Top 10 Horror Movie Performances That Exceeded Expectations
#10: Florence Pugh
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“Midsommar” (2019) From “Fighting with My Family” to “Little Women” and this folk horror film, 2019 was definitely Pugh’s year. Her character Dani joins her emotionally distant boyfriend and his self-involved friends to a Swedish commune after her sister took both her own life and those of their parents. At first, it seems like they’re attending your average bohemian festival: spirits, floral crowns, and psychedelics. Only when the group witnesses a devastating ritual that they realize this festival is anything but “normal”. By the end though, Dani finds a rather strange solace in finally being able to grieve alongside the women in the community once she discovers Christian and his friends’ devastating fate. With a belligerent wail and a vulnerability that is somehow only surface level in most horror movies, Pugh gives a harrowing performance that really sticks with you.
#9: James McAvoy
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“Split” (2016) McAvoy was not a newcomer to the big screen by a longshot, but his role as Dennis, Patricia, Hedwig, etcetera...takes the top 24 spots in his best performances. McAvoy’s ability to switch in and out of eight different roles in the “Unbreakable” franchise’s 2016 installment was simply disquieting and impressive. With only wardrobe changes, he managed to slide in and out of personalities with ease. Sometimes, even in the same scene. Viewers feared for innocent, dancing Hedwig - especially whenever Ms. Patricia, the stern, cardigan-clad warden appeared to reprimand him and their captives. But forgetting for a split second that they were all played by one person: even the Beast tricked our eyes into thinking he had metamorphosed all because McAvoy’s performance told us so.
#8: Essie Davis
“The Babadook” (2014) Aside from the creepy storybook illustrations, Davis is really the only conduit for The Babadook in this psychological horror flick, as the monster’s face is never actually revealed. Her portrayal of Amelia’s grief and sleep-deprivation elevated the acting in the film, especially Noah Wiseman’s, who played her son Samuel. Amelia invites you into her bleak world - which seems mundane at first. That is, until little Samuel has his mom read a storybook from hell to him one night. As a woman essentially possessed by her own denial to address the grief that’s manifested itself into a supernatural beast, Davis’ portrayal of Amelia is so nuanced that there is no tangible villain per se. Jaw dropping and sad to watch, her performance both scares you and concerns you.
#7: John Goodman
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“10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016) In the second installment of the Cloververse, Goodman plays Howard, a paranoid recluse who gives shelter in his underground bunker to two strangers. Howard claims the outside world is tainted as a result of a chemical attack, but Michelle and Emmett remain suspicious of him, his story and his motives. That is the magic that is Goodman’s psychologically effective performance. His subtle and unsettling portrayal of Howard makes even the slightest movement seem deadly. Goodman carries the bulk of the film by getting inside the characters and audiences’ heads. Is he a good man or not? What if he’s the captor and not the savior? This is definitely not the Dan Conner we know and love.
#6: Daniel Kaluuya
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“Get Out” (2017) Kaluuya is an undeniably dynamic actor. But his lead role in Jordan Peele’s directorial debut set the bar high. In what could be called a nightmarish Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Kaluuya plays Chris, a Black man with repressed trauma that ends up being tormented by his white girlfriend and her depraved and racist family. Different from most protagonists in horror movies, Chris never quite trusts the Armitage family’s motives from the get-go. Kaluuya does much with less: his wide-eyed tears, wordless cries, and reasonable suspicion are the storytelling. He can evoke many layers of emotion and terror just by simply sitting in a chair. Thanks to that iconic hypnosis scene, Kaluuya has even made the sound of a spoon in a teacup triggering.
#5: Bill Skarsgard
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“It Chapter One” (2017) Makeup is often used on movie monsters to pull off stark transformations, which means that audiences aren’t as likely to be put off by their favorite, usually glamorous actors turned boogey-people. But in Skarsgard’s case, his ability to turn his usually boyish and charming mouth into that creepy smile made him a perfect fit for this sewer clown. When the second film adaptation of the novel was announced, Stephen King fans were a bit skeptical about what actor could possibly fill the legendary Tim Curry’s shoes. But from the first [“Hi, Georgie.”], all skepticism faded. His chilling mannerisms ended up pairing quite well with his unassuming charm, while the character’s “baby face design” made him terrifying to watch.
#4: Toni Collette
“Hereditary” (2018) This cult-riddled, supernatural horror film was one of the most talked about movies of the year. Collette’s performance as the grieving, diorama-making mother following the accidental beheading of her young daughter was the nucleus of every conversation about “Hereditary.” Collette’s range of emotions, non-maternal-like spellbound characteristics, and that dinner scene monologue sucked the air thin out of any theater. The unimaginable horrors and pain Collette’s character, Annie, was experiencing got under our skin - and yet, we couldn’t look away. Despite some scenes being mortifying for novice horror fans, Colette’s acting takes the film’s repulsive subject matter and cringey imagery to new heights - but not to an Oscar nod, unfortunately.
#3: Robert Pattinson
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“The Lighthouse” (2019) Most of Pattinson’s post-Edward Cullen films fall under the radar with mass audiences. But if you take a chance on indulging in his lesser known, non-Twilight-ish filmography, you’ll find some hidden gems. And “The Lighthouse” is a great place to start. In this psychological horror with elements of dark comedy, Pattinson embraces the film’s seeming absurdity. The preparation he went through is apparent in the way his character reacts to Dafoe’s character’s off-kilter behavior. It’s almost as if you can progressively see the signs of what he’s repressed throughout the film, making that mental breakdown and his violent outbursts inevitable. You can’t help but wonder what psychological toll rehearsals took on Pattinson for the actor to make the character’s descent into madness seem so convincing.
#2: Linda Blair
“The Exorcist” (1973) Even in the 2020s, audiences still have a tough time separating Blair from her role as Regan, the priest-terrorizing, demon-possessed twelve-year old. And in the horror genre, that’s actually a good thing. The makeup artistry of the late Dick Smith definitely helped to ensure that we can never seem to unsee some of the film’s horrifying images. But at the time, it was the teenage Blair who became the face of horror for generations. To be so young playing alongside heavy-weights like Max von Sydow and Ellen Burstyn, Blair’s performance was remarkable - and not just for her age. For someone with such a cute and innocent face, Blair’s Pazuzu was a little too believable. We’d be lying if we said it didn’t still get under our skin to this day. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. John Krasinski “A Quiet Place” (2018) Shelley Duvall “The Shining” (1980) Sheryl Lee "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1992)
#1: Lupita Nyong’o
“Us” (2019) Remember that gut-wrenching feeling you got when you put the pieces together during that final scene and realized that the Lupita you’d been rooting for might not actually be good? Yeah, us too. Just the fact that she played two characters in the same scene for a good portion of the film is impressive. Her portrayal of Adelaide and her scissor-wielding doppelganger, Red, is a highlight of Nyong’o’s career. In interviews for the thriller, Nyong’o said that she enjoys scaring people IRL. Well, she definitely succeeded at such. With the way she crafted Red’s cracked voice to how she played both the villain and the hero, Lupita’s performance is a masterclass for horror actors to come.
