In a shocking turn of events, “The Substance” has been nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. At the time of writing, we don’t know whether or not it has won that prestigious award, but the fact that it was even nominated is quite a surprise. That’s not a commentary on the quality of “The Substance”; it was my favorite film of 2023. The surprise comes when you consider the Academy’s relationship with the horror genre, which can be summarized with one word: bad. In those preceding 96 years, only 6 (7 if you count “The Shape of Water,” a monster movie) have been nominated for Best Picture. One of those won (two if we are including “The Shape of Water”), and it was “The Silence of the Lambs.” Though I place it firmly within the horror genre, some would argue that it’s more of a thriller. Not only is “The Substance” pure and genuine horror, but it’s also an outrageously gory one with disgusting imagery and over-the-top monster effects. It’s a thing of beauty.
“The Substance” is clearly excellent, but its nomination got me thinking about all the other excellent horror movies that were ignored by the Academy. In a just world, Boris Karloff would’ve won at least two Best Actor statues, and there would be at least one Best Picture winner featuring a vampire. Alas, that is not the world we live in. Still, we can talk about what should have been, and that’s what I aim to do. The following is a list of ten horror movies I believe should’ve gotten the Best Picture nod. These aren’t the only ones I believe should have been nominated. These are just ten that came to mind.
To be entirely fair, I tried to pick movies I objectively (if such a thing exists in film discussion) believe were worthy of that most coveted of all film awards. As much as I love William Castle’s “The Tingler” or “Creepshow,” I don’t think those are quite Oscar material, even if they are Best Picture winners in my heart. These films arguably advanced the art of cinema in the same way films like “Casablanca” and “The Godfather” did. In my opinion, these are movies that are just remarkable works of art, even if you don’t necessarily love horror. (But if you don’t love horror, I will accuse you of being a pod person.)
1. “Frankenstein” (1931)
It’s actually rather insane that this monstrous masterpiece received zero nominations. “Frankenstein” is undeniably one of the most beloved, seen, and influential movies ever made. Its success paved the way for basically every major 1930s horror picture not named “Dracula.” The seminal shock sensation essentially created horror as we know it and launched a billion Halloween costumes. Karloff’s sensitive, heartbreaking portrayal of the “Monster” remains as effective today as it was in the ’30s. James Whale’s direction is both highly theatrical and strikingly cinematic. His visual language has been borrowed by the likes of Tim Burton and Mel Brooks. Best Picture nominee “Poor Things” wouldn’t have happened without this fright favorite. So much modern pop culture and art owe much to “Frankenstein.” It’s one of those movies like “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) that audiences and critics adore. In fact, “Frankenstein,” as told by Universal,, has almost reached the status of myth. It may not have the Oscar, but it has something no Best Picture has: a groovy Aurora model kit.
2. “King Kong” (1933)
Bigger than big! Mightier than mighty! That describes the colossal King Kong as well as the film that bears his name. Another classic with no nominations, “King Kong” opened the gates for “Godzilla,” “Jurassic Park,” and pretty much every giant monster movie you can think of. Ray Harryhausen inspired so many of your favorite artists, but he himself was inspired by Willis O’Brien’s effects in “King Kong.” The storytelling is just as timeless, modernizing the “Beauty and the Beast” theme in a way that we would later see in such work as “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and the aforementioned “The Shape of Water.” “King Kong” is movie magic at its finest and truly the Eighth Wonder of the World.
3. “Cat People” (1942)
“Cat People” is not as well known to general audiences as the previous two entries, but I feel it’s just as worthy. Though I greatly dislike the term “elevated horror,” “Cat People” was probably the first film of that nature. That’s not to say that it’s better than what came before it (I personally prefer the Universal Monster movies). Still, this RKO shocker dealt with a monster movie concept in a mature manner that emphasized the characters’ psychology. This is a were-animal story for grownups. Producer Val Lewton would be involved in a series of sophisticated horror films that are greatly admired by folks such as Martin Scorcese. While the remake is less successful, it did give us a darn good David Bowie song.
4. “Psycho” (1960)
No, this one did not receive a Best Picture nomination. Though Hitchcock was nominated for Best Director and Janet Leigh received a nod for Best Supporting Actress, the film itself and Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates(!) were not recognized. Hitchcock’s classic chiller is one of the only movies to inspire a whole genre’s worth of knockoffs: the “mini-Hitchcocks” from Hammer, many Italian Giallo movies, half of Brian de Palma’s filmography, and many more. The then-startling shower scene influenced just about every subsequent murder sequence in every genre. The set pieces are
tamed today, but they are still beautifully realized and stylistically brilliant. Weirdly enough, only one Hitchcock movie won Best Picture: 1940’s “Rebecca.” Now that’s a twist worthy of the Master.
