The value ofhorrorin every aspect of cinema has always been discussed as being less than others. It’s simply a genre that doesn’t always stand alongside others. Reasons vary, and while in recent years a horror renaissance has been inevitable and has changed the minds of many viewers and critics, horror still doesn’t get the respect it deserves. For the most faithful horror fan base, the question will always be, “What will it take?”
The growth of the genre has been formidable. Business models have been created out of thepopularity of horrorand how much it’s grown with the development of streaming services. It’s an inevitable monster that’s always at the heels of more “serious” genres and their followers, which can’t bring themselves to recognize the value of it. A great example of this division is the annual period known as “award season,” in which all films are awarded in some way or form. Well, all but horror films.
However, in the past, horror has had its fair share of recognition. We can’t say it’s all bad. Jordan Peele’s breakout participation in the Oscars withGet Out changed the landscape enough to give hope to horror producers as they endeavor in projects that are extremely popular with audiences but not so with critics. Throughout the history of the genre, performances in horror have probably been the most notable element of production that is sometimes present in FYC campaigns.
As we enter the award season of 2024, and we once again see horror being put aside for the sake ofBarbenheimer,Succession, and others, we should remember some of thehorror performancesby industry-renowned actors that are undoubtedly their best participation in cinema. The following is a list of actors whose best performance to date is in a horror movie.
15Lupita Nyong’o - Us (2019)
In Jordan Peele’sUs, a family gets some visitors while they’re on their beach vacation. At night, four doppelgängers stand outside their door and pose as potential replacements. When they break in, the family realizes they’re a twisted version of themselves whose behavior is primal and violent. The secret lies in a nation-wide rebellion by beings that, up until now, resided in the underbelly of our civilization. This isone of the best horror moviesof the 2010s.
A Very Challenging Horror Performance
In the film,Lupita Nyong’oplays Addy and Red, the mother and her doppelgänger. Nyong’o’s role is outstanding, as it requires her to explore two sides of the same person, both supported by different motivations. While Addy is your typical survivor, Red holds a jarring truth that makes for the film’s great twist. The actress won an Academy Award for her role in12 Years a Slave, but inUs,she outdoes herself by giving life to an idea and not just a pair of similarly-looking characters. A performance so deep and sharp, from both a physical and an emotional perspective, feels like the perfect argument for how performances in horror should be more acknowledged.Rent on Prime Video
14Florence Pugh - Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster’sMidsommartells the story of Dani, a grieving woman whose boyfriend Christian doesn’t care one bit about her recent tragedy in which her sister killed herself and their parents. One of Christian’s friends invites them to Sweden to attend a midsummer festival in the community where he grew up. When Dani arrives and strange events start taking place, she realizes the festivities aren’t exactly traditional.
Never Underestimate a Broken Human Being
Florence Pughgives life to Dani, and while it isn’t her first film role, it was the one that put her out there. One year before she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role inLittle Women, Pugh portrayed a solid character’s development with the aid of a superb script. Dani is hurt, almost broken in her spirit. Her grief is unbearable. In the Hårga community, she finds a haven that understands her and willingly nominates her for the role of their queen. Slowly, Dani is put on the throne. But her soul is still broken. It isn’t until justice is delivered in pagan ways that Dani accepts her new self in a brilliant character breakthrough by Pugh. If you need a reason whythis is her best performance, just think of how it stayed with you for days after you saw the film.Stream on Max
13Jack Nicholson - The Shining (1980)
The Shining
The classic horror filmThe Shiningtells the story of the Torrances, a family of three whose leaders accept the gig of being caretakers in a remote hotel during the winter season. The Overlook is shut down as snow covers it, and Jack realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to finish the novel he’s working on. After a couple of days of being isolated, the wife and mother, Wendy, and little Danny realize there may be something lurking in the hallways of the haunted hotel.
The Perfect Blend of Kubrick’s Vision and King’s Book
Jack Nicholsonwas huge in 1980. After winning his first Oscar in 1976 (he would then win two more in 1984 and in 1998), he was a valued actor who jumped at the idea of working with Stanley Kubrick inThe Shining. The result was the best performance of his career, and certainly the one most proportional to how underrated it remained for years. To really appreciate it, you must understand what Kubrick salvaged from Stephen King’s original novel and what he incorporated with his own take on the “haunted house” trope.Nicholson’s performanceis a brilliant blend of both worlds, a mix of unpredictability and emotional violence that sharply uses Nicholson’s devilish looks with a poignant representation of a nervous breakdown enhanced by the presence of something unnatural.
