Top 5 Best Performances In Modern Horror

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Horror is a genre famously snubbed every Academy Award Season. But we certainly appreciate Horror here at That’s My Entertainment! Here are our Top 5 Best Performances in Modern Horror:

5. Mia Goth in Pearl (2022)

With a surname like that, Mia Goth’s ascent to Horror Royalty was a foregone conclusion. After the success of the blood splattered romp, X (2022), the prequel was filmed immediately after. Despite knowing where Goth’s titular character, Pearl, ends up, the film is still an exciting and tense Technicolor fever dream! We can feel Pearl’s frustration and slow-boiling psychosis through the screen. Goth shows her acting prowess in the penultimate scenes with Pearl’s tragic monologue and her stretched, mimicking a Hollywood smile, smothering a frustrated scream.

4. David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Another Horror powerhouse, David Dastmalchian, stars in this unique film. Centered around a special Halloween episode of talk show host, Jack Delroy’s (Dastmalchian) late-night show. But Jack has a dark and evil secret behind his success! Dastmalchian was an excellent choice for this role, with his dark, puppy-dog eyes endearing you to the character of Jack. Dastmalchian flits seamlessly between showman, businessman, and the vulnerable man who didn’t really know who he was. His performance implores the audience to feel empathy for him despite what he has done.

3. Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone (2021)

A general rule of horror is to keep the physical appearance of the antagonist or entity unknown for as long as possible. The anticipation is far scarier (see The Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity franchises). However, 2021’s The Black Phone turned this idea on its head. Ethan Hawke’s character, known only as ‘The Grabber’, is a child snatcher. Hawke masterfully commands a sinister air, making the creepy mask he adorns merely superfluous! We know what The Grabber looks like and what the danger is, but Hawke is such a convincing threat that you are cowering behind your fingers for most of his screen time! 

2. Sally Hawkins in Bring Her Back (2025)

Despite not being a Horror Genre native, Sally Hawkins absolutely shines in this much-anticipated 2025 film. Hawkins plays Laura, the terrifying foster mother. Laura of course, has Hawkins petite frame and infectious smile; despite some odd behaviors, she is almost likable. Almost. But there is an air of malevolence that cannot be ignored. It’s hard to be intimidating when one is drowning in brightly coloured clothing and garish purple painted nails, but Hawkins succeeds. Laura is multilayered and is convincing as someone who probably started off as a nice person, but grief has corrupted her and led her down a dark and (very) violent path. 

1. 1. Toni Collette in Hereditary (2018)

Ari Aster’s masterpiece Hereditary has not been short of praise since its release in 2018. And it’s well-deserved, as every frame of the film is carefully constructed with incredible attention to detail. Collette gives an electrifying performance as a mother not only dealing with the grief of her own complicated relationship with her late mother but also the devastating loss of her own daughter. Collette ricochets between the stages of grief, ramping up the tension and overall feeling of helplessness of the film.

Collette did not receive an Oscar nomination for her performance, a fact many fans are still salty about!