Matthias

I saw this movie I was only 7 and it was my 1st horror movie, so the whole thing scared the hell out of me. To answer your question, YES, Matthias scared me. Not just the character but his presence in the movie, cause as Matthias goes the family will follow. That says alot for the actor Anthony Zerbe and he does it with his quiet intensity and never has to chew up the scenery.

I, too, saw this movie at about 7 and (several times since then) and it had such an effect on me that it has become part of my dreams.

As for Zerbe, can't watch much of anything he's in without getting creeped out. Even the RDWRER episode of Frasier where he's the least Zerbe-ish in performance. I suppose the only time I watch him where I don't get creeped is in Cool Hand Luke. Don't know why, maybe because it was beforehand.

But, I suppose, he'd be proud of the fact that he had such an impact on a member of the audience. That's the whole point of acting, and while T.O.M is campy and he's not called upon to be Olivier or anything, it certainly was impactful, to me.

BASTARD!

P.S. Lincoln Kilpatrick doesn't creep me out as much in other roles, but in HIS episode of Frasier there's hints. He plays such a different character in Soylent Green I don't creeped out, and he was in a movie I saw in the 80's and there was nothing. Just that episode of Frasier. Maybe because he's sick in the hospital in the episode, I don't know. Saw "Together Brothers" about a year ago, and in that he played an altogether creepy character, but not Zachary style.

He is scary but there is a refinement about Matthias. I think that he must be one of the most polite villain/monster in movies.