People may discuss the fact that, while it’s his most iconic role, it isn’t his best. But attempt to think of a better display of human terror empowered by the anger of a demonic ghost—an idea of violent death enabled by the unbalanced presence of an abusive father and husband.Rent on Prime Video
Related:The Shining: Who Would Make the Perfect Cast in a Modern Remake?
12Nicole Kidman - The Others (2001)
The Others
Alejandro Amenábar’sThe Otherstells the story of Grace Stewart, a lonely woman who lives with Anne and Nicholas in their huge manor. Anne and Nicholas are extremely photosensitive, and Grace’s daily life revolves around the protection of her children. As she waits for her husband to come back from war, new caretakers arrive at her doorstep and offer their services. Grace reluctantly accepts and hires them, but at the same time, strange phenomena start taking place in the mansion where they live.
A Great Blend of Classic Horror Tropes
Nicole Kidmangives life to Grace Stewart in her best performance ever. Much better than the one that deserved her an Oscar (The Hours). Kidmancollects all previous performancesin Gothic horror, sheds away any trait of the “hysterical woman” stereotype, and delivers a very emotional but horror-based role. She doesn’t leave her character by adding drama where it’s not needed, and with perfection, she portrays the skeptical mother who doesn’t believe a word her children say about the ghosts that float around the house. Luckily, this misconception is shattered with the film’s confirmation of its theme in a third act led by Kidman, whose idea of a horror performance is classic, and sometimes that’s exactly what a horror film needs.Rent on Prime Video
11Naomi Watts - The Ring (2002)
The Ringrevolves around Rachel Keller, a fierce mother and investigative journalist who coldly accepts a request from her sister. Rachel’s niece has died under mysterious circumstances, and she decides to investigate what happened. Apparently, it all has to do with a tape that contains a bizarre video that will kill you seven days after you watch it. Of course, Rachel watches it, but she doesn’t believe a thing. It gets serious when her son also sees the video, and she’s forced to find some answers about the mysterious deaths surrounding the tape.
A Final Girl in the 21st Century
The Impossiblegave us a riveting performance.Mulholland Drivea haunting one. But inThe Ring,Naomi Wattsworks with a great director to deliver a very honest performance that’s restricted by a supernatural theme that forces Watts to scream more than you’d think. Keller is a great and relentless journalist, but it’s her fascinating role as a mother that makes this her most interesting gig. She’s cold, almost uncaring, and abnegate, but in the face of a crisis, she accomplishes a modern mix of “final girl” andunforgiving motherwho risks everything for the life of her son.
The alternate ending ofThe Ringwill allow you to observe this much better. Rachel convinces her son Aidan that the only way to save himself is by making a copy and forcing someone else to die. They together work on a copy, and Aidan’s question of “Will everything be OK?” is answered by a shot in which the tape rests on a video rental, available for the rest of the world to watch, and die. Now,that’sa mother.Rent on Prime Video
10Tim Robbins - Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Jacob’s Ladder
1990’sJacob’s Laddertells the story of Jacob Singer, a war veteran whose presence in the Vietnam War was cut short after he was attacked. Now, in present-day New York City, he suffers from hallucinations and visions that haunt him to the point of confusing reality with whatever’s inside his mind.Adrian Lyne’s filmis one of the most disturbing horror films you’ll ever see.
The Best Representation of Trauma You’ve Never Seen
The underrated horror filmJacob’s Ladderhas always remained secondary when compared to other films of its kind. But it’s without questionTim Robbins' finest film. Playing Jacob in the film, Robbins superbly portrays the purest form of fear in the eyes of a man who’s seen terror with his own eyes. Jacob can’t separate the demons clouding his mind from those that are present in his mundane reality. Even though people considerThe Shawshank Redemptionto be his greatest performance, there’s no doubtJacob’s Ladderis an extremely effective portrayal of a broken human soul whose adversity is hard to position between truth and fantasy.Rent on Apple TV
9Sissy Spacek - Carrie (1976)
InCarrie, adapted from the novel by Stephen King, the young Carrie White is going through a lot of stuff while in high school. She hits puberty literally while taking a shower after gym class, and she gets harassed and attacked by her schoolmates. Carrie’s mom is oblivious to this, as she only cares about religion and considers Carrie to be a mistake. What people don’t know is that Carrie has telekinetic powers, and when she gets played in the world’s most awful prank, Carrie awakes.
