6) Elise Rainier (Insidious: Chapter 3)
Speaking of Amy Schumer, the comedienne teamed up with Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Patricia Arquette recently to perform a skit titled “Last F**kable Day”, bemoaning the lack of quality roles for older women in Hollywood. It’s hilarious, but what does this have to do with the third chapter of the Insidious franchise?
Whatever you think of Insidious: Chapter 3 as a film, Lyn Shaye’s central performance is hugely watchable, grounding the demon fighting in a silly yet enjoyable way. And no, Shaye isn’t the young attractive girl who fits your typical ‘final girl’ category. She’s 71 years old.
With the immortal phrase “Come on, bitch!”, psychic ghost hunter Elise Rainier provided 2015’s funniest and most ridiculous line, but to dismiss it as a silly throwaway moment in an increasingly silly horror franchise would do Rainier a disservice. The few mainstream movies actually headlined by women tend to star younger actresses in skin tight outfits, so it’s incredibly rare to see female performers working past their forties now, let alone their seventies.
Even if Shaye was younger though, even if Insidious: Chapter 3 didn’t pass the Bechdel Test with flying colours, hell, even if this was the worst film ever made, the character of Elise would be guaranteed a place on this list for that one defining moment. Bitches better not mess with Elise Rainier. That’s all I’m saying.
Published: Sep 1, 2015 09:54 pm