Holy Terrors: Hail, Cry King: Alex Wolff

Holy Terrors is a monthly column highlighting the Jewish talent behind some of our favorite horror films. 

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It’s no secret that Alex Wolff is the Cry King of modern horror cinema. Known especially for his brilliant emotionality in Ari Aster’s Hereditary (2018), Wolff brings a gut-wrench to nearly every role he’s in. All horror fans know his name (as well we should), for he’s simply the best and that’s indisputable. 

Entering a life of fame as only a small bubele in The Naked Brothers Band, Wolff has been around for a SECOND, though has only more recently received the just praise he deserves. Additionally, brother to equally talented yet criminally underrated (and everyone should say it) Nat Wolff, it’s clear that genius runs in the family. Still, Alex Wolff’s entrance into genre films solidified his position as a newer classic horror icon.

Beginning with Hereditary, fans were floored by Wolff’s ability to portray equal parts horror and drama on-screen. Having pushed himself physically, mentally, and emotionally for the role of Peter, Wolff’s ability to transform is nothing short of jarring (Screen Rant wrote a crucial article on this. Check it out here.). In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such a disturbing portrayal of trauma and heartache since. On a completely different note, a fun lil’ Jewish fact about Hereditary is that not only is Alex Wolff Jewish, the director Ari Aster is Jewish as well and so is Milly Shapiro, the actor who plays Charlie! My point is: Hereditary is a Jewish as hell horror film and that’s that on that. No one can convince me otherwise. 

Now, let’s talk about Wolff’s role in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old (2021). While, of course, many filmgoers were not enamored with the film, it’s still difficult to deny the power of Wolff’s performance. Exuding a harrowing presence once again, Wolff’s iteration of the rapidly-aging Trent ripped my heart in two. While I’m personally a huge fan both of M. Knight and the film itself, I have to say that Wolff’s heart-rending magnetism was hands-down one of the most resonant components of the film. Though Old is one of those films that you just kind of have to go with, its over-the-topedness and silliness was tempered deeply by Wolff’s signature poignancy on-screen. 

I’ll wrap up with a horror-adjacent thriller here, because while Mr. Wolff has a kickass horror presence, his genre filmography is only beginning to expand! So, in the midst of all the other 2021 eeriness, a strange little film called Pig was released. A fairly different role for Wolff, Pig featured the actor as a slightly less emotional albeit highly cerebral businessman. Starring in that film alongside the incredible Nic Cage, his dynamism felt even more enhanced and I’m downright convinced that there’s nothing he can’t do.  

So, what’s next for the great Alex Wolff, you ask? Hopefully, a million creepy projects. Though what we know now is that he’s slated to be in a thriller entitled Susie Searches. While, according to the film’s IMDb page, the production status is still unknown, Wolff will be in stellar company, starring alongside Kiersey Clemons (Sweetheart), Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby), and Ken Marino (The State). Looks to me like this film will serve more than a few laughs as well as its cast is sprinkled with comedians. Still, a release date is also unknown and, until then, we’ll have to hang tight for more cries and thrills from this rising horror talent.