5. “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
Even with my overly sunny take on the horror genre, I recognize that there is no reality in which George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” receives a Best Picture nomination. It’s a “B” monster movie shot on a shoestring budget and scored with stock music. But that doesn’t really matter when the film is this powerful. In fact, its low budget actually enhances the experience and gives the horror a realistic edge. While critics at the time were mortified by the stark violence and nihilistic tone, “Night of the Living Dead” is rightfully recognized as one of the genre’s most effective pictures. Zombies were mostly of the Haitian voodoo variety, so the zombie as we know it comes directly from this movie. Scholars have also pointed to this film as a sign of significant cultural and social changes, especially in regards to casting Duane Jones, a black actor, as the film’s hero. The majority of the films on this list were beloved at the time of their release, so they actually had a chance of being nominated. “Night of the Living Dead” was not, so this entry is purely based on contemporary thinking. Still, it’s been called one of the greatest and most influential films by Empire, The New York Times, Total Film, and probably a million more. Zombie pictures were born from it, and it popularized overt social commentary in horror. With modern eyes, it’s clear that “Night of the Living Dead” would have been a worthy nomination.
6. “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
In a two-star review of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” famed film critic Roger Ebert wrote, “The movie is some kind of weird, off-the-wall achievement. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to make a movie like this, and yet it’s well-made, well-acted, and all too effective.” Even a man who didn’t enjoy the movie could not deny its power. Along with “Night of the Living Dead,” Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” ushered in a new era of horror. Shot in a documentarian style that brings the terror up to 11, this cinematic nightmare is impossible to ignore. Despite its gruesome reputation, the film doesn’t display a whole lot of on-screen violence. Instead, a sharp script and clever film tricks are employed to make the experience as devastating as possible. Sometimes, hearing a chainsaw is scarier than seeing it cut through a rubber body prop.
7. “Alien” (1979)
I honestly tried to think of a 1950s alien movie for the list, but the only contender (“The Day The Earth Stood Still”) isn’t really a horror film. That said, they make the list spiritually with Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” a film that borrows from that tradition yet does so with masterful suspense. Even though I like most of the other films in the “Alien” franchise, “Alien” sometimes catches me off-guard with just how sensational it is. There’s a kind of graveyard poetry in the way “Alien” lingers on its morbid imagery and dreadful atmosphere. As someone who has watched a lot of creature features, I can tell you that there are very few as effective as “Alien.” This is an example of how to make a sophisticated fright film while still delivering haunted house thrills.
8. “The Fly” (1986)
Believe it or not, David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” inspired me to compile this list. “The Substance” is an example of what folks call “body horror,” so I instantly thought of “The Fly,” another story of a doomed character slowly deteriorating into something grotesque. For all its gooey effects (which did indeed win an Oscar), “The Fly” is ultimately a tragic love story wonderfully acted by Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. Cronenberg said, “There was something about The Fly story that was much more universal: aging and death—something all of us have to deal with.” That universal quality is why “The Fly” works so well. There is traditional horror paired with a deeper terror. “The Fly” is a superb drama that just happens to star a melting insect man.
9. “The Babadook” (2014)
Well, I figured I had to include a couple of films from this century! Jennifer Kent’s “The Babadook” is an artful exploration of grief that boasts a truly terrifying performance by Essie Davis and one heck of a monster. Horror here is used to convey trauma while still managing to be genuinely scary. Director William Friedkin, the man behind Best Picture nominee “The Exorcist,” said this on Twitter: “Psycho, Alien, Diabolique, and now THE BABADOOK.” He also added, “I’ve never seen a more terrifying film. It will scare the hell out of you as it did me.” If that isn’t a proper endorsement, I don’t know what is!
10. “Nosferatu” (2024)
There are a lot of awe-inspiring Dracula movies. In fact, I considered at least two others for this list. However, though others may be more influential (as of now; it’s been a year), and I may prefer those movies, “Nosferatu” by Robert Eggers is probably the most cinematically stunning rendition of the venerable vampire epic. Even just the opening sequence had me in awe. The fact that the one-millionth adaptation of a story that has already inspired many masterpieces can be this incredible is a remarkable achievement for Eggers and his crew. Say “Yesferatu” to “Nosferatu!”
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