Sion Sono’s English-language debut, Prisoners of the Ghostland, stars Nicolas Cage in what the prolific actor describes as “the wildest movie I’ve ever made.” It’s an instantly attention-grabbing statement for anyone remotely familiar with Cage’s career, which boasts no shortage of wild roles and movies.
In Prisoners, Cage plays Hero; a bank robber sprung from jail by Samurai Town warlord The Governor (Bill Moseley) to track his adopted granddaughter Bernice (Sofia Boutella). If Hero successfully retrieves Bernice, The Governor will grant his freedom. The caveat, of course, is that Hero has only days to complete his mission, or his leather suit will explode.
Sono’s latest blends the western, post-apocalyptic, and samurai thriller genres, united by its polished neon-soaked aesthetic and is nothing short of breathtaking. It also marks another memorable performance by Cage, especially thanks to his volatile suit that leaves his character screaming about his testicles.
In celebration of Prisoners of the Ghostland‘s release in theaters and on VOD and Digital today, September 17, 2021, via RLJE Films, we look back at eight of the most memorable performances in horror by the actor.
Drive Angry
In Patrick Lussier’s ode to exploitation cinema, Cage plays a man so determined to obtain vengeance that he escapes Hell and dodges Hell’s bounty hunters to claim it. It’s the precise type of role that Cage nails time and time again, but his brand of aloof antihero with unflappable determination lends so well to the chaos here. It’s the perfect balance to the insanity crashing around his character, Milton.
Ghost Rider
To save his dying dad, stuntman Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the Devil. But the Devil is tricky, and poor Blaze winds up a bounty hunter for Hell, complete with a flaming skull. Leave it to Cage, a lifelong comic book fan, to take a different approach to a cinematic superhero role. Instead of playing it completely straight, Cage gives his Ghost Ride an Elvis-like swagger. More entertainingly, Cage eschews taking the character too seriously, pushing the envelope as far as it can go in the sequel, Ghost Ride: Spirit of Vengeance. Remember that time Ghost Ride pissed fire? Yeah, you can’t unsee that kind of bold madness.
Willy’s Wonderland
This movie belongs entirely to Cage, and the actor doesn’t even utter a single line. The character actor doesn’t need dialogue to command your attention; his screen presence and quirky choices are more than enough for Cage to carry a film. A particular dance number presents the film’s biggest highlight, and it’s oddly satisfying to see Cage clean. The downside to this mute performance, though, is that the Janitor remains enigmatic for the entirety. If you’re hoping for an explanation for his easy-going nature or clockwork drinking habit, well, that’s too bad. That’s probably just how Cage likes it.
The Wicker Man
Cage’s turn as lead Policeman Edward Malus, the fool lured to his doom by pagans, is equal parts baffling and entertaining. The Wicker Man makes for one of the most perplexing horror remakes of all time, but it’s impossible to deny that seeing Cage’s character punch a woman while donning a bear suit or scream about the bees is amusing as hell. That’s the thing about Cage- you can always, always, count on him to commit to a bit and give himself wholly over to a part, especially if absurdist humor is at play.
Mom and Dad
A strange viral hysteria rips through the quiet suburbs, transforming parents into homicidal maniacs whose sole targets are their own children. Based on that setup alone, you should already have an idea of just how uncaged Cage gets here. The crazed eyes, the Cage one-liners, and his insane physicality mean full-throttle Cage madness. Watching Cage let loose and unleash pent-up paternal rage against his children is every bit as entertaining as it sounds.
Bringing Out the Dead
Director Martin Scorsese couldn’t have picked a better actor to portray his deeply haunted protagonist, Frank Pierce. Frank is a graveyard shift paramedic on a multiple-month streak of failing to save many of his patients’ lives. The narrative follows him over three nights, where his sanity gets tested by a severe lack of sleep and the psychological toll his career takes. Cage plays that bone-tired, constantly on the edge state of mental weariness so well in this underrated genre-bending film.
Vampire’s Kiss
A large percentage of Cage-inspired memes and gifs come from this peculiar, idiosyncratic dark comedy. In it, Cage plays Peter Loew, a man so lonely and empty inside that he spirals into madness, and it manifests an obsession that he’s becoming a vampire. It’s an over-the-top performance that’s eccentric to the extreme. The character’s strange movements are directly inspired by Count Orlok in Nosferatu and German expressionist horror. The weird, yuppie voice for the character? Cage aimed for a distinct, continental sound that he felt suited his NYC literary agent character, much to the worry of producers.
Mandy
Cage is often so successful in his intentionally extreme performances that it can be easy to forget the impressive scope of his emotional range, restraint, and complex acting that led to award-winning acclaim outside of the genre space. Mandy serves as a potent reminder. His turn as Red Miller effectively marries both sides of Cage as an actor; the extremism and the raw emotion combined into one volatile, broken man forced into a quest for revenge. The primal grief that erupts in that pivotal bathroom scene stands out. His performance commands your attention, but Cage also proves how generous he is with scene partners here, too.
Discover what Cage considers to be the wildest yet with Prisoners of the Ghostland now in theaters and VOD!