As Oscar nominations loom and the buzz from the recent Golden Globes lingers, a persistent trend in commended films becomes apparent — there are genres and themes that live in the spotlight and ones that are left in the shadows with little to no recognition. Amongst the most overlooked is the horror genre. Despite its increasing popularity and cultural relevance, horror films rarely receive the recognition they deserve from award boards and prestigious film institutions. It’s time for critics and audiences alike to reassess their perception of horror and acknowledge its role in addressing pressing societal issues.
Since the start of the Academy Awards in 1929, only 18 horror films have received Oscars, with only six of those films receiving nominations in the “Best Picture” category. Only one of those six — “Silence of the Lambs” — took home the Oscar in 1991.
The widespread snubbing of horror films can be attributed to several factors, a significant one among them being the misconception that horror films lack intellectual or emotional depth. Critics often dismiss horror narratives as formulaic or reliant on shock value, ignoring sophisticated storytelling techniques, cutting-edge visual effects, and powerful performances that define many of the genre’s most compelling works. Horror has proven time and again to be one of the most socially relevant genres in cinema, using symbolism to engage with contemporary issues in ways that few other genres do.
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Recently, rather than sticking to formulaic “haunted house” or “ghost spirit” plots, horror movies have branched out and diversified to cover more relevant and necessary topics. A pivotal film to break this mold in recent memory was “Get Out,” released in 2017 and directed by Jordan Peele. “Get Out” was able to tackle social issues such as systemic racism and cultural appropriation through the plot of a black man meeting his white girlfriend’s family, eventually finding out their family secrets. At the 90th Academy Awards, the film received numerous awards, including nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Leading Actor and Best Original Screenplay. Since the recognition of “Get Out,” more and more innovative horror films have come out each year.
This year, two horror films broke through the awards season noise and proved that the horror genre, revitalized as ever, can be just as profound and impactful as any other film. One standout was “The Substance,” a chilling yet emotional story about an aging actress who discovers a way to reverse her age in order to stay relevant in a youth-obsessed Hollywood. Beyond the scares, the film explores heavy themes like ageism in the entertainment industry and it clearly struck a chord, earning five Golden Globe nominations including Best Actress for Demi Moore, who gave a chilling performance that effectively portrayed the themes and message the film was trying to convey, partly due to her own experience in the industry. Recently, it was also nominated in the Academy Awards for categories such as Best Picture and Best Leading Actress. Another hit was “Smile 2,” focusing on a popular female pop singer who is haunted by visions of a “smile” curse while grappling with trauma from her past. The film takes a unique approach to dealing with mental health, shedding light on the struggles of coping with trauma. It also covers feminist themes, playing off of the idea that women are often told to “smile.”
However, this has not always been the case. Many horror movies in the past have been overlooked and received little to no recognition despite the messages they were trying to convey. Take Peele’s “Nope,” for example — the film, about siblings facing a mysterious UFO while struggling to survive, tackles social issues such as the human’s obsession with spectacle, dehumanization and trauma, only to receive reviews headlined “Peele’s ‘Nope’ Might Be Year’s Worst Film” and “Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’ is a slow, dull and repetitive disappointment.” This pattern of dismissing horror’s contributions persists, with many films failing to gain traction with critics who still view horror as “lesser” cinema.
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Audiences are realizing that horror isn’t just about jump scares, evil spirits and haunted houses, but can address meaningful social and political commentary. A prime example of this is how MVHS uses Peele’s 2019 film “Us” in the Honors American Literature curriculum to discuss topics such as racism and class hierarchy. Despite stigma or unwillingness to view a horror movie in class, teachers and students alike believe that the film is a strong supplemental material and essential to understanding the concepts. The inclusion of horror films in academic settings highlights their ability to serve as powerful cultural supplemental resources, capable of illuminating social issues in ways that resonate with students and scholars alike. If educators can recognize the genre’s intellectual merit, it begs the question: Why do critics and awards institutions continue to disregard it?
As the horror genre continues to grow in popularity, it’s time for audience members and critics to rethink how they view horror. Instead of dismissing horror as mere entertainment, its role in confronting societal fears, challenging norms and sparking meaningful conversation should be celebrated. Horror isn’t just about scares — it’s about substance. And that deserves recognition.