15 Apr 2011

Keeping up with the Loomis

Deadly Movies | Connections

Sam Loomis
The surname Loomis has unwillingly become the name of choice in slasher films and, like so many Deadly Movies connections, it can be traced back to the master’s Psycho (1960). Sam Loomis, played by John Gavin, was Marian Crane’s boyfriend, hopelessly searching The Bates Motel for clues to the whereabouts of his AWOL girlfriend. The Loomis family would return to the Psycho universe in Psycho 2 (1983).This time Sam’s widow Lila Loomis (Marian’s sister no less, now a Loomis) and daughter Mary Loomis turn up to exact some bitchin Loomis revenge on Norman.


Dr Loomis
John Carpenter’s 1979 Halloweenutilised elements of Psycho to create a template that would become the modern slasher blueprint, but this wasn’t all he borrowed. He also grabbed his leading lady from Psycho stock, Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Janet Leigh (Marian Crane) and he directly borrowed a character name, Sam Loomis. Although rather than the grieving boyfriend, his Loomis was a child psychologist and obsessive nemesis to serial killer Michael Myers. Like Psycho before it, one film in a franchise is never enough for a Loomis. Dr Sam Loomis would return toHalloween in four more films and two remakes. It’s also worth noting that the character of Annie Brackett is played by Nancy Loomis.


Billy Loomis
Then it would be the turn of another horror legend, Wes Craven, creator of horror cornerstones The Last House on The Left (1972), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). In 1996 Craven’s Scream would reference and parody the forefathers of horror, especially Halloween of which both score and movie feature directly in the film, as does the name Loomis. Here however Loomis is on the wrong side of the knife handle. Billy Loomis is the mastermind behind the ‘Ghost Face’ killings, while his mother Mrs Loomis (going all Mrs Voorhees) would take up the knife and mask in Scream 2 (1997). Although the Loomis’s would get name checks inScream 3 (2000) and Scream 4 (2011) no actual family members reappear. 

50 years, 12 films, 8 actors, 6 characters, 1 surname

Sam Loomis (John Gavin, ‘Psycho’ 1960)
Lila Loomis (Vira Miles, ‘Psycho 2′ 1983)
Mary Loomis (Meg Tilly, ‘Psycho 2′ 1983)
Sam Loomis (Viggo Mortensen, ‘Psycho’ 1998)
Dr Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence, ‘Halloween’ 1978, ‘Halloween 2′ 1981, ‘Halloween 4′ 1988, ‘Halloween 5′ 1989, ‘Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers’ 1995)
Dr Sam Loomis (Malcome McDowell, ‘Halloween’ 2007, ‘Halloween 2′ 2009)
Billy Loomis (Skreet Ulrich, ‘Scream’ 1996)
Mrs Loomis (Laurie Metcalf, ‘Scream 2′ 1997)

14 comments:

  1. Nice. I made it to this page by plugging in "nancy sam billy loomis" into the old Google-izer. Good to see I'm not the only one who obsesses about these things.

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  2. That was a great article. As a horror fan, I knew the name Loomis when I read it but I didn't know from where. That was one of the most fun and original articles I've read in a while.

    Thanks for posting. Gratitude.

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  3. Nice movies here and such scariest movies always give me a best way to go with a horror world so that i have to enjoy the same with a nice interest there .

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  4. If you like Critters watch THE FURFANGS at www.andrearicca.com

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  5. I always noticed this 2, thought i was the only 1 haha you should check out McKenzy too, not sure if thats how you spell it but i noticed that name as well

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  6. Willie Loomis was also the name of the character that unwittingly released Barnabas Collins while attempting to raid the crypt in Dark Shadows.

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  7. Loved it and recommend it for all genre lovers.

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  8. Don't forget Willie Loomis from Dark Shadows

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  9. Found your blog via Bloody Disgusting’s Horror Blog Awards. – Congrats! So far they have been right on the money. I’m really enjoying your blog so far and will definitely be visiting more. –good work and thanks for sharing your horror love!

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  10. Don't forget Peggy Loomis, "The Town That Dreaded Sundown".

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  11. Toss in Nancy Loomis, actress, who played one of Laurie' s friends in the original Halloween (now Nancy Kyes).

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  12. Sheriff Loomis in the movie "Wraith". Played by Randy Quaid which coincidently, was his name in the movie "Quickchange"

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