I admit, movies that are condescending to old people irritate me. Why is it that people can live full lives, survive adversities, fight in wars and raise kids, but hit a certain age and suddenly they either become cute or terrifying in movies (rock stars excluded). Grandpa interested in sex? Granny drops an f-bomb? Funny? Why? Because they're old? Give me an f'in' break. Give them a f'in' break.
Sure, age can be cruel to bodies, messing with physical strength, mobility, memory, even balance, so I'm not expecting an 80-year-old in a horror movie to show the stamina of a 24-year-old. but must old age mainly be used for laughs? Hate to say it, but there was a time when racial stereotypes were used in movies for humor, too. Enough, man.
Not surprisingly, I had a difficult thinking of movies for this category. There's plenty of good selections with creepy or scary old people, but seniors who put up a good fight in a horror movie and who aren't the horror? Couldn't think of many. Also, I wanted Western movies: Japan, China and Korea have a much better track record of depicting old people as, well, people.
For this list, I looked for characters depicted as senior: I didn't count actors who were technically seniors but were playing a younger character, and I wanted to find characters who were supposedly 70 years or more old, or at least close by. I wanted to find 80s and up, but most of my picks only made it into the 60-70 age range. Also, immortality is ruled it out -- you're expected to be an ass-kicker if you're immortal.
So, in no particular order, here are my top five picks for tough senior citizens in horror movies or shows.
The Chosen: Favorite Tough Senior Citizens in Horror Movies
Bruce Campbell, playing an aged Elvis, fighting a mummy that attacks the nursing home where he lives. You really don't need anything else. And Elvis indeed kicks ass. Directed by Con Coscarelli of Phantasm fame.
I wouldn't be forgiven if I didn't add this horror thriller to the list. While the Blind Man, played by Stephen Lang, is basically the adversary in this movie, he is also a victim. After all, three kids are breaking into his house to rob him. He definitely hands out some serious ass kickery.
Grandpa (played by Barnard Hughes) doesn't get tons of screen time in this 80s classic, but when he does, it's priceless. He makes the list for smashing his jeep through the wall to take out a vampire. "One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach. All the damn vampires."
I'm not sure how old Doc is supposed to be, but had the zombie apocalypse not happened, it's implied he would be old enough to have been using his AARP discounts for some time. Age, however, doesn't slow Doc down in taking down zombies, even if he sometimes gets a bit of pharmaceutical help.
If he had been ten years older, Whistler (played by Kris Kristofferson) from Blade (1998) would have easily made the list as a serious tough guy in some frightening situations. He's a bit young for our list, but still deserves a mention. While I don't really put Blade in the horror movie category, it does have vampires and a blood god.
