Horror Movie Child Stars You Wouldn't Recognize Today

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Children are often used to great effect in horror movies. When they're potential victims, they can really get the audience invested in the story as no one wants to see harm come to something so harmless. Likewise, children can make perfect monsters because who would expect an innocent little kid to be the personification of evil? In fact, children have played important roles in some of the most beloved horror films of all time, including "The Shining," "The Omen," "The Exorcist," "Pet Sematary," "The Ring," and many others.

It's a different story for the young performers who starred in these and other horror films. Some child actors found themselves typecast and unable to work on movies outside of the horror genre. Others used the success from their horror roles to launch them to stardom and a lucrative career across a wide variety of popular and acclaimed films. Here we take a look at the careers of horror movie child stars who are still active in the entertainment industry, but who you wouldn't recognize today.

Alex Vincent made his film debut in the classic killer doll horror flick "Child's Play" as Andy Barclay, a young boy whose mom buys him a Good Guy doll that just happens to be inhabited by the spirit of a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray. Calling himself Chucky in his new doll form, Charles resumes his murderous rampage and implicates Andy in his crimes, turning the young boy into a suspect. "Child's Play" was a financial success and spawned multiple sequels, a remake, and a TV show.

Alex Vincent has reprised the character of Andy in several other "Child's Play" installments, including "Child's Play 2," "Curse of Chucky," and "Cult of Chucky." He's also appeared in other horror films like 2008's "Dead Country" and 2013's "House Guest Massacre." Some of his upcoming films include "Descending" and "The N00bs." While Alex's film career has been somewhat sporadic over the years, he's still active in the entertainment industry and even runs a recording and production studio called A/V Productions.

AnnaSophia Robb's fourth feature-length film was "The Reaping" where she played Loren McConnell, a young girl who is believed by the inhabitants of her small town to be responsible for its river turning red. Katherine Winter (played by Hilary Swank) and Ben (played by Idris Elba) have built their careers debunking supposed miracles, and are called to the town to uncover the bizarre occurrences taking place there which seem to correspond with a biblical prophecy.

Possibly because of her previous experience in non-horror roles, AnnaSophia Robb has appeared in a wide range of films and TV shows outside of the horror genre. After her role in "The Reaping," AnnaSophia was seen in 2007's "A West Texas Children's Story," 2008's "Sleepwalking," 2009's "Race to Witch Mountain," and 2013's "The Way Way Back." Some of her more recent projects include playing Michelle Shughart in the miniseries "Dr. Death," appearing in the music video for Ed Sheeran's "Shivers," and starring in the upcoming action thriller "Rebel Ridge."

Chloë Grace Moretz's first foray into horror was in her feature film debut, the 2005 remake of 1979's "The Amityville Horror." She played Chelsea Lutz, the young daughter of a couple who have just moved into a gorgeous house in the sleepy town of Amityville, New York. However, what the family doesn't know is that a year earlier Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed his entire family in cold blood under the supposed orders of the house itself. Of course, it isn't long before the Lutzes start to notice bizarre happenings in their new home, with Chelsea spending time with an invisible friend who may be one of the children previously murdered in the house.

Moretz was lucky enough not to get typecast after her appearance in "The Amityville Horror," and has since gone on to have a very successful career. She's been seen in such films as "500 Days of Summer," "Kick-Ass" (and its sequel), "The Equalizer," and "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," among many others. While she is mostly known for her work in drama and comedy, she has still returned to star in the occasional horror film like "Carrie" and "Suspiria."

Cody Dorkin is most known for his portrayal of Robert, one of the titular children in the 1995 remake of "Village of the Damned." Directed by horror icon John Carpenter and starring Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, and Mark Hamill, the film follows a group of odd children with mysterious psychic abilities, all of them immaculately born on the same night from different parents. The children all look and act similar to one another, and they use their mental powers to deadly effect on anyone who poses a threat to their existence.

After "Village of the Damned," Cody Dorkin had a relatively minor career in TV and film. Some of his subsequent projects include doing voice work in "Toy Story" and "Johnny Bravo," and appearing in TV series like "Chicago Hope" and "Family Matters." While his last acting credit was as Patrick in "South of Nowhere" in 2007, he has remained in the entertainment industry in his current role as founder and acting coach for the acting studio, Studio 24.

"Hide and Seek" saw Dakota Fanning play Emily, the daughter of David Callaway (Robert De Niro) who intends to start a new life in upstate New York after the recent death of his wife. Things get weird when Emily spends time with her imaginary friend, Charlie, who she blames for the murder of their cat. Emily starts displaying erratic and even hostile behavior, leading David to believe that Charlie is more than just the product of a child's imagination.

"Hide and Seek" was a critical flop, but it did garner Dakota Fanning award nominations for "Best Actress" at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and for "Best Frightened Performance" at the MTV Movie + TV Awards. Since then, Fanning has continued a successful acting career with such credits as Jane in the "Twilight" franchise, Cherie Currie in "The Runaways," and Sara Howard in "The Alienist." She will play Marge Sherwood in the upcoming series "Ripley," and will star in 2023's "The Nightingale" alongside her sister Elle Fanning.

Isabelle Fuhrman, in only her second feature film, played the main villain in "Orphan." Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard portray a married couple who decide to adopt a 9-year-old girl named Esther (Furhman) after their third attempt to conceive a child failed. Despite Esther's young age, she displays the knowledge of someone considerably older than herself, arousing the suspicions of her foster parents. Even more troubling is the manipulative and even violent behavior she begins to display towards the other members of the family. It's obvious that there's more to Esther's past than her parents initially were told.

Other than appearances in 2013's "Don't Let Me Go" and 2016's "Cell," Isabelle Fuhrman hasn't had much to do with the horror genre. However, she's continued to keep herself busy with some wide-ranging projects, such as voice work for "The Cleveland Show" and "Adventure Time: Distant Lands." She had a recurring role in Showtime's "Masters of Sex," and will play the lead in the upcoming thriller "Unit 234." Fuhrman is scheduled to make a return to horror in an "Orphan" prequel titled "Orphan: First Kill," where she will reprise her role of Esther.