Hugh Grant, Margaret Qualley and others

Every year there are standout productions that horror fans think probably won’t get the recognition they deserve due to their genre. Obviously there are notable exceptions; but for every Kathy Bates in Misery, there’s a Toni Collette in Hereditary.

Unfortunately, horror doesn’t get much respect because it really is the hardest thing to understand. It’s a difficult balance and one that can easily go awry. One wrong move and your over-the-top turns will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. This year, in particular, has been a good year not only for genre films, but also for the actors in them. In a fair world, here are some of this year’s actors that Oscar voters would recognize.

Hugh Grant, “The Heretic”
The ever-reliable Grant, perhaps the strongest chance to break into the race, is perfect for the role of Mr. Reed, a seemingly ordinary man who invites two Mormon missionaries to his home and – well, you’ll have to see. It was a stroke of genius on the part of writer-directors Scott Beck and Brian Woods to have Grant bring the specific mannerisms he used so well in rom-coms and filter them through a horror lens. It also helps that the pair have written a smart script that balances scares with thoughtful theological conversation and wicked humor. It’s long overdue for Grant to get his first Oscar nomination (justice for Florence Foster Jenkins and Paddington 2!!), and it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.

Willa Fitzgerald, “Strange Darling”
Again, the less said about the plot of JT Molner’s twisty thriller, the better. Suffice to say, it’s a fairly simple serial killer story that works thanks in large part to Fitzgerald’s pitch-perfect twist. Mollner frustrates viewers by telling the story out of order, but Fitzgerald also finds a new perspective on what may seem familiar. In many ways, it feels like she’s playing several different characters, all brilliantly.

David Dastmalchian, Late Night with the Devil
For me, Dastmalchian was the star turn of the year, a bravura performance from a beloved supporting actor/character that more than proves that he can (and should) direct a film. Cameron and Colin Cairns’ found footage/documentary chiller style captivates viewers as Jack Delroy, a 1970s talk show host desperate to scare the ratings by performing a live exorcism on his show. Dastmalchian has to play it all—disbelief, arrogance, sorrow, horror—sometimes in the same moment.

Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, “Substance”
While many have rightly praised Moore’s bold performance as an aging star who goes to extreme lengths to preserve her youth, her magnificent performance would have been nothing without Qualley’s support. While Moore highlights the desperation, self-hatred and insecurities of a woman in a world where appearance is valued above all else, Qualley is as fearless as the woman who benefits from it. In the film, these two are inextricably linked to each other – literally and figuratively.

Nicolas Cage, “Long Legs”
Audiences are used to Cage’s bold choices, and “Longlegs” is evidence that the actor can still surprise us. By playing a disfigured killer who makes maximum impact in limited screen time, Cage may actually be able to break the genre bias in his performance. It helps that he’s an Oscar winner and a beloved public figure, and that he’s in the supporting actor race, where scene-stealing turns out to be better for him.

Justice Smith, “I Saw the TV Shine”
At a young age, Smith has already demonstrated his range in films ranging from light-hearted fun like Detective Pikachu to maudlin drama like All the Bright Places. But he’s especially effective in Jane Schoebrun’s creepy psychological drama about a pair of friends whose favorite TV series makes them question their sanity and identity. The actor transforms from teenage outcast to shell of a middle-aged man in a sensitive, subtle turn that you can feel in your bones.

Honorable Mentions: Emily Hampshire (Humane), Carolyn Bracken (Oddity) and Nell Tiger Free (The First Omen).