5 of this year's horror movie performances that deserve Academy Award attention

We're entering pre-awards season, where some of the year's most acclaimed and Oscar-worthy films get released in theaters, and actors start campaigning hard to be recognized by the Academy. That means we'll soon find out which films, stars, directors, and more are in the running to win at the 97th Academy Awards, which will take place on March 2, 2025.

It's a sad truth that the Academy often ignores the horror genre as a whole. Only a few horror movies have managed to break through and receive awards, like Get Out, The Exorcist, Carrie, and The Silence of the Lambs. But 2024 has been a truly incredible year for the horror genre. If any year in recent memory were going to deliver some surprises at the Oscars, it would be this one. And here are five performances in particular that are deserving of the highest praise.

5. Lupita Nyong'o in A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place: Day One became my favorite of the franchise thanks to its intimate storytelling and emotional beats. It's one of those films that hinges entirely on its performances, and Lupita Nyong'o is brilliant as a terminally ill woman trying to find one last day of solace before the world becomes overrun with aliens.

She and her co-star Joseph Quinn work exceptionally well with one another (and their furry co-star Frodo), but Nyong'o's performance feels the most engrossing and riveting. Seeing her emotional arc across the film is more enjoyable than the alien action sequences going on around her. She's just that good. And she didn't get the awards attention she deserved for Us, so now is the time to rectify that mistake.

4. Nell Tiger Free in The First Omen

Unfortunately, like A Quiet Place: Day One, The First Omen has its release date working against it. Both movies were released in the first half of the year, meaning that Academy voters might not remember the details in the end. That said, Nell Tiger Free is amazing in The First Omen.

The film itself is surprisingly dark and brutal for a big-budget studio horror movie, but the direction from Arkasha Stevenson combined with Free's magnetic and sometimes unhinged performance combines to make an enthralling horror film that goes above and beyond the conventional Hollywood prequel.

3. Naomi Scott in Smile 2

This one is probably the most long-shot out of the bunch simply because Smile 2 is a very mainstream horror movie and not the type that the Academy would usually go for, if they were going to look into horror at all. It received more mixed reviews than some of the other options on this list.

However, I think Smile 2 was significantly better than the first film, and it has a lot to say about the trauma of fame. Naomi Scott is exceptional in the lead role as struggling pop star Skye Riley, who becomes the latest victim of the smiling entity. Her emotions are so visceral and heartbreaking that it's hard to watch at times.

2. Hugh Grant in Heretic

I had some faults with Heretic's script, but I think at the center of this film is Hugh Grant's devious performance as Mr. Reed. Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher are also fantastic, but I really don't think the movie would have worked at all if it weren't for Grant's terrifying yet weirdly charming performance as the primary villain. In an ideal world, he would be a frontrunner for this year's Best Actor race.

1. Demi Moore in The Substance

The odds of the Academy Awards nominating a grotesque body horror film are slim, true, but in a world where Everything Everywhere All at Once can grab seven Oscars, including Best Picture, it cannot be completely dismissed. Yes, The Substance is a lot gorier and weirder than the 2023 winner, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Demi Moore delivers a phenomenal performance in this film, easily one of the year's best.

She excels at both the film's dramatic and comedic elements. I wouldn't be mad if Margaret Qualley received a nomination either, as the film doesn't work without both of them bringing their A-game. But it's really Moore who anchors the film with her vulnerable and raw performance as Elisabeth Sparkles. Not only that, but Moore has been in the Hollywood game for decades now and still hasn't achieved an Academy Award nomination, it's time.