Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to come up with their favorite answer to a movie-related prompt tied to a recent release. This week, with the release of The Crow, starring Bill Skarsgård, we’re discussing some of our favorite performances from the Skarsgård family! Let us know your favorites @SiftPop!
Andor is a miracle of a show, one of those properties that feels too good to be true, as if it somehow slipped through the cracks of Disney’s headquarters. The cast delivers top-to-bottom excellence, but Stellan Skarsgård’s portrayal of the rebel, Luthen, reveals new layers of depth with each successive episode. His role is key in tapping into the show’s depiction of hope and unity in the face of oppression, standing as a symbol for the limitless power of the human spirit when confronted with unimaginable pain. Andor’s much-discussed prison break episode delivers one of the most gripping half-hours of television you will ever see, yet it is one simple monologue from Skarsgård — a moment that could easily have been forgotten with lesser acting or dialogue — that will stand the test of time. Years from now, “I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see” will be looked upon as a shining example of what franchise filmmaking can accomplish when it prioritizes character and story over temporary excitement and cheap fan service. (Foster Harlfinger)
Bill Skarsgård exudes a naturally sinister vibe and was coming off his second outing as Pennywise in the It franchise, so it was genius casting putting him in Barbarian. This is a rare example of a modern movie that was able to avoid giving too much away in the trailers and to play off the lack of preconceived expectations. It was a delightful experience going in dark and having no idea what the story would be. When a woman shows up at night in a sketchy Detroit neighborhood to find her Airbnb already occupied by Skarsgård’s Keith, who claims to also have reserved the home, the red flags immediately sail up the mast. Skarsgård perfectly pulls off both sides of the spectrum, making you instantly assume he is a sadistic predator before being certain he’s an honest and great guy, and back and forth until the story takes an abrupt turn. His mysterious aura is a highlight of the movie, grounding it in a way that allows the ensuing insanity to flourish. (Jason Mack)
Alexander Skarsgård is an intimidating presence with his six-foot-four frame and a full complement of muscle to fill it out, but he is also eminently charming. This duality is a brilliant fit for his role of the abusive husband, Perry Wright, in the HBO series, Big Little Lies. The list of talented actors who can tower over Nicole Kidman is not long. When Perry transitions into his rage, often at the drop of a dime, you genuinely fear for Kidman’s Celeste. You feel it in your gut as Skarsgård portrays the abuse with an unsettling accuracy. However, Perry is not a villain painted in black and white. Gray area abounds, as he is also presented as a loving father and a husband who is caring and charming when the rage stays at bay. It is a portrayal that helps you understand the horror of how a woman like Celeste could stay within such an abusive relationship and put the lives of herself and her children at risk. When things are great, they are truly great. When they turn bad, they are deadly serious. Skarsgård manages to make you believe and feel both sides of the coin in a role that would have otherwise felt like a one-note stereotype. (Jason Mack)
Quite a few enemies are murdered on live TV in a crucial scene in Boy Kills World, starring Bill Skarsgård. The hyper-action movie centers on a media-fueled killer who wants revenge for the death of his family. All we know is that the killers are Frosty Puff mascots. Frosty Puffs is run by power-hungry Melanie Van Der Koy (Michelle Dockery), who killed deaf orphan, Boy’s (Skarsgård),family. At some point, Boy starts to rethink his murder quest through the goofy narration voice of H. John Benjamin. The film centers heavily on the Van Der Koys and their manipulation of the media. It shows much action, comedy, bloody gore, and violence. Lots of flesh explodes in blood, limbs break, and bodies are all over the air; viewers would think they are watching a video game rather than a film. The film does a good job of highlighting how powerful the media can be and what can happen when it is used as a tool for manipulation rather than something for good. (Christian Grullon)
