to many, Kiefer Sutherland Best known as 24 The hero is Jack Bauer, but before the action series started, the actor was known for playing multiple villainous roles. Some of Sutherland’s more sympathetic characters make it hard to believe he could portray such memorable antagonists. An eye for an eye And stand by me. nevertheless Every villain portrayed by Sutherland was believable and fully embodied by the Canadian actor.
In recent years, Sutherland’s filmography has not been as strictly defined by characters as in the 80s and 90s. Still, rare, powerful villain characters appear. In 2023, Sutherland appeared in the sci-fi comedy They cloned Tyrone where he delivers an interesting villainous performance in a supporting role. Longtime fans and newcomers alike can enjoy going back through Sutherland’s filmography and seeing his range through his best villain performances.
10 Senator Corvas
Pompeii (2014)
It received mixed reviews from critics upon release and was added to Sutherland’s lowest-rated film Rotten Tomatoes. Pompeii. The 2014 disaster film is set in ancient times and is inspired by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the titular city. Sutherland plays the corrupt Roman senator Corvus. Pompeii It’s not a particularly bad film, but it failed to impress critics with its formulaic adventure story.
unfortunately, Sutherland was not immune to harsh criticism as his accent and campy, villainous performance were missed by some critics.. Still, there is much to admire Pompeii. Director Paul WS Anderson sought accuracy when reconstructing historical events, and numerous archaeologists and volcanologists praised the film’s attention to detail. In addition, actions in Pompeii Lively and even though Sutherland doesn’t give his best performance, he is a source of pure entertainment, as one would expect.
9 Robert Dube
An Eye for an Eye (1996)
Widely panned by critics for its thin plot, An eye for an eye Sutherland still has a daring villain in the role. Rounding out the original cast An eye for an eye Sally Field and Ed Harris. The psychological thriller follows an embittered mother (Field) who takes matters into her own hands when her abusive daughter is killed by a delivery driver (Sutherland).
An eye for an eye Neither critics nor audiences loved it Because the film puts its main characters, namely Field’s character, through endless trauma without ever exploring the implications of such events beyond the surface level. Sutherland doesn’t deliver a terrible performance An eye for an eyeBut unlike his other counterparts, Robert has no redeeming qualities, making it hard to see him continue to cause trouble.
8 Nixon
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
with They cloned TyroneWith its high Rotten Tomatoes score and stacked cast, the sharp sci-fi mystery film was a hit on Netflix and featured Sutherland’s latest villainous performance. The film stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx Its leadership uncovers a government-sponsored cloning scheme carried out on the black community. They cloned Tyrone Makes a variety of references to blaxploitation and science fiction genres, all with plenty of surreal humor.
Sutherland has a supporting role They cloned Tyrone As Nixon, the man in charge of the cloning process. Nixon isn’t Sutherland’s toughest villain, and the actor doesn’t last long in the film. However, even within the confines, Sutherland makes it clear to both the audience and the film’s characters that he is not to be messed with. As Nixon, Sutherland has a calm and confident demeanor that is as cool as it is impressive.
7 Robert “Bob” Woolverton
Freeway (1996)
In freewaySutherland joined Brooke Shields and a young Reese Witherspoon early in her career. The black comedy crime film follows a runaway teenager (Witherspoon) who is picked up by Sutherland’s Bob Wolverton. The plot serves as a twisted version of the famous Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale Sutherland’s character embodies the cunning wolf of the story.
Without spoiling Bob’s true identity, it’s safe to say Sutherland is excitingly evil. He’s not someone the audience is rooting for by any means, but his performance has a subtle charm that still manages to captivate the audience. the freeway Considered one of Shields’ best films, it’s Witherspoon that truly shines, giving audiences a taste of the talent that would define her later career. freeway opened in theaters to disappointing results, but the film’s campy tone and satire allowed it to achieve cult status over the years.
6 Dr. Daniel Schreiber
Dark City (1998)
In a recent interview, Dr GQSutherland portrayed some of his most iconic characters. One of which comes from the Alex Prays film dark city. The film stars Rufus Sewell as a murder suspect. After having most of his memories erased, Sewell’s John Murdock is on the hunt for the real culprit, as well as his true identity, but not before being interrupted by an unknown group known as “The Strangers”.
