a horror movie every now and then) viewer is far more familiar with the more commercially embraced FD franchise than Candyman. If for no other reason than the fact that Candyman hit the market during a slasher slump, while the FD franchise is giving bloodthirsty viewers everything they want, right now.
Matt_Molgaard
Tuesday 8/16/2011 at 03:55 PM | 80770
So excited to meet Tony this Saturday!!
TheShape1188
Tuesday 8/16/2011 at 08:51 PM | 80813
Though Tony Todd is great in all of his rolls, I think it's very unfortunate that he gets so typecast into all these really cheesy horror films!..
He's actually a really funny guy!!
He would always be cracking jokes and asking me & my friends if we wanted to go smoke weed with him & play Maden! LoL!
I say Hollywood should give him a chance in a comedy or even a serious roll!
Because he's truly an all-around talented guy, and we're all misng out!
He's actually a really funny guy!!
He would always be cracking jokes and asking me & my friends if we wanted to go smoke weed with him & play Maden! LoL!
I say Hollywood should give him a chance in a comedy or even a serious roll!
Because he's truly an all-around talented guy, and we're all misng out!
ubersteigen
Tuesday 8/16/2011 at 09:48 PM | 80822
Love Candyman.
The 90 Night of the Living Dead is one of the few remakes that is at least equal if not better than the original.
Love the first two FD movies.
And let's not forget the man is a bad ass Klingon!
Tony Todd is the man, mply put!
The 90 Night of the Living Dead is one of the few remakes that is at least equal if not better than the original.
Love the first two FD movies.
And let's not forget the man is a bad ass Klingon!
Tony Todd is the man, mply put!
KB24
Thursday 8/18/2011 at 10:00 PM | 81046