Stellan Skarsgård has had an exceptional career; however, it wasn’t until Denis Villeneuve’s stupendous sci-fi epics, Dune Parts One and Two, that modern audiences have come to know just how great the Skarsgård patriarch truly is. Playing the villain isn’t new to Stellan, but playing one with such a transformative facade is. Baron Harkonnen is a grotesque overseer of the spice trade. The clichéd attitude of the greedy, brought so cleverly to the forefront of a darkly dressed, morbidly obese figure captures an evil unlike anything Stellan has played before. So convincing he is as Baron Harkonnen, the casual movie fan could be excused for knowing, but not knowing who that guys is behind the makeup. Stellan has had such a vast and varied career in Hollywood that it is hard to say precisely what part of his on screen legacy he will be remembered for most. But rest assured, Dune will definitely be in the conversation. (Adam Ritchie)
A story is only as good as its villain. Or so the credited creator of that quote, Luke Taylor, believes, as do countless others who have repeated the phrase in various contexts over the years. While I don’t necessarily believe I agree with the general nature of that quotation, it’s hard to argue that a movie like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo wouldn’t have quite the bite it currently does without the truly horrific villain, Martin Vanger, as played by the incomparable Stellan Skarsgård. Of course the movie would likely operate just fine without him, as with so many projects helmed by David Fincher are, but Skarsgård steps into the vile role with his usual vigor and delivers one of his most ominous and terrifying performances. Skarsgård plays perfectly into the heightened mystery of the story, portraying Martin with key amounts of duality needed to be suspicious and leave us asking questions, while simultaneously being one of the more initially approachable members of the Vanger family. And as Fincher weaves the story together towards its climax, Skarsgård delivers tenfold, leaning into the wickedness of his character’s true nature. It’s a villain performance that won’t often be cited in many’s all-time favorites, but it’s one that undoubtedly makes the overall film better and, in my book, that’s all that really matters. Oh, and as a total aside, it’s perhaps the most masterful use of Enya’s “Orinoco Flow” ever put to film. (Nash Doll)
As one of the most prolific and recognizable character actors, Stellan Skarsgård’s class can often be taken for granted. The role of Gerald Lambeau in Good Will Hunting is one such example. It’s not one of the movie’s flashy or memorable roles, like Matt Damon’s titular character or Robin Williams’ Oscar-winning effort, and even the Afflecks are arguably get more limelight given the Boston connection. And to be fair, Lambeau’s not the most likable role. Though his professor starts off with good intentions in attempting to cultivate Will’s mathematical talents, his unflinching drive for him to realize that talent arguably makes him the unintentional villain of the story. He’s crucial to the conflict. Sure, it may get overshadowed, but if Skarsgård didn’t play his complex part so well, we would have been robbed of some of the film’s best moments. (Jake Bourgeois)
I’m sure that in real life he’s a really nice guy, but man, Bill Skarsgård is great at playing freaky dudes. He’s really carved out quite the career for himself with these roles — not only does he have The Crow coming out this weekend, but he’ll be starring in Nosferatu later this year as well — and it all started when he took on the mantle of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in both chapters of the It films. The primary form of a trans-dimensional, shapeshifting manifestation of evil that terrorizes the town of Derry, Maine every 27 years, Pennywise feeds on the fears (and occasionally bodies) of children. Skarsgård’s performance is scary and unsettling, particularly in the physicality that he brings to the role, as he gleefully dances and contorts his body while chasing the Losers Club. According to director Andy Muschietti, Skarsgård is even able to move his eyes independently, allowing for a disturbing lazy eye effect that most other actors couldn’t bring to the table. There’s a lot of performances I’ve seen in my life that have made me feel strong emotions, but few have evoked discomfort and fear in the same way as Skarsgård’s Pennywise. (Jake Hjort)
