By: Andres Luis Makilan
Over the years, the horror genre of movies has evolved. From pure slasher flicks slicing and dicing through camp counselors, to a dread-inducing ritual set forth by a cult to completely destroy the mental state of a grieving family. Now, horror movies are much more in the style of the Oscars: emotional, cinematically beautiful, and containing themes and messages that speak about pressing matters in today’s society. Yet, the Academy still refuses to create a horror category, so some of these movies may be recognized as works of art.
When asked why the Academy refuses to recognize horror as a category in the Oscars, Finn Jensel (12), the president of the Horror Movie Club, says that “…a lot of people can’t really handle gore or just the idea of horror.”
And that makes sense, as by definition, horror films are meant to frighten, shock, and disgust the audience while also studying what can make someone or something disturbed, psychotic, or evil. A successful horror film has to make you feel scared. Because its goal is straightforward, people often see the genre as simple; which is far from the truth. Anyone can make a 90 minute compilation of cheap gore and jumpscares, but the kind of horror that can impact the audience often goes overlooked.
Vanessa Rivas (12), a member of the Horror Movie Club, says that horror movies “go outside the bounds of what anybody has seen,” and that may be a reason why the Academy is reluctant to give any horror movie Best Picture, let alone give the genre itself an award category. Examples of this can be seen with the six horror movies nominated for Best Picture, such as Silence of the Lambs, which not only won the award but pushed the envelope on what psychological horror movies should be. There is also Get Out, a more recent example, which tackles the issue of racism in a unique and horrifying twist.
These reasons are all valid and, in my eyes, true. People can’t look past the violence and gore to see the message being relayed to the audience. A popular example comes in the form of Hereditary, where critics could not look past the decapitations and burnings to see the very clear message of grief, motherhood, and mental health. This caused Hereditary to be (in my opinion) snubbed of a nomination for Best Picture and Best Performance.
An example already cited is Get Out, a psychological horror movie that tackles racism in a unique way. Its symbolism representing the psychological manipulation and dehumanization of black people was sure to make others feel uncomfortable, as it was very rare for these issues to be explored in the first place, much less in a horror movie.
Horror has grown into a genre that explores deep societal issues and emotions, yet the Academy still refuses to fully recognize it. Whether it be the ‘gratuitous’ violence or uncomfortable truths that make voters shift in their seats, the numerous films mentioned can and have delivered powerful messages and pushed the boundaries of filmmaking, writing, and acting. And I believe that does deserve some sort of recognition.
