7 Horror Movies from 2021 That Should’ve Been Nominated For An Oscar
Mary Beth McAndrews
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The nominees for the 2022 Academy Awards have been announced, and we’re pleased to see two genre films dominating the awards show. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune earned 10 Oscar nominations, with Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley receiving four. While it’s amazing to see some genre films getting recognition, there are still quite a few films that were just as deserving of nominations. Here are the films we think should have been nominated for one of these prestigious awards:
Titane
Category: Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Lead Actress (Agatha Rouselle), Best Supporting Actor (Vincent Lindon), Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Titane deserves everything, full stop. Director Julia Ducournau created something truly special with this film that’s both violent and tender, cruel and kind. It’s not just about a woman and a car; it’s about finding family and love. For that alone, it deserves best film, director, and original screenplay. But the performances from Rouselle and Lindon elevate Titane to another level. Then, there’s the makeup, which is used to transform Rouselle and create a fascinating commentary on gender representation. Everything about Titane is perfection and it deserves at least one Oscar nomination, even just for best foreign film.
The Night House
Category: Best Director, Best Lead Actress (Rebecca Hall), Best Production Design
Rebecca Hall is a powerhouse, and she had a good 2021. Between directing Passing and starring in The Night House, she creatively flourished this year. But her work in The Night House is award-worthy as she portrays a widow struggling with grief after her husband kills himself. This is Toni Collette-levels of snubbery. But Hall isn’t the only Oscar-worthy part of the film. Director David Bruckner uses this film to show off his ability to marry aspects of horror and drama together to create a terrifying cinematic experience. And an award must be given for production design as that house is impeccably constructed to convey unease.
Candyman
Category: Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Teyonah Parris), Best Score, Best Adapted Screenplay
Nia DaCosta’s Candyman may be divisive but there’s no denying the vision and beauty behind the film. DaCosta’s directing along deserves an Oscar nomination, especially as she went from a small budget indie to a huge horror franchise. While the script isn’t perfect, it’s a fantastic way to tie in the existing lore of Candyman. Teyonah Parris, who plays Brianna Cartwright, shines as a woman struggling to find her place in the art world. Hopefully the next Candyman film is all about her. And of course, we can’t forget about the score by Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, which was on the shortlist for a nomination. Sadly it didn’t make the cut.
Saint Maud
Category: Best Director, Best Lead Actress (Morfydd Clark)
Saint Maud was one of Dread Central’s best films of 2021 and for good reason. Director Rose Glass took the tropes of religious horror and made something dark and special. Glass’s feature film debut is incredibly self-assured as the camera weaves through light and dark, painting the titular Maud as our unreliable narrator. Then, Morfydd Clark elevates Glass’s direction and script with her jaw-dropping performance as Maud. She’s both restrained and manic, keeping herself composed for the Lord then exploding in religious ecstasy.
Malignant
Category: Best Makeup and Hairstyling
As much as I would love Malignant to nab best original screenplay sheerly for how wild it is, this film is destined for a Best Makeup and Hairstyling nom. I mean just look at the construction of Gabriel both before and after they “cut out the cancer”. The sheer creativity and talent on display with Gabriel’s design should be recognized by the Academy.
The Green Knight
Category: Best Use of Special Effects
Director David Lowery’s The Green Knight is a delicious visual spectacle that captures the magic of Arthurian legend. The effects team behind the film made some scenes, especially the one with the giants, jaw-dropping. They use their craft to make a world you want to wrap yourself in.
Silent Night
Category: Best Original Screenplay
Camille Griffin’s Silent Night is mean, hilarious, and a little too relevant for what we’re going through today. That’s why Griffin deserves at least an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. It’s daring and strikes an incredible balance between comedy and horror. That’s a balance that deserves recognition.
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