How many performances can you think of that just personify raw power and animalistic destruction underneath human skin? Robert Eggers helped unleash such a performance from Alexander Skarsgård in his period revenge thriller, The Northman. Stellan’s son certainly stands out as Amleth, a Hamlet type thrown into the barbaric world of Vikings. We witness the betrayal from Amleth’s uncle, Fjölnir (Claes Bang), as he murders his own brother and king, Amleth’s father Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke). Amleth’s mother (Nicole Kidman) is also taken by his uncle, which sets up one of the most eerie and brutal revenge plots seen in film in a long time. Eggers knows how to capture the period elements of his films better than anyone, but it is Skarsgård’s performance that brings raw authenticity. His berserker rage and drive are terrifying to watch. The dialogue is sparse, but the physicality is always on full display in this performance drenched in animal magnetism, strength, and pure presence. Skarsgård demands our attention from the second he arrives on screen in the second act, all the way through the climactic volcanic battle. Few performances in recent memory capture that intensity that Skarsgård is boiling over with. (Shane Conto)
You hear tell of Bootstrap Bill in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl — he’s Will Turner’s (Orlando Bloom) long lost pirate father. Yet it’s not until Dead Man’s Chest that we actually meet him and learn he’s a pirate cursed to serve on the Flying Dutchman, perpetually living with a starfish stuck to his face. As a kid who loved all the big franchises of the time, such as The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Pirates, these movies were my introduction to Stellan Skarsgård. And they’re a great intro, because for a guy whose most notable fashion choice is a face starfish, Skarsgård gives a great performance! It’s moving as he reconnects with his son, all the way through At World’s End, where their relationship is redeemed and the starfish goes away. (Robert Bouffard)
You know Elon Musk? The stupid, hateful, narcissistic, evil billionaire who sucks, yet somehow has a position of immense power and influence? Now imagine if there was a fictional character who also fulfilled that criteria, but looked like Alexander Skarsgård. That’s Succession’s Lukas Matsson, who comes in late in Season Three with an eye on acquiring Waystar Royco from Brian Cox’s Logan Roy. For a show with lots of different people of lots of different standings vying for the ability to do exactly what Matsson wants to do, it’s notable that Logan immediately sees something in Matsson, as Skarsgård brings such a unique presence to the show, like he does with every other character he portrays. He’s hulking and intimidating and outwardly unsure, yet inwardly in control (the one place where he differs from Musk), all while being unpredictable in his demeanor. Skarsgård wasn’t on the show for very long, but he sure made a big impression. (Robert Bouffard)
My introduction to the Skarsgård family was in Alan Ball’s 2008 TV Show, True Blood. Alexander played one of my favorite characters, Eric Northman, a vampire from the Viking Age who owned a bar in Louisiana. In the first season, he was a stern 1,000-year-old vampire who eventually became a very lovable character. Alexander always plays him like he is just having fun. In each season, he gets to grow and be around more. His portrayal actually made me seek out more of his work, and his chemistry with everyone else just made the show my favorite on HBO for a while. As you can tell, I was definitely Team Eric throughout the show’s run. Alexander has gone on to play more notable roles, and I don’t see the Skarsgård family slowing down anytime soon. (Austen Terry)
Most people go on vacation and come home with souvenirs, selfies, stories, maybe a suntan, but not a chisel-jawed, young Alexander Skarsgård. On his inaugural trip to the U.S., he went on the first audition of his adult career and came home with his first role in an American film. While playing an orange frappe-sipping simpleton who loses his life to an ill-advised gasoline fight might not exactly be the breakout role he landed a few years later in True Blood, it did introduce America to the eldest of the impressive brood of Skarsgård offspring. As Derek Zoolander’s (Ben Stiller) roommate and fellow male model, Meekus, Skarsgård showed that he is just as comfortable embracing the silly as the serious. And even though his screen time was short lived in the first Zoolander installment, he was the only one of the tragically terminated trio to come back in the second film (this time as modeling legend, Adam). It might not be his most memorable performance, but it’s nonetheless an important one, as it acquainted North America with another member of one of the acting world’s most talented families, the sensational Skarsgårds of Sweden. (Patrice Downing)