Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Toni Collette as Annie, Hereditary (2018)
Image via A24

Horror enthusiasts are still baffled that Ari Aster’s first hit didn’t lead to an Oscar nomination

Ari Aster's first feature film, 'Hereditary' may have been on of the best horror films of the last decade, yet it was still snubbed.

Horror movies always seem to get the cold shoulder when it comes to awards season, and in many circumstances, we can’t understand why. Horror films have a way of getting into our brains, eliciting strong and primal emotions from us, and isn’t that what art is all about? One such film is 2008’s Hereditary, which fans believe deserved so much more critical recognition than it received.

Recommended Videos

Hereditary was director Ari Aster’s first feature film debut, and we can safely say he knocked it out of the park. The film is not only deeply disturbing but masterfully directed, with a fantastic music score, great cinematography, and truly phenomenal performances from all the cast, especially Toni Collette and Alex Wolff. If you strip away the horror element, what you are dealing with is a dysfunctional family struggling with one of the most tragic things that can happen, and both Collette and Wolff are mesmerizing to watch in their roles as mother and son that are unable to communicate through their grief.

Though the film did receive widespread critical acclaim, with Collette and Wolff picking up a smattering of nominations and awards from lesser-known awarding bodies, they were not recognized for their performances by any of the bigger awarding organizations. The film was snubbed by the Acadamy Awards, the BAFTAs, and Golden Globes as many horror films often are, which left many fans a little put out.

Even to this day, people are still discovering the fantastic horror film and are left wondering why on earth there wasn’t more recognition for both the director and his stars.

This OP points out some of the moments in Hereditary that they believe earned Collette her Oscar, including the difficult-to-watch dinner scene. Many other Reddit users jumped on the bandwagon to celebrate Collette in general.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

But many pointed out that horrors just do not get the same look in at the higher levels.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

Some started to point out other horror or horror-esque films where they believe the actor was also snubbed, such as Mia Goth in Pearl.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

Many pointed out just how raw Collette’s performance was, and noted another actor that gave his all for very little recognition.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

For some, Collette’s heart-rending performance was so good, it could only be absorbed once.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

In terms of horror, only a very select few gain any recognition from these award institutions.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

One person did put forward though, that the nominees for Best Actress were very strong that year, and they don’t know who they would have bumped off to make space for Collette.

Comment
byu/CreepyAssociation173 from discussion
inhorror

We all know that Collette is a powerhouse of an actor, no award is needed to cement that, but it would be nice though if these bigger awarding bodies would stop treating horror films as if they were lesser and start recognizing the genre for its artistic merit.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Laura Pollacco
Laura Pollacco
Laura Pollacco is Freelance Writer at We Got This Covered and has been deep diving into entertainment news for almost a full year. After graduating with a degree in Fashion Photography from Falmouth University, Laura moved to Japan, then back to England, and now back to Japan. She doesn't watch as much anime as she would like but keeps up to date with all things Marvel and 'Lord of the Rings'. She also writes about Japanese culture for various Tokyo-based publications.