HOW DAVID DASTMALCHIAN IS BECOMING A MODERN HORROR ICON

With Late Night with the Devil making waves since finally releasing to theaters -- now is the perfect time to take a look at the star of the film, David Dastmalchian. Dastmalchian's been working steadily since his debut in 2008's The Dark Knight but has only recently started to really make a name for himself in the horror genre. This is surprising, considering even when he's not featured in a horror project, he finds creative ways to bring an outlandish eeriness to any role he takes.

Given Dastmalchian's interest in the more morbid side of theater, he may continue down his current trajectory to become a true staple in horror. His real-life interests and passions also reflect this delight in the macabre. With Late Night with the Devil performing well with fans and critics, it's safe to suggest that Dastmalchian could easily become a modern-day Hollywood horror icon, like legendary actors Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee.

Dastmalchian’s Recent Output Reinvigorates the Classic Horror Genre

David Dastmalchian has been featured prominently in some of the more notable horror outings in recent memory. Through his most recent work, it seems the actor is paying homage to an era of horror that many modern movie-goers grew up watching. At the end of March, he'll be front-and-center in the new film Late Night with the Devil. This film is firmly set in the late-night world of the 1970s and looks to bring back the vibe of classics like The Exorcist and The Omen. Even the setting of the film -- an old TV studio on the always-spooky Halloween night -- brings an old-fashioned sense of fright that's been missing from the current crop of horror films. Given Late Night with the Devil's impressive Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for the film to join the annual Halloween rotation with films like Trick 'r Treat or, of course, Halloween itself.

Late Night with the Devil isn't the only film David Dastmalchian's been a part of in the last few years that helps revive horror tales of the past. While only taking part in the story for a short time, Dastmalchian has an unforgettably morbid role in 2023's The Boogeyman. The Boogeyman is based on a 1973 short story by Stephen King, who just so happened to put in a rave review for Late Night with the Devil after having watched a screener copy he obtained. Dastmalchian also helped bring Dracula back into the spotlight with The Last Voyage of the Demeter. The film recounts the doomed tale of the Demeter -- the ship that transported Count Dracula from Transylvania to London in Bram Stoker's classic 1897 novel. Dracula is an iconic horror villain who has struggled to make his way into the modern landscape of horror.

While The Last Voyage of the Demeter didn't set the world on fire critically and ended up being considered a flop financially, it found enough of an audience who genuinely appreciated the monstrous approach Universal took this time around. Dastmalchian also received praise for his haunted portrayal of the Demeter's quartermaster, Wojchek. While very subdued, Wojchek became a memorable aspect during this particular battle against Dracula.

Outside of Horror, Dastmalchian’s Outlandish Roles Stand Out

• David Dastmalchian has had many roles in the superhero genre all of which have tapped into his ability to bring a smaller and more outlandish character to life.

Even when working outside the constraints of the horror genre, Dastmalchian's performances always have an eerie edge to them. One won't forget his first role in a theatrical film, playing Thomas Schiff, a man with crippling schizophrenia, in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Regardless of his limited screen time, Schiff is a character that could've been plucked from the Christian Bale-led Batman flick and placed directly in any horror thriller without anybody batting an eyelash. Dasmtmalchian nearly stole his scenes with his menacing laughter and disheveled appearance, and then again by conjuring up unrelenting sympathy from the same off-put audience as Harvey Dent violently threatened him mere moments later. Schiff wasn't Dastmalchian's only foray into Batman canon. He also played the unsettling Calendar Man in both parts of the animated Batman: The Long Halloween.

Possibly Dastmalchian's most recognizable role up until this point, Polka Dot Man immediately became a fan favorite in James Gunn's first DC blockbuster, The Suicide Squad. Among a group of offbeat characters, Polka Dot Man was perhaps the most offbeat. His obsession with pleasing his mother -- whom he saw in exceptionally peculiar visions throughout the film -- made the character all the more odd. This oddity is not unlike that of the titular psycho in the 1960 film Psycho, Norman Bates. Their obsessions may materialize in vastly different ways, but the truth is that Polka Dot Man is simply a small step away from breaking the same way Bates did. With Dune: Part Two currently wowing audiences in theaters, it'd be foolish not to acknowledge David Dastmalchian's role in 2021's Dune. Dastmalchian's small role as Piter De Vries offered just enough of a window into the bleak lifestyle of those who are part of House Harkonnen, which makes the ensuing struggle against them that much more tense.

Dastmalchian Devotes His Life to the Ghoulish

• Dastmalchian’s time as the Scarecrow may not have been comic-accurate, but he brought a high level of creepiness and unhinged energy to the role.

Outside of being featured in Oscar-winning films like Oppenheimer, where he played William L. Borden, David Dastmalchian also devotes his time to the more ghoulish side of life. While guest starring on a Goth-themed Halloween episode of Last Stream on the Left, Dastmalchian talked openly about how he considers himself a "Goth dad," hoping to have his head removed and preserved following his eventual death. He then explained how he hopes for his wife to keep it on display for about a month as his family mourns. This could have just been playful banter for the show -- and it probably was -- but Dastmalchian maintained that he was telling the truth. The concept of an actor preserving their head posthumously sounds like that of an urban legend, and it would fit Dastmalchian perfectly.

On top of his fairly bizarre funeral wishes, Dastmalchian is also helping others gear up for their own. He recently became a celebrity brand ambassador for Titan Casket -- which Dastmalchian explained is owned by a friend of his -- who sells high-quality caskets for a much lower price than the mainstream casket retailers. Dastmalchian has a true passion for caskets, working with the company to build his own, and has even admitted to sleeping in one. Dastmalchian also created the comic Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter with artist Lukas Ketner. Count Crowley is a fun throwback to old-school horror storytelling that's equal parts horror and fun.

Whether it's his work in cinema, his passion for caskets, or his role as a comic creator, David Dastmalchian is devoted to the horror genre one way or the other. Audiences should be keeping a close eye on the actor for his future roles -- especially if they enjoy the more classic, morbid atmosphere that horror can deliver. For now, Late Night with the Devil is the most recent opportunity where movie-goers will get to see a master at work.

2024-03-27T06:44:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd