10 Horror Films That Beat Genre Prejudice To Win Oscars

8. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup

Guillermo del Toro's dark fairytale horror set against the backdrop of the very real horrors of Fascist Spain is the most decorated Spanish language film in Oscar history, nominated for six awards and winning three. It was a strong year for Mexico's "Three Amigos" with Pan's Labyrinth nominated in different categories against del Toro's friends and collaborators Alfonso Cuaron with Children of Men and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu with Babel.

Did It Deserve To Win?

Absolutely. Cinematographer Guillermo Navarro has shot every del Toro film, but this is his finest work, gloomy yet inspiring, well deserving of a win even against such quality cinematography as Children of Men and The Prestige. Artist Eugenio Caballero had won before for his work on Moulin Rouge, while set designer Pilar Revuelta created the distinctive bright colour scheme of Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education.

It was this collaboration, however, that showed their best design, contrasting the organic yet decaying fairy worlds with the harshness of Captain Vidal and the Falangists. The makeup work of David Marti and Montse Ribe was the most deserving of all, bringing the incredible creature designs to creepy life around del Toro favourite Doug Jones.

The look of the Pale Man is one of the most distinctive and disturbing creatures of the 21st century. However, it was sort of disappointing that Pan's Labyrinth only won for visual awards, with del Toro's screenplay losing to Michael Arndt's appealing but formulaic Little Miss Sunshine.