Ryan Reynolds is known primarily for his comedic roles in movies like Deadpool and The Proposal, as well as action films such as Safe House and the recent Free Guy. However, throughout his career Reynolds has also taken on a handful of roles in horror and thriller films that showcase a darker side to his acting abilities. While some lean more towards psychological suspense than outright horror, these five movies starring Ryan Reynolds have plenty of scary and unsettling moments that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Buried (2010)

One of Reynolds’ earliest forays into the horror genre came with the 2010 psychological thriller Buried. In this claustrophobic film, Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, a truck driver working in Iraq who awakens to find himself trapped inside a wooden coffin buried underground with only a lighter, cell phone, and flask. With no memory of how he ended up in this dire situation and only enough air for a few hours, Paul must use his phone to desperately try and contact someone, anyone who can help locate and rescue him before it’s too late.

At just over 90 minutes with almost the entire film taking place inside the cramped coffin as Paul struggles to maintain his sanity and survive, Buried is a true testament to Reynolds’ acting abilities. With no other actors to play off of and the majority of the film consisting of Paul’s frantic one-sided phone calls, it falls entirely on Reynolds to carry the tension and keep viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time. His panic and desperation as the minutes tick by feeling all too real.

While not overtly graphic or violent, the claustrophobic premise of being buried alive is nightmare fuel for anyone with even a mild case of claustrophobia. Reynolds fully commits to the discomfort and terror of Paul’s situation, elevating what could have been a one-note premise into a truly unsettling cinematic experience that lingers with viewers long after the credits roll. It showed Reynolds’ talent for intense dramatic roles and helped cement him as a versatile actor capable of more than just comedy.

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Jumping from the confines of a coffin to the allegedly haunted halls of 112 Ocean Avenue, Reynolds took on a starring role in the 2005 remake of the classic 1979 horror film The Amityville Horror. In the film, Reynolds and Melissa George play George and Kathy Lutz, a young couple who move into a new house in Amityville, New York with their three children only to discover the house is haunted by a mysterious and malevolent presence.

Strange occurrences begin almost immediately after the Lutz family moves in, with Reynolds perfectly portraying George as he grows increasingly paranoid and unsettled by the unexplained events plaguing their new home. Doors slamming shut on their own, unseen forces menacing the children, and the overwhelming feeling of being watched all take their toll. Reynolds sells the mounting fear and unease George feels as the supernatural activity in the house escalates, culminating in one of the film’s most terrifying scenes.

While the remake didn’t capture quite the same chilling atmosphere as the original, Reynolds brought real emotion and escalating terror to the role. His performance grounded the supernatural elements in real human fear and kept audiences invested in George’s plight even as the plot grew increasingly outlandish. It showed Reynolds could adeptly portray the descent into madness that comes with being tormented by an unseen evil force, further expanding his dramatic range beyond comedy.

The Voices (2014)

In 2014, Reynolds took on one of his darkest and most unsettling roles to date in the black comedy horror film The Voices. He plays Jerry Hickfang, a lonely and mentally unbalanced man who works at a bathtub factory in a small Midwest town. Jerry struggles with schizophrenia and frequently hears voices from his talking cat Mr. Whiskers and dog Bosco, who encourage his increasingly erratic and violent behavior.

Where the film succeeds the most is in the ambiguity around what is truly happening versus what exists only in Jerry’s fractured mind. Reynolds commits fully to Jerry’s unravelling mental state, having long conversations and receiving advice from his non-existent pets. This blurring of reality keeps viewers as unbalanced and on edge as Jerry, never quite sure when or if the disturbing events unfolding are actually taking place or are just manifestations of his deteriorating mental health.

Some of the most unsettling moments involve Jerry being coerced by his “pets” into acts of violence, leaving it unclear if he is truly responsible for his actions or simply losing his grip on what’s real. Reynolds brings pathos and tragedy to Jerry, making him a pitiable figure lost in his own delusions. It’s one of the actor’s darkest and most unnerving performances to date that lingers with viewers long after.

Life (2017)

In 2017, Reynolds joined Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson for the sci-fi thriller Life. The film follows a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station who retrieve a sample from Mars that contains the first proof of life ever discovered on another planet. However, this life form quickly begins evolving at an accelerated rate, becoming increasingly intelligent and dangerous to the astronauts as it grows in size.

Much of the film’s tension comes from not knowing how intelligent and threatening the alien organism, nicknamed Calvin, has become as it adapts to its new environment. Reynolds does well portraying the mounting fear and paranoia of the astronauts as Calvin’s true nature is revealed and it begins posing an active threat to their lives aboard the space station. Some genuinely unsettling moments include Calvin breaking free and stalking the crew in the station’s dark corridors, building real suspense as its abilities and intelligence escalate.

While not outright horror, Life taps into primal fears of unknown entities evolving beyond human control. Reynolds helps ratchet up the terror as the situation grows increasingly dire and it becomes a race against time to stop Calvin before the alien life form overruns the station. It’s a solid sci-fi thriller that keeps viewers guessing until the very end, with Reynolds effectively portraying the dread of being hunted onboard a confined space vessel.

Blade: Trinity (2004)

As part of the Blade franchise starring Wesley Snipes, 2004’s Blade: Trinity saw Reynolds take on the role of vampire hunter Hannibal King. While more action than horror, the film does have its share of darkly violent and gory sequences involving vampires that push the boundaries of an R-rating. Reynolds fits right in alongside Snipes, holding his own in the action scenes while bringing some humor and charm to balance the grittier elements.

One standout sequence has Reynolds’ character Hannibal being turned into a vampire himself after being bitten. What follows is a harrowing transformation scene as Hannibal’s body contorts in agony and he begins to take on vampiric abilities against his will. It’s an effectively unsettling moment in an otherwise over-the-top action film. Reynolds commits fully to Hannibal’s distress and loss of humanity as he slowly transforms, elevating what could have been a throwaway scene.

While Blade: Trinity may not be the first film that comes to mind in discussions of Reynolds’ horror roles, he brings a sense of fun but also real stakes when facing off against the vampiric threats. It showed he could seamlessly slide into an established franchise and hold his own amongst more seasoned actors in the genre like Snipes.

From being buried alive and haunted by malevolent spirits to facing off against deadly aliens and transforming into a vampire, Ryan Reynolds has proven himself more than capable of tackling darker, scarier material alongside his more comedic roles. While horror is subjective, these films showcase Reynolds committing fully to characters descending into madness, terror, and desperate life-or-death situations. They highlight his versatility as an actor and ability to immerse viewers into tense, unsettling worlds through his performances alone or alongside ensemble casts.

Even in films like The Voices that lean more into psychological thrills than outright scares, Reynolds brings a level of empathy and tragedy to troubled characters that lingers with audiences. It’s clear he enjoys mixing up his resume with projects that push him creatively beyond just comedy. These horror roles have helped cement Reynolds as one of the most talented actors working today who can slide seamlessly between genres while fully committing to any character he portrays, whether hero or villain.