10 Great Performances In Recent Horror Movies

It seems that ‘criminally overlooked’ has been a common theme for this list but nowhere is this more obvious than with 2021’s The Night House. Directed by V/H/S’s David Bruckner and starring indie darling Rebecca Hall, the Night House tells the tale of Beth who, after her loving husband unexpectedly commits suicide out on the lake next to their house, tries to cope with her loss while experiencing supernatural harassment almost every night.

The old horror movie trope of “Oh my god! Why don’t you just leave the haunted house!” is cleverly tied to an allegory of grief, loss and deep depression. All awful elements of life some of us experience that can, like the house in question, feel inescapable.

Hall deftly navigates the oppressive subject matter of the movie. Both intense and thoughtful, Beth is an utterly credible character dealing with dark, complex emotions and Hall is committed to bringing it to life. A deeply intense performance for a deeply intense movie, this is Hall’s greatest performance to date. If you are feeling mentally up to it, this film is absolutely worth your time.

It goes without saying, however, look out for yourself first. Sometimes horror movies are safe spaces in which we can process our own dark thoughts, but other times it’s best to be cautious and to look out for one’s own mental state first. However you are feeling, please remember you are not alone.