The Genre Films of Katie Holmes Before 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

There's no doubt that Katie Holmes has had a great career already at a young age. She is mostly known for her roles in dramas and comedies. However, occasionally she'll stray from the norm and do something a bit edgier like "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." In this gothic horror film, Holmes plays an interior designer who finds out the dark secret of the mansion they are living in and renovating. Let's look at some of the horror/thriller genre movies Holmes has had roles in.

"Disturbing Behavior"

Holmes' first role in a genre film was in 1998's "Disturbing Behavior." She played Rachel, who helped convince the new kid in town that there was something terribly wrong with the methods the adults, officials, and teachers were using to get its rebellious teens under control. "The Stepford Wives" obviously heavily influenced this movie. Holmes did a great job of playing a sulky angry adolescent in this decent thriller. David Nutter directed this film and it starred James Marsden, Nick Stahl, and Bruce Greenwood.

"The Gift"

Director Sam Raimi's "The Gift" featured Holmes in a small but very important part as the main subject of the film. She plays Jessica King who mysteriously disappears in a small country town. It doesn't take long to find out that something horrible happened to Jessica when the local clairvoyant in town begins getting visions of the girl's death. The movie has a star-studded cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, and Keanu Reeves.

"Abandon"

A little known film that Holmes did named "Abandon" has the actor giving a great performance that has not been seen by many people, unfortunately. The movie is based on a novel by Sean Desmond entitled "Adams Fall." Holmes plays a stressed-out college student named Katie. Katie has had to move on with her life after her boyfriend disappeared two years earlier with no explanation. Suddenly, the girl starts seeing him everywhere. It seems the boyfriend is back and stalking her. Benjamin Bratt plays a detective (what else?) who is helping her figure out what's going on. Stephen Gagman directed the movie. It also starred Zooey Deschanel and Gabrielle Union.

Katie Holmes has proven herself to be an actor to watch. She has shown she is willing to step out of her comfort zone to tackle some stranger roles and that shows a lot. For one, it shows how diverse her performances can be. Diversity is a key element in becoming a long-lasting actor in Hollywood.

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