Eight Wild Wild Films with Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe has been one of America’s most consistent and durable character actors for the last three decades. He’s drawn to dark films and dark characters and loves dragging us into the darkness with him. His entire career is worth examining but we will give you a running start with these gems.

1. To Live and Die in LA (1985)

In a William Friedkin film filled with anti heroes, there is one true villain. Dafoe plays a brilliant counterfeiter named Rick Masters. His cruelty is matched by his sense of style.  This is a masterpiece.

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2.  Platoon (1986)

Williem was cast as Sergeant Elias. He’s Charlie Sheen’s idol and boy crush.  Stone wanted a Jim Morrison running through jungle and Dafoe delivered in spades.
His death scene ripped any heart from the movie .

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3.  Auto Focus (2002)

Paul Shrader directed this bio pic about TV star Bob Crane . Dafoe plays John Carpenter, a sex addict who has the first home video cameras. Of course he’ll use it to make home porn.

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4.  The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Martin Scorsese directed a film based on the controversial 1953 novel written by Nikos Kazantzaki.  Guess who played Jesus Christ. The film caused outrage and even riots by some Christian groups.

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5.  Antichrist (2009)

Lars von Trier directed this horror film about a woman’s descent into madness after an unthinkable domestic tragedy. It’s a dark film and took the wrath of many film critics.

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6.  Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

E. Elias Merhige’s clever movie about a real life vampire working on the the classic 1922 vampire film Nosferatu.   Dafoe’s Max Schreck terrorizies the cast and crew, attacking them one by one and munching on bats out of the air for midnight snacks.

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7.  4:44 Last Day on Earth (2011)

Dafoe spends the last day on earth in a hip apartment in New York’s Lower East Side.  Abel Ferrara’s “4:44 Last Day on Earth”. Contacting family and friends, meeting higher and  lower angels, and working through regrets.  There is no escape from Earth’s fate. Just an eventual acceptance .

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8.  The Boondock Saints (1999)

The critics tore this film a new ass but it developed a loyal cult following. Dafoe chewed up scenery spit it out and chewed it again as a cross dressing confused homosexual FBI agent. It’s a blast and best enjoyed with smokeable treats.

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