Earlier today, I posted a list of 10 horror stars who I believe should’ve won the Best Actor award at the Oscars. The list was made because I feel like the Academy snubs horror with such regularity that it’s long become commonplace to see the best of our genre get ignored, regardless of the effort and expertise that went into making such films.
This dismissal is frustrating because it hits every aspect of a film, from the direction to the original score to the costume design to the editing.
People work their asses off to make sure that a horror movie is effective, and seeing that dedication and hard work go unnoticed by those that consider themselves to be the top of the pyramid is maddening, insulting, and we need to call it out every chance that we get. And as the saying goes, “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.”
That’s why I’m highlighting 10 performances by actresses in horror films over the years that deserved recognition but didn’t get any. Join me below, and let me know whom you think I left out by leaving a comment!
A brilliant ghost story with a poignant twist, Nicole Kidman’s performance as a mother who has to look out for two disabled children while awaiting word from her husband, who is at war, is astounding. She is both cruel and caring, steadfast yet haunted. She portrays a character whose faith is tested in a time when she has to be at her strongest, something she pulls off with seemingly astounding ease. The film was both a box office and critical success, which makes it all the more puzzling why Kidman didn’t get a nod for Best Actress.
When I was at Bloody-Disgusting, the debate on whether or not Pan’s Labyrinth is a horror film was something that boggled my mind. Yes, it’s a war drama. Yes, it’s a fantasy. But how can anyone deny that it’s a horror film? Featuring monsters, both from the imagination and in reality, and a desperate attempt to survive a horribly violent situation, Baquero’s journey as Ofelia is one of struggle, desperation, and terror. By god, that young girl nailed that role in such a way that I can’t imagine the film without her. Child actors are often unexperienced and pretty annoying to watch. But not here. Baquero was Ofelia; it’s that simple.
I’m in the minority of people who think Alien 3 is a fantastic film, despite having one of the most troubled productions I’ve ever heard of. Weaver’s portrayal of Ellen Ripley in this film is such a wonderful evolution of her character, one that she embraced and played fantastically. From an unknowing and unwilling participant (Alien) to a warrior mother (Aliens) to a broken, defeated victim, Weaver has taken Ripley on an amazing journey and has always given the role the dedication and gravitas it so richly deserves. While her performance in Aliens got her a Best Actress nomination, I feel like it was in this film that she gave Ripley her best work.
France has produced some of the most extreme horror films our genre has seen, and much of it is thanks to the success and fascination with High Tension. Cécile de France’s performance as Marie evokes vulnerability, strength, rage, love, and desperation, all balled up together in a character who is so damaged that reality is an elusive fantasy. I was completely drawn in by de France’s performance and hope that she comes back to the genre.
A stunningly beautiful movie, The Ring is one of those rare remakes that most horror fans have no problem admitting is equal to or surpasses the original. A big reason for this is Naomi Watts and her brilliant performance as Rachel, a journalist who will go wherever is needed in order to figure out the riddle of a mysterious and deadly VHS tape. Watts’ performance shines here because she evokes strength and intelligence, crafting a character that is tough-as-nails, yet still emotionally vulnerable and full of empathy. If only her character were like that in the sequel…
Starring opposite Ralph Ineson (who I suggested should’ve won Best Actor), Taylor-Joy’s performance as Thomasin was amazing. A vulnerable young woman who is in the middle of a terrible situation, she has to deal with a mother who holds her responsible for the death of her baby brother, a father who can barely keep everything together, and twin siblings who believe her to be a witch. All the while, she is desperate to prove her innocence, fealty, and love to her family. Taylor-Joy stunned audiences and critics alike and all for very good reason.
Mrs. Carmody. God, what a bitch! But that’s precisely what the film wanted, and that’s precisely what Marcia Gay Harden gave us. It’s a masterful performance of a woman so committed to her faith that she eschews the people around her, willing to give any of them up if they even so much as question her. At no point does her character feel like someone redeemable, even though she herself seeks and promises redemption, creating a villain that is terrible yet all-too-real.
This may be the quirky pick of the list, but I stand by it with both feet planted firmly on the ground. While the movie, which I absolutely adore, isn’t on the level of something like The Witch or The Ring, that doesn’t mean that Katharine Isabelle doesn’t put every bit of energy possible into her performance, making Ginger a fascinating and delightful character to watch. She’s an outcast-turned-monster in more ways than one, and seeing Isabelle bring this transformation to life on the screen is delightfully engrossing.
It takes one helluva performance to convince me that there is something redeemable and still worth loving in Seth Brundle after all the shit he puts everyone through. However, Geena Davis’ heartbroken sobs at the end of The Fly bring to an end a character that is hardened, determined, caring, wonderful, and, ultimately, able to make the most difficult of decisions. Her love for Seth wasn’t fake, nor was his for her. And while he nearly turned her into a strange amalgamation of combined familial flesh, she still couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering in his monstrous, painful form. In a career of incredible performances, Davis should be especially proud of this one.
How exactly does one survive in a zombie apocalypse? Naomie Harris’ Selena does her best by trying to remain as distant, cold, and calculating as possible. However, that doesn’t mean she isn’t human; and even she struggles to maintain this facade, especially when she becomes friends with Jim, Hannah, and Frank. As these walls come down and we see her true character, Harris reveals Selena to be warm, loyal, loving, and even somewhat motherly. In a beautiful, brutal film, Selena is a beautiful, brutal warrior.