The 98th Academy Awards made history for the horror genre, but it was probably Sarah Paulson‘s take on the ceremony that stole headlines. The actress, known for her iconic roles in ‘American Horror Story,’ applauded the long-overdue recognition of horror films, while also calling out a glaring omission from past award nights.
In a highly stacked Oscars, Amy Madigan won the Best Supporting Actress award for her bone-chilling portrayal of Aunt Gladys in ‘Weapons‘. Meanwhile, ‘Sinners,’ which made history with a record-breaking 16 nominations, also won four Oscar Awards, including Best Actor, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Original Score.
Sarah Paulson Applauds Horror’s Long-Overdue Oscars Recognition
Following the awards ceremony, Sarah Paulson attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where she highlighted her friend Madigan’s victory.
“The idea that that genre is very rarely celebrated or acknowledged… to see Amy have that success, and Sinners as well… it’s really a very special, special night,” she said.
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Paulson Says James McAvoy’s ‘Split’ Performance Is Criminally Overlooked
Despite the celebration, Paulson voiced strong support for James McAvoy’s performance in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2016 horror film, ‘Split.’
Paulson continued, “For me as a person, selfishly, who has worked a lot in that genre… and who thinks James McAvoy’s performance in Split was one of the great performances of all time that should’ve been in the conversation…”
In the film, McAvoy portrayed Kevin Wendell Crumb and his multiple personalities, including the terrifying “The Beast,” a role that demanded immense physicality and emotional depth. Despite the critical and commercial success, ‘Split‘ received no nominations, a snub that has been criticized by several fans over the years.
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Horror’s Growing Place in Awards Season
Even though horror movies never had prominent exposure at the Oscars, a few films before the 2000s did manage to win the most prestigious awards in at least one category, including Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jaws‘, Francis Ford Copolla’s ‘Bram Stoker’s: Dracula‘ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’
That changed slowly after the 2010s with Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out,’ setting the gold standard and shaping what we now call the black-horror genre. Guillermo Del Toro’s artistic representation of visually striking horror films, often using extraterrestrial creatures, has won the Academy’s appreciation over the years. Now, ‘Weapons‘ and ‘Sinners‘ have paved a new path for upcoming horror films.
Paulson’s remarks also come at a pivotal moment. Her endorsement of Madigan and her call-out of McAvoy reflect that message, the fact that great acting transcends labels.
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