by Ryan Gosling is widely considered one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation. Over the course of his career, he has proven himself adept at both drama and comedy, delivering nuanced and compelling performances in films ranging from romantic dramas like The Notebook to political satires like The Big Short. However, one genre Gosling has not delved too deeply into is horror. That said, several of his films contain suspenseful or unsettling elements that deserve deeper examination. While not traditional horror movies, these films showcase Gosling’s ability to inhabit dark, complex characters and navigate disturbing subject matter and atmospheres. Let’s take a closer look at five Ryan Gosling films that bring suspense and unsettling themes to the forefront.
The Lovely Bones (2009)
One of Gosling’s earliest forays into suspense and grief is the 2009 film The Lovely Bones, directed by Peter Jackson. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones tells the story of 14-year-old Susie Salmon who is raped and murdered in 1973. The film then follows Susie’s family as they grieve her death and search for her killer, cutting between their story and Susie’s perspective from “heaven.”
While not a traditional horror in that it doesn’t rely on jump scares or graphic violence, The Lovely Bones creates an unsettling atmosphere through its exploration of loss and the lingering effects of trauma. In the film, Gosling plays Susie’s father Jack, who is devastated by his daughter’s death and struggles to process his grief. Gosling brings nuanced emotion to the role, conveying both Jack’s sorrow and his slow descent into an obsessive search for answers. The film paints a haunting portrait of how violence can destroy and fragment a family. Though not a horror in the strictest sense, The Lovely Bones deals with dark subject matter and establishes Gosling’s ability to inhabit complex roles dealing with pain and psychological distress.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
One of Gosling’s most visually stunning and conceptually complex roles comes in 2017’s Blade Runner 2049, the long-awaited sequel to the 1982 neo-noir classic Blade Runner. In the film, Gosling plays K, a replicant working as a blade runner for the LAPD who uncovers a secret that challenges everything he believes about himself and his place in the world. Blade Runner 2049 is a dense, thoughtful science fiction work that examines what it means to be human in a world where human-like androids have been created.
Though not a traditional horror, Blade Runner 2049 creates a moody, unsettling atmosphere through its dystopian vision of a future Los Angeles overwhelmed by pollution and decay. Sparse dialogue and terse character interactions lend an air of isolation and unease. Additionally, the film explores disturbing philosophical questions about identity, memory, and humanity’s relationship with artificial life. Gosling brings complexity and vulnerability to K, a character who is forced to confront his own existence and purpose. Blade Runner 2049 isn’t scary so much as it is unnerving, posing unsettling questions about technology, humanity, and our ability to define ourselves.
Drive (2011)
A breakout role for Gosling was the 2011 neo-noir crime thriller Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. In the film, Gosling plays a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. After becoming romantically involved with his neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her young son, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous criminal underworld.
Drive is a stylistically bold, visually arresting film filled with violence and suspense. Though Gosling’s character doesn’t speak much, he brings an understated intensity and coiled physicality to the role. The film is also notable for its synth-heavy soundtrack and dreamlike cinematography, creating a hypnotic yet unsettling atmosphere. Several scenes of graphic violence, including a brutal hammer attack, give Drive genuine horror movie qualities. However, what makes the film truly unnerving is Gosling’s commitment to playing an enigmatic, almost inhuman character who remains an unknowable entity until the very end. Drive proved Gosling is capable of inhabiting some of the darker recesses of the human psyche on screen.
Half Nelson (2006)
One of Gosling’s early dramatic roles that showcased his talent for complex, emotionally raw parts was the 2006 film Half Nelson. In the film, Gosling plays Dan Dunne, a history teacher at an underprivileged junior high school who struggles with a cocaine addiction. When one of his students (Shareeka Epps) discovers his secret, the film explores their unlikely bond and Dunne’s downward spiral.
Though not a traditional horror, Half Nelson creates an unsettling portrait of addiction, poverty, and the failings of the public education system. Gosling is utterly committed in his depiction of Dunne, conveying the teacher’s charm, intellect and passion for his subject alongside his growing desperation and self-destruction. Several scenes showing Dunne in the throes of his addiction are profoundly unsettling. The film also touches on disturbing themes of abuse and the corrosive effects drugs can have on an individual and community. A character-driven drama at its core, Half Nelson nonetheless creates an enveloping sense of urban grit and psychological unease through Gosling’s raw performance.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Gosling reteamed with Drive director Derek Cianfrance for the 2012 multi-generational crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines. In the film, Gosling plays Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to robbing banks to provide for his newborn son after losing his job in a traveling carnival. His heists bring him into conflict with an ambitious rookie cop named Avery Cross, played by Bradley Cooper.
Though it deals with morally ambiguous characters operating in the criminal underworld, The Place Beyond the Pines is just as much a family drama as a crime thriller. However, the film creates palpable suspense through its portrayal of the high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between Luke and Avery. Several tense heist scenes place the audience right alongside Luke as he risks everything in increasingly dangerous jobs. Gosling also brings nuance to Luke, showing his humanity and desire for connection even as he makes reckless, violent choices. The film explores how one man’s actions can have unforeseen, devastating consequences that ripple across generations. Though not a traditional horror, The Place Beyond the Pines keeps the audience on edge through its morally complex characters and escalating criminal plots.
In Conclusion
While Ryan Gosling has yet to take a leading role in an out-and-out horror film, these five selections from his filmography showcase his talent for inhabiting complex, often disturbed characters navigating dark themes and suspenseful scenarios. From grief and loss in The Lovely Bones to the existential dread of Blade Runner 2049 to the psychological unease of Half Nelson, Gosling has proven himself more than capable of shouldering films containing unsettling subject matter and atmospheres. His nuanced performances bring an emotional truthfulness that keeps audiences engaged, even in narratives not primarily focused on scares. With his dramatic range and willingness to delve into complicated characters, Gosling would likely excel if he chose to headline a major horror film. Until then, these films provide a glimpse of his ability to navigate genre storytelling with suspense, tension, and disturbing psychological realism.
