Awards are often seen as worthless pieces of garbage, meant to stroke the egos of those who frequently don’t deserve recognition to begin with—at least that’s what some of the grumpier film snobs will tell you about the Oscars. Love them or hate them, they’ve long been a staple in Hollywood. And while most of the gold statues go home with some of the most yawn-inducing, pretentious picks you could imagine, a few freaky films have managed to slither their way into the spotlight. A quick Google search will send you down a rabbit hole of horror movies that won Oscars, but here are a few of my favorites that I watch on a somewhat creepy, regular basis.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Makeup / Cinematography / Art Direction
While nominated for six awards, this gothic fairy tale took home three gold statues, a testament to the extraordinary visuals that continue to captivate me every time I watch it.
Jaws
Editing / Score / Sound
It’s a no-brainer that this movie would win for Best Score, but thanks to techniques like the infamous Hitchcock dolly zoom and the masterful use of light and color grading, Jaws is often cited as gospel in many film schools for these achievements.
Beetlejuice
Makeup
Considering how strange and bizarre the ’80s were to begin with, Beetlejuice is a great example of just how bold its visual style was. For it to stand out in such a time of considerable visual excess speaks volumes about its unique look and aesthetic.
The Exorcist
Screenplay / Sound
The first horror movie ever nominated for Best Picture, The Exorcist was also nominated for a whopping ten Oscars in total. While it only took home two, no award—won or lost—could ever discredit the massive impact this film had on not just horror fans, but society as a whole.
Sleepy Hollow
Art Direction
An absolute master class in atmosphere, Sleepy Hollow is a film I watch often solely for the chance to absorb all those beautiful visuals that transport me to a world outside our own. It’s a place where I almost lose my head at how well-crafted the production was. (Pun intended.)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Costume Design / Makeup / Sound Editing
Another film with such dramatic visual appeal that it often steals the spotlight from brilliant performances by Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins. The multiple looks created for the creepy Count remain some of the most iconic imagery in horror.