2022 has been an extremely strong year for horror movies. There have been some incredible releases in various subgenres, from slashers to supernatural thrillers, and even a very unexpected romantic comedy in the morbid Fresh. Many of these films owe their greatness to the unbelievably good performances in them. Whether it be actors who are already known in the genre, such as the iconic Jamie Lee Curtis playing the role of Laurie Strode for the last time in Halloween Ends, or newcomers to the horror genre like Jamie Clayton as Pinhead in the Hellraiser remake.
Acting in horror movies can be demanding, requiring some of the darkest and most intense emotions that a performer will ever have to summon. Oftentimes, they have to pretend to be afraid of things that, through visual effects, aren't really there, all the while having to convey true terror and disturbance, something that is quite hard to do. Fortunately, 2022 saw some incredible performances in the horror genre which truly elevated the thrills and chills of the films they were cast in. Here are the best performances in horror movies this year.
8 Jenna Ortega in Scream and X
Jenna Ortega has taken the horror genre by storm this year by not only acting in Scream (2022) but also the great Ti West film X and the new Netflix series Wednesday. She is great in all her roles, creating believable characters that are intrinsically different from one another. Her acting in Scream (2022) was the one that placed her in the spotlight in the genre.
Ortega received the award of Most Frightened Performance at the MTV Movie & TV Awards 2022 because of her role as Tara Carpenter in this movie. The actress will return for the sixth installments of the franchise, and her screams and suffering in X won't be forgotten anytime soon.
7 Jamie Clayton in Hellraiser
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Stepping into an iconic role in a remake is always an immense challenge. Jamie Clayton surpassed expectations and was able to impress even the actor who originally played the role of Pinhead, Doug Bradley. It is an even harder task considering the other actors that played the cenobites were never as prominent or developed as Clayton's character is in this installment of the many Hellraiser movies. Her take on the role is fresh and modern, and while the movie received some criticism of its plot, her performance has continued to receive praise.
6 Evan Dumouchel in When I Consume You
Perry Blackshear's new film, When I Consume You, is a dark tale about addiction that is as emotionally haunting as it is creepy. The sibling duo which forms the protagonists of the movie has a great dynamic full of contrasts. Evan Dumouchel plays an ultimately optimistic person even if his emotional intelligence and intellect is weak in the world. His sister, a recovering addict, tries to take care of him, and Dumouchel does a truly beautiful job as he attempts to live a life complicated by the violence committed against her. Dumouchel, playing against type here, is absolutely incredible in the midst of so much trauma and pain, dealing with grief, rage, and the need for revenge.
5
Sosie Bacon in Smile
Smile is a movie about trauma and how people have to face it before it overcomes them. The premise: an entity appears to be smiling people around you, and ultimately leads individuals to die by suicide before spreading the madness to another person. The incredible achievement of Smile is largely owed to how well trauma is explored by Sosie Bacon, an actor who becomes a true star in this absolutely perfect performance, making fear and despair such palpable, believable components of Smile. The actress is outstanding in her role, and hopefully she will continue to make movies in the genre.
4 Madeline McGraw in The Black Phone
Reviews proved The Black Phone was an exceptionally well-made horror movie, and audience reactions only solidified the acclaim. While there were disturbing visuals, suspenseful moments, and an infinitely memorable antagonist in The Grabber, it is ultimately the acting that creates such a powerful story.
Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames have a strong dynamic that was haunting to watch, playing and subverting the role of hunter and prey. However, the young Madeline McGraw shone every time she was on-screen. She was funny, bold, and heartbreaking to watch, especially when she is arguing with adults, God, and peers, despite being physically abused at home. Her performance may be one of the best by someone so young in the horror genre.
3 Stephen Lang in Old Man
Old Man is a thriller movie that feels like a play, with extensive monologues, set in mostly one location and with two main actors. Stephen Lang is no stranger to horror, as he did amazing work in Don't Breath. However, the rawness and vulnerability Lang shows in Lucky McKee's Old Man, a mysterious Lucky McKee film, makes for a showstopping performance that enhances the claustrophobic feeling audiences get from the get-go here, creating a powerfully intimate thriller.
2 Rory Kinnear in Men
Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear star in this psychologically dense horror story about grief, guilt, and evil. Buckley is phenomenal in her role as the protagonist, with a believable performance that is really able to transmit to the viewer the number of dark feelings her character is having. However, Rory Kinnear shines even brighter in the movie, as he plays every male character (apart from Buckley's late husband) that the protagonist interacts with. How unique each Kinnear character is, and how he was able to tap into different weird and scary psyches, is extremely impressive, and makes Men a full-on horror classic.
1 Mia Goth in X and Pearl
Mia Goth blew everyone's mind with her striking performance as two main characters, the young porn star Maxine and the bitter old former actress Pearl, in the much anticipated horror film X. Then she continued to do so in the prequel movie that is focused on one of her characters' youth and how she became a serial killer, in Pearl.
Mia Goth's perfect sensibility and vulnerability gives life to these difficult characters and makes her hypnotizing whenever she appears on the screen. While she shined in films like A Cure For Wellness, X was her first feature film as the lead protagonist, and not only did she get (and deserve) a second one with Pearl, but MAXXXINE is the third installment of this franchise that is supposed to be in the same universe, and elaborate on her character in X.