9 Essential Lin Shaye Performances

A look at 9 great performances by Insidious actress Lin Shaye

Yesterday, Deadline ran casting news from the world of director Adam Robitel’s fourth installment in the James Wan/Leigh Whannell Insidious franchise (releasing theatrically on October 20th), with actors Kirk Acevedo, Bruce Davison and Caitlin Gerard all scheduled to join series mainstay Lin Shaye for another go around into the unknown.

Insidious: Chapter 4 sees Shaye once more essaying the role of intrepid psychic investigator Elise Rainer, the once fragile, now unstoppable force of supernatural-battling nature that endlessly aids her clients in evading and escaping the shadowy realms of “the further” and the various entities that inhabit it.

An Insidious film without Shaye wouldn’t be right. The veteran actress adds gravitas and elegance to the series as well as sense of quiet mirth. Sure, Shaye might be in on the joke. She’s well aware of the blackly comic Grand Guignol pulp underpinnings that propel the films’ narrative, but she’s not letting that crack her performance.

And that’s the thing about Shaye. She’s a professional. No matter the movie, no matter how broad or muted the role, she gives her all and treats the character seriously. She’s never a cartoon. She’s always real.

The Insidious films are merely a taste of the actress’ near 4-decade-spanning resume and today, we’re grabbing 9 of our favorite Lin Shaye performances from that resume and sharing them with you, to celebrate one of our greatest character performers and remind us all how lucky us film fans are to have her.

Enjoy and be sure to share your favorite Shaye turn in the comments section below.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

One of Shaye's most important early roles came as the teacher in Wes Craven's iconic horror fantasy romp. Though her character is nameless, it's clear looking back at the young Shaye how magnetic a screen presence she was, even when babbling while her students drift off and dream of Freddy Krueger.

Kingpin (1996)

One of Shaye's most memorable and notorious roles. Here, Lady Lin plays bowling hustler Woody Harrelson's hideous, wheezing landlady who trades her sexual favors in return for free rent. Shaye gives a fearless physical turn here and watching her smoking in bed and musing on post-coital defecation while Harrelson vomits is the stuff of legend.

There's Something About Mary (1998)

The Farrelly's once again gave Shaye the chance to get nasty here (but not nearly as nasty as in Kingpin) playing tanned-to-a-crisp, smoking and dog-loving Magda, vulgar but kindly confidant to Cameron Diaz's Mary. Brilliant and scene stealing work. The photo here pretty much says it all...

Detroit Rock City (1999)

The official KISS movie sees Shaye once more stealing every scene playing the holy rolling Mrs.Bruce, whose satanic panic over her son's love of KISS circa 1978 causes her to go sort of insane. Adam Rifkin's rock and roll comedy is okay, but Shaye is outstanding.

2001 Maniacs (2005)

Slick remake of the H.G. Lewis gore classic sees Shaye stealing scenes from co-star Robert Englund playing cannibal ghost Granny Boone. Shaye's sweet face and smile betray the beast beneath and she's a campy joy to watch. Shaye returned for director Tim Sullivan's oft-maligned sequel 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams.

The Insidious Films (2010- present)

Franchise masterminds James Wan and Leigh Whannell gave Shaye a genuine gift in Elise, the warrior psychic who does battle with all manner of malevolent spook and demon in suburbia. The stylish, often visionary Insidious films have turned Shaye into a late in life horror film icon, the female Vincent Price. What's great about Shaye's work in these movies is that she's aware of just how blessed she is and she pours every ounce of herself into the character.

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)

Underrated sex comedy sees Shaye having a ball (ahem) as a chirpy real estate agent who doubles as an S&M sex club leather Queen. Seeing Shaye showing skin and strutting in fetish gear reminds us that being sexually desirable carries on well past middle age.

FDR: American Badass (2012)

Director Garret Brawith's cheeky, goofy and irreverent historical comedy-horror film sees Barry Bostwick's Roosevelt battling all manner of beast and Shaye once more owning the frame, playing his devoted and worried wife Elanor. She gives a straight-faced performance in a ridiculous movie and that's what makes it so funny.

Abattoir (2016)

Director Darren Lynn Bousman's chilling new hand-made haunted house story (based on his comic book series) sees Shaye giving one of her best post-Insidious performances as Allie, a resident of the troubled town of New English who might have some serious secrets to hide. Some of Shaye's best moments in this solid mystery horror film are without dialogue and they - and she - are fantastic.

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