25 Horror Movie Actors That Were So Creepy, Terrifying, And Amazing That They Should've Won An Oscar
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We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which horror movie performances were so amazing, they deserved more recognition. Here are some of the best responses:
Warning: There are some massive spoilers ahead!
1.First, Toni Collette as Annie Graham in Hereditary (2018)
"I’ve never seen a performance so heartbreaking and terrifying."
2.Alex Wolff as Peter Graham in Hereditary (2018)
"Alex was severely underrated. He deserved so much recognition for his commitment to the role."
3.Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide Wilson and Red in Us (2019)
"Lupita Nyong'o should’ve won ALL the awards for Us. Phenomenal performance."
4.Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott in A Quiet Place (2018)
"Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place definitely deserves recognition. The scene where she was alone in the basement was so freakin' good. She didn’t say a single line, but you were able to feel all of her emotions with her expressions. She’s amazing."
5.Florence Pugh as Dani Ardor in Midsommar (2019)
"Alongside Toni Collette, Lupita Nyong'o, and Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh also deserved an award for her performance. The Academy has the nerve to completely overlook the amazing performances that occur in the horror genre every year."
6.Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019)
Suggested by: speks23
7.Jack Dylan Grazer as Young Eddie Kaspbrak in It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019)
"All the kids in It were fantastic, but the real standout has to be Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie for me. Jack’s performance added this feral element to him that was carried over into It Chapter Two because James Ransone made it his mission to emulate Jack as exactly as he could. Jack took Eddie from least interesting to most interesting character, IMO."
8.Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther in Orphan (2009)
"She was like 10 years old at the time, playing an adult pretending to be a child, and I was completely sold on the performance. Probably one of the most underrated film performances of that year."
9.Mia Farrow as Rosemary Woodhouse in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
"Alternatively fragile and potent as a pregnant woman unaware she is carrying Satan’s spawn, it was such a memorable performance. Ruth Gordon was deservedly awarded Best Supporting Actress for the same film, but her young co-star was just as impressive."
10.Kate Siegel as Maddie Young in Hush (2016)
"Kate Siegel and Mike Flanagan are such a powerful duo, so of course this movie allows Kate to shine. If you've come to love Kate because of Hill House, Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass, I highly suggest going back and watching this movie because Kate gives an award-worthy, and completely silent, performance."
11.Betty Gabriel as Georgina in Get Out (2017)
"In an absolutely stacked cast filled with amazing performances, Betty is absolutely incredible as Georgina. Her scenes are all so memorable."
12.James McAvoy as Kevin Wendell Crumb, Dennis, Patricia, Hedwig, Barry, Orwell, Jade, and The Beast in Split (2016)
"Technically more of a thriller, but James McAvoy in Split. I don’t think any other actor could have portrayed 23 different personalities so successfully and believably. He leapt from character to character so seamlessly, sometimes in a matter of seconds; I felt like I was watching an entirely new actor each time."
13.Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin in The Witch (2015)
"This is Anya's first movie, and what she's able to accomplish with very little dialogue is extremely impressive. It's a tour de force performance that honestly should've earned her more praise."
14.Barry Keoghan as Martin Lang in The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
"Barry Keoghan was phenomenal. I was blown away by his performance and thought he would have won an Oscar for sure. Truly terrifying and believable in such a unique role."
15.Naomi Watts as Rachel Keller in The Ring (2002)
"The Ring will forever be my favorite horror movie ever. Naomi Watts should have won an award just for that scream alone."
16.Samara Weaving as Grace Le Domas in Ready or Not (2019)
"Samara did an outstanding job in Ready or Not."
17.Audrey Hepburn as Susy Hendrix in Wait Until Dark (1967)
"Mostly known for her romantic and comedic acting chops, Wait Until Dark is her first and only horror movie, and she hits it out of the park. The role could have been played with perpetual shrieking terror, but Hepburn brings a grounded resilience to the role where you're rooting for her the entire time. Much deserved Oscar nomination."
18.Yahya Abdul-Mateen as Anthony McCoy in Candyman (2021)
"So many performances have been ignored because they are in a horror movie, and it’s terrible. Technically, Candyman could be nominated still, but I doubt it will."
19.Teyonah Parris as Bri Cartwright in Candyman (2021)
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20.John Goodman as Howard Stambler in 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
"Holy shit was he terrifying. Especially since most of us knew him for more family-friendly roles. Incredible actor all around."
21.Ralph Fiennes as Francis Dolarhyde in Red Dragon (2002)
"Excruciating, totally sick, and creepy."
22.Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)
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23.Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose in The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
"That scene in the barn must have taken so much energy. It's wild."
24.Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady in The Thing (1982)
"Kurt Russell, alongside Keith David, in John Carpenter’s The Thing. They both portrayed their characters extremely well, and the tension between them for the entire movie is so realistic. Also, the ending was just *chef's kiss* perfect."
25.And finally, Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn as Millie Kessler and Blissfield Butcher in Freaky (2020)
"I just watched Freaky recently, and Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton are truly phenomenal at playing each other. Their performances go hand in hand, so it's hard to pick just one of them. Horror and comedy are so hard to mix because a lot of times it ends up being too campy or hard to get through, but their performances were some of the best I’ve ever seen in a horror movie."
We can't fit everyone into one post, so what other horror movie performance do you think deserved an Oscar? Tell us in the comments below!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
