When it comes to horror films, the response from the Academy Awards has generally been: Get out!
But there have been rare exceptions. “The Silence of the Lambs” swept the major categories, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress in 1992. Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 dark fantasy “Pan’s Labyrinth” emerged triumphant for Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Makeup. Otherwise, the Oscars have mostly given chillers the cold shoulder.
That could change this year with “Get Out,” which is nominated for Best Picture. It also garnered Best Director and Original Screenplay nods for Jordan Peele, and a Best Actor nomination for Daniel Kaluuya. Of course, it’s much more than a horror movie – it’s also a trenchant satire of America’s racial dynamics.
Still, you can’t help but fear that “Get Out” might end up in “the sunken place” on Oscar night, given the lack of Academy appreciation for other terrifying classics. Here are some examples.
“Frankenstein” (1931): No nominations