Best Opening - Scream
The Scream franchise is known for challenging horror movie conventions and satirising cliches. This is most apparent in the opening scene of the first film in which Drew Barrymore, the biggest actor in the film, is brutally killed. Her character Casey has a phone conversation with a stranger about how typical and predictable horror movies have become. The mood dramatically changes when the voice says “I want to know who I’m looking at.” The scene is so tense you’re scared to breathe too loud and the shocking death of Barrymore’s Casey Becker makes you think anything can happen to anyone for the rest of the film.
Best Jump Scare - Lord of the Ring
The whole point of a jump scare is to shock the audience when they least expect it. That’s exactly why the scare in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ is so terrifying. The scene in question happens when Frodo and Bilbo are talking about the Ring’s power and Bilbo unexpectedly lunges at The Ring, snarling like an animal with sharp teeth and wide eyes, looking a lot like Gollum for a split second. The scare makes Frodo realise the frightening and dangerous nature of his journey.
Oscar-Worthy Performance - Toni Collette
Horror movies seldom earn big nominations for major awards. It takes a powerhouse performance like Sissy Spacek in ‘Carrie’ and Linda Blair in ‘The Exorcist’ to be nominated for an Oscar. One recent performance that was disappointingly left out of the race was Toni Collette in ‘Hereditary’. Her portrayal of a distraught, grieving woman is disturbingly mesmerising. It’s an ugly, brutal portrayal of grief in what’s really a terrifying drama film and it’s a real shame Collette’s vulnerability and commitment weren’t rewarded.
Best Character Design - It
Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers. There’s no shortage of iconic horror villain looks. But Pennywise from 2017’s ‘It’ is a new classic. Bill Skarsgard’s portrayal succeeded expectations and freaked the crap out of millions of people. Everything from the bulbous, alien-like forehead to the chilling smirk and rabbit teeth were spot on. Pennywise inspired countless Halloween costumes, makeup tutorials, and even some weird crushes and has become a new classic movie monster.
Grossest Scene - Midsommar
‘Midsommar’ premiered only a year after Ari Aster’s breakout hit ‘Hereditary’ and audiences knew they were in for some harrowing stuff. The film is chock full of WTF moments but the most alarming occurs when an elderly cult follower jumps off a cliff in a ritualistic suicide. The man doesn’t die instantly but instead breaks his legs, which the audience gets a nice look at. But the carnage doesn’t stop there. After his fall, a group of fellow cultists finish him off by smashing his face in with a mallet. If you ever wanted to see what a skull being cracked open with a hammer looked like, ‘Midsommar’s got you.
Best Family Film - Hocus Pocus
Spooky movies don’t always have to be heart-attack-inducing. You can get into the Halloween spirit with more light-hearted flicks like the 90’s kid classic ‘Hocus Pocus’. The campy comedy follows three resurrected witches played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker who want to remain alive for more than one night. With jokes you didn’t get when you were younger, genuinely creepy moments and a catchy musical sequence to boot, Hocus Pocus is a classic Halloween staple.
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