Tomorrow brings the 89th Academy Awards, the yearly ceremony that bestows the crème de la crème of honors upon what they believe to be the best that the movie world has to offer.
And, just like in pretty much any other year, horror has gone unnoticed and unappreciated. It’s upsetting because there have been fantastic films that came out this year, and they deserve to be recognized. Alas, that’s something that the Academy seems ill at ease doing, unless your film is made by someone with clout behind their name.
Instead of picking performances from the past year that deserve recognition, I figured I’d look into the past to find several actors who got snubbed when it came to appreciating their immense talent. These are actors who put their all into a role, transforming into their characters and creating something that made an impact that cannot be denied.
So, without further ado, here are 10 actors who should have won the Best Actor award!
Playing a father to the Anti-Christ can’t be easy, especially when you’re also a diplomat. Therefore, you’ve got to be studious, educated, and possess the ability to maintain poise, integrity, and your wits under pressure. Peck managed to do all of this while also bringing a touch of class and elegance to The Omen. His inner turmoil at the thought of having to kill his own son is palpable, and the desperation he goes through to seek answers feels all too real.
For many years, Session 9 was a criminally underseen film. Hell, I only found out about it when I was at a Best Buy one day and, feeling a bit depressed, used a $20 gift card to buy the movie because the cover looked like it was inspired by Silent Hill 3. What I watched that night was a film that has stuck with me ever since.
Mullan’s performance as Gordon is, for lack of a better word, inspired. He channels the inner turmoil of a man driven by desperation to provide not only for his friends/co-workers but for his family, his wife and daughter. That leads him to accept a job that is seemingly impossible, one that will add untold amounts of stress to his already heavily burdened shoulders. As the days of the week during which the story takes place pass, the inner demons of Gordon and his crew begin exposing themselves, creating a boiling pot of intense frustration and unresolved conflict. Gordon’s descent into chaos is something that has to be seen to be believed.
For some (myself included), The Shining is one of the greatest horror films ever put to celluloid. Directed by the infamous Stanley Kubrick, it plays out as one of the most intense visions of cabin fever ever put to film, and Nicholson evolves his character with terrifying authenticity. Already a troubled man when the film starts, Jack Torrence’s descent into madness is exacerbated by the grand emptiness of the Overlook Hotel, a place he thought could be his salvation, only to unknowingly become victim to its solitude.
If ever there was a horror performance that should’ve had critics cheering and demanding validation, it was Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
A priest on the verge of losing his faith is challenged in the most difficult way possible. Not only must he face a demonic possession but also one that sees fit to mock him, attempting to elicit feelings guilt over the recent passing of his mother. Miller’s performance as Father Karras showcases all of that and more, bringing to the screen a character that is richly layered and wonderfully complex. While The Exorcist won several Academy Awards, Miller’s performance was disappointingly not recognized.
How is a father supposed to react when he is ostracized from a community and must provide for his family in a seemingly desolate and unaccommodating land? Ineson bears all of these burdens and also must try to keep his family together after the tragic death of his youngest child. As tensions mount and frustrations boil over, Ineson’s performance only grows stronger, his intensity palpable. While the film was critically acclaimed, the Academy didn’t recognize it for any category. Ineson being snubbed is an insult to all horror fans, plain and simple.
There’s a reason that Tim Burton’s horror/comedy has endured for so many years, and it’s not due to Alec Baldwin or Geena Davis’ admittedly delightful performances. Nope, it’s all thanks to Michael Keaton as “The Ghost with the Most.” He threw himself into the role with such devilish glee that it’s nearly impossible to not get swept up in his frenzied charisma. He’s charming, sinister, disgusting, and never once dull. The moment Keaton is on the screen, you know you’re going to have a blast!
When it comes to fantastic performances in horror, no discussion can happen without at least mentioning Anthony Perkins in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. From starting out as a seemingly meek and mild motel clerk to becoming the villain of the film, Perkins played the role with sincerity, grace, and deceptive terror. This is a masterclass performance, one that will live on in infamy.
I remember taking a course at the University of Michigan called “The History of Horror After Psycho,” where we would watch and critique genre movies on a weekly basis. When it came to George A. Romero’s classic, we spoke for three hours about it without once mentioning the word “zombie.” Rather, we spoke about race relations, Cold War fears, the impact of Vietnam on journalism and reporting, and much, much more. And while we may not all have agreed on every point, we did all come to the same conclusion that Jones’ performance was truly incredible.
Ben was a character who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty; yet, he did so with the best of intentions. He was obviously honorable, empathetic, and intelligent; but he was marred by his stubbornness and unwillingness to concede his stance. While Harry Cooper may have been a total asshole (another fantastic performance, this one from Karl Hardman), he wasn’t wrong in believing that the basement was the safest place in the house. Ultimately, their inability to work together led to their deaths. But through it all, Jones provided the most riveting and captivating performance throughout the film.
I feel like I may lose a few people with this selection, but I was astounded by Jane’s performance in The Mist. He had to play a man who not only had to fight for his son and the rational thinkers of the supermarket, but he also had to do so while not knowing (until the end) if his wife was okay or not. He shouldered the responsibility of becoming a leader in a situation that no one could ever hope to prepare for and did so with strength and sensitivity, a rare mix indeed. Furthermore, while I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that Jane provided a performance that had me in tears.
This one may come out of left field, but I’ve always adored watching Sam Neill perform in a movie. Something about him is so engrossing and charismatic, and I can’t help but delight in watching him in his element. As John Trent, Neill gets to play a somewhat greasy and unpleasant character that still has enormous presence on screen. He’s not necessarily a good guy, but he’s not a bad guy either. Riding the line in between isn’t an easy task, but Neill delivers it with total and complete ease. When the world goes to hell in a handbasket, I hope it’s Neill’s maniacal laughter that carries us all into oblivion.