Pain as a Concept
Brian de Palma’s classic horror film wouldn’t be the same withoutSissy Spacek’s performance as the traumatized teenager. You really feel for Carrie, and it’s because of Spacek’s physical and emotional expression of trauma and pain.Carriewas her first Oscar nomination, and while she won four years later forCoal Miner’s Daughter, the high school horror film is her most memorable one. Spacek eerily enters character, and for a space of a little over 90 minutes, she becomes the greatest representation of a pain-stricken child who one day finds it inevitable to hit back, even against herextremely religiousmother.Stream on Max
8Rebecca Hall - The Night House (2021)
The Night House
David Bruckner’sThe Night Housetells the story of Beth Parchin, a woman who has recently lost her husband in tragic circumstances. They weren’t exactly going through a rough patch when he decided to take his own life. Now a widow, Beth decides to investigate what could have made her husband do it, and discovers he may have had some dark secrets. At the same time, Beth starts getting spooked by strange entities in the comfort of her own home.
A New Scream Queen
Since the beginning of her career,Rebecca Hallhas been hailed as a solid drama performer. But inThe Night House(perfectly accompanied by the filmResurrection),she confirms why her relationship to horror is more than just natural, and why she’sone of the best actors today. Her portrayal of trauma-ridden Beth is spot on and doesn’t call for any scrutiny. She may be mistaken for a “hysterical female” at first, but Hall embodies much more than a reactionary figure. Her confusion doesn’t only come from the supernatural aspect of the situation, but also from the unbelievable decision her partner made to leave her alone. Yes, there is a reason, and it’s horrific and perfectly observed through the eyes of Hall’s Beth.Rent on Prime Video
7Isabelle Adjani - Possession (1981)
Andrzej Żuławski’s psychological horror film,Possession, is the story of Mark and Anna, a couple who must face the fact that love has suddenly fizzled out. Anna insists on getting divorced, and Mark reacts by refusing to give her custody of their son. What follows is a nightmarish plot that involves doppelgängers, body horror, and a horrific materialization of the theme of infidelity and disagreement.
A Descent Into Madness
Isabelle Adjanihad been a prolific actress since the early ’70s, but inPossession,she twisted all her experience intoone fascinating performance. Anna is violent, and her behavior is unreasonable. But this makes the film’s “discovery” in the end much more explanatory. The supernatural aspect of her transformation is surreal, but in Anna’s emotions there lies a reason, one that’s visible only if you manage to digest the subject matter, as heartbreaking as it is. The subway scene is Adjani’s best moment of her entire career.Stream on sHUDDER
6Gary Oldman - Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version of the classic Gothic taleBram Stoker’s Draculatakes us to 19th-century Europe, where Count Vlad sees that his love from a previous life has reincarnated in the form of Mina Murray, the partner of the Count’s new solicitor. This is how Count Dracula transforms into a younger version of himself and attempts to seduce Mina. But vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing has other plans.
The Best Interpretation of the Character
Not only doesGary Oldmanachieve his best performance ever, but his portrayal of Dracula is thebest interpretation of the character cinema has seen. Behind great makeup, there’s an actor perfectly embodying a broken soul forced to feed upon human blood because of a rebellious stance he took because God failed him. But when he finds Elisabeta again in the body of another woman, he turns to his vampiric abilities to turn her into one of his own. However, Coppola’s film, as standard as it is, is also a love story.
Oldman won every award out there when he played Winston Churchill inDarkest Hour. And while we can’t say he didn’t deserve it, his performance in Dracula feels much more complete and passionate. For such an important character, he doesn’t have that much screen time. As it happens with others on this list, when you compare the award-winning role to his horror performance, which one do you remember the most?Rent on Prime Video