In dark city, Sutherland in the role of Dr. Daniel Schreiber, a psychologist teams up with strangers to conduct experiments on humans. Sutherland is delightfully quirky and unlike his other villainous roles, Dr. Schreber is not so simple. There are layers of complex villains, which become more apparent as the film progresses. dark city Did not do well at the box office but continued to be enjoyed by audiences and received positive reviews from critics.
5 Lt. Jonathan Kendrick
Some Good People (1992)
following When Harry met Sally And distress Rob Reiner was some good people. The legal drama absorbed memorable performances from actors like Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore to name a few. some good people Centered on a trial involving two US Marines accused of murdering a fellow marine. Sutherland appears in a supporting role in the film as Lt. Jonathan Kendrick, the man’s commanding officer.
Aaron Sorkin’s writing — the film is based on his late ’80s play of the same name — combined with the talent of the cast results in strong performances. While Cruise and Nicholson’s performances are mostly talked about, Sutherland also gives a standout show. Sutherland captures the cool demeanor of a lieutenant who believes in a strict code of conduct and severe means of punishment.
4 David
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys Brought life to on-screen depictions of vampires, inspiring a new wave of such supernatural stories that chose to focus on younger, energetic characters more than ever before. The comedic supernatural film follows two brothers (Jason Patrick and Corey Haim) who move to a new town home to fanged, bloodthirsty creatures. Sutherland plays David, the leader of the vampire gang in the film.
David is not as aggressive as Sutherland’s other villains, but he is very determined to kill the town’s new residents, thereby turning them into full-fledged vampires. David may not be the first name that comes to mind when recalling the most iconic horror movie characters of the ’80s, but Sutherland’s performance ensured that the character would be remembered. The character’s moody personality and aesthetic inspired countless on-screen portrayals of vampires over the years.
3 Freddie Lee Cobb
A Time to Kill (1996)
Based on the novel of the same name by John Grisham, A Time to Kill Paints a scathing, yet honest portrait of racism and the justice system. A Time to Kill Follows Carl (Samuel L. Jackson), an angry father who takes matters into his own hands when he believes white men accused of assaulting his young daughter will go free. The film continues as Carl is put on trial. Sutherland plays Freddie Lee Cobb, the brother of one of the accused and later kills the attackers.
Freddie teams up with white supremacists in the local area to rally with the goal of convicting Carl and sentencing him to life in prison. Sutherland is always committed to his acting and Freddie is no exception. Sutherland said people were hesitant to greet him after the movie’s release because of his character’s actions. However, he feels strongly about portraying Freddy and emphasizes the importance of telling stories about racism.
2 to call
Phone Booth (2002)
Despite its limited setting and simple premise, thrilling phone booth Adept at establishing a high level of suspense. Colin Farrell delivers an infectiously uncomfortable performance as the film’s lead character who enters a phone booth to answer a sniper’s call in Sutherland’s voice. phone booth The pace is fast and works to keep the audience on the edge of their seats for the entire runtime.
Farrell, confined to the tight confines of a phone booth, expresses his anguish at being given an ultimatum by Sutherland’s character. Sutherland was given a similar challenge. Using only his voice, it was crucial for the actor to convey the serious threat his character poses. Already seen several times throughout his career, Sutherland delivers his menace to Farrell’s character with a tone that makes him all the more terrifying.
1 S. Merrill
Stand By Me (1986)
One of the best movies based on Stephen King’s work, stand by me A coming-of-age story that follows four young boys who set out to find the body of a missing boy. stand by me It has been praised for its nostalgic portrayal of childhood friendship, striking an ideal balance of heartwarming moments and adventure. stand by me Released early in the careers of its main cast, including Sutherland.
Sutherland portrays iconic childhood bully S. Merrill Those who taunt small groups in films. There was no desire or need to empathize with S. His purpose in the film is straightforward, but Sutherland handles the character effectively – which may explain his position as the antagonist for much of his career. Like Sutherland, the rest stand by meIts cast has won accolades for their polished, yet playful performances.