Dread Central’s Top 10 Horror Performances Of The Year

Welcome to Dread Central Unearthed 2024, where we’re sharing our favorite films, moments, kills, scares, and more from this year in horror. Today, Sharai Bohannon is sharing the top 10 horror performances of 2024.

As usual, horror had some of the best performances of 2024, and many will be sadly overlooked as award nominations roll out. This year, Demi Moore made a splash in The Substance, while Dianne Wiest was the best part of Apartment 7A. It also gave us the glow-ups of Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum in Blink Twice. I hadn’t seen Ackie since The End of the F***ing World sadly ended, and I doubt I’m the only one surprised that Tatum was capable of what he did with this role. This year, we also had an acting masterclass taught by Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins in Never Let Go. We expected Berry to deliver, but luckily, both children actors were also up for the task. Also, who can forget Justice Smith’s haunting performance at the end of I Saw the TV Glow?

This year was also extremely great for actors in international films. David Pareja’s leading performance in The Coffee Table was funny, heartbreaking, and stressful. Carolyn Bracken excelled at playing two different chilling roles in Oddity. Then, Souheila Yacoub, Sanda Codreanu, and Noémie Merlant managed to shine as an ensemble and individuals in The Balconettes. I’m heartbroken that the film has not received a U.S. release date because I think it would be circling many end-of-the-year lists. So, putting together a list of the top performances of 2024 was difficult. Although, all of the actors below stand out from the pack. They reminded us why we love cinema. These actors were so great at their craft that they helped us escape everything the world threw at us for just a few moments. That is no easy feat.

10. Kristen Stewart as Lou, Love Lies Bleeding (dir. Rose Glass)

This role made me realize Kristen Stewart is capable of so much more than we’ve ever seen from her. I don’t know if it was the material, Rose Glass’ direction, or just an actor having a breakthrough. However, Stewart’s performance as Lou was wildly effective. This role proved that this actor has range. I hope she brings this energy to future projects. Whether she was nailing the outcast vibes, the darkly comedic beats, or conveying the tension of each moment, Stewart surprised me. Similarly to Channing Tatum in Blink Twice, I was forced to happily reevaluate this actor. I also cannot stress enough her raw chemistry with her character’s love interest Jackie (Katy O’Brian). Together, they gave us big Bound vibes with a cool magical realism thread. I would watch them do crime together for hours. I wish I had caught this movie in theaters. 

9. David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, Late Night with the Devil (dirs. Cameron and Colin Cairnes)

We’ve all gotten used to seeing David Dastmalchian hosting events and appearing in supporting roles in genre films. So, we were all excited to see what he would do in a leading role. We didn’t know it would be one that kept him on screen for almost the entirety of the film. None of us could have ever expected it would also be such a demanding role. Luckily, he was up to the challenge because his turn as Jack Delroy kept us engaged and leaning all the way in for the entire runtime. Late Night with the Devil allows the actor to play host on “live TV” while evoking empathy even when you know his character is in the wrong. He also quietly takes our hand as we embark on a hellish journey that hits some unsettling turbulence at the end. As a performer, Dastmalchian essentially ran a marathon on film.  

8. Hunter Schafer as Gretchen, Cuckoo (dir. Tilman Singer)

We rarely get leading ladies who ask the important questions. Usually, they’re letting family and spouses gaslight them as they make the silliest choices to get us to the next plot point. So, I love that Hunter Schafer’s Gretchen spends most of Cuckoo swerving away from those traps. On top of being the constant voice of reason, this character benefits from Schafer’s cool factor. Whether she’s practicing the bass, playing with her butterfly knife, or staring down Dan Stevens (in his most chaotic role of 2024), you cannot look away from her. I also love that Gretchen gets thrown around and then continuously gets right back up in this weird little movie. While I don’t think all lead actors need to hang upside down or learn to serve in an arm cast, I love that Schafer was down for the challenge. This is her first leading role in a feature film, and I sincerely hope it’s not her last because this genre needs her.

7. Melissa Barrera as Joey, Abigail (dir. Radio Silence)

Melissa Barrera remains a gift to horror comedies. Most people would argue that her turn in My Monster should be the 2024 role she should be recognized for. However, it’s harder to stand out in a ridiculously stacked ensemble, especially when one member is a child prodigy playing a vicious vampire. Abigail, much like Scream (2022) and Scream VI, allows Barrera to show off her star quality while reminding us she plays exceptionally well with others. Unlike Sam Carpenter’s tragically short time in the Scream franchise, Joey allowed the actor to give us something different. She got to play a character a little older than we perceive Barrera, with a bit more real-world baggage that influences her choices. Even before we get Joey’s full story, Barrera gives us enough breadcrumbs to make a meal. If she had not already established herself as horror royalty, this performance would have entered her into the chat.

6. Willa Fitzgerald as The Lady, Strange Darling (dir. JT Mollner)

We were all sleeping on Willa Fitzgerald until Strange Darling came along. While most of us are familiar with some of her work, none of us knew what a beast she was until we sat down for this wild ride. The film aims to subvert our expectations and keep us guessing. This means actors must play multiple versions of the truth in most scenes. This makes every character a mystery and results in not knowing any character’s true motives until the end. That dance is not for the weak, but Fitzgerald knocked it out of the park. Her work is breathtaking as she slowly peels back layer after layer, giving us glimpses of her character. Whether she is raising alarms while wearing lingerie or running for her life through the woods, The Lady is the moment. From start to finish, Fitzgerald gives one of the most captivating performances of the year.

5. Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, Heretic (dirs. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods)

Hugh Grant reentered the genre, weaponizing his charm and charisma to give us the most unsettling villain of the year. Something about this creepy older man, Mr. Reed, immediately put audiences on the edge of their seats. His scene partners, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, play relatable characters for many of us raised in religious situations. However, Grant is the insidious man we all know we don’t want to be around but have difficulty conveying why to the people who will tell us we have nothing to be afraid of. He’s serving bad vibes (and blueberry pie lies) from the moment we meet him. His ill intentions are mostly hidden in plain sight in small little ticks. More goes on in Mr. Reed’s eyes than some actors can convey with their whole body. Heretic is Hugh Grant at his best, and it is chilling.

4. Kim Go-eun as Hwa-rim, Exhuma (dir. Jang Jae-hyun)

Kim Go-eun is the anchor in one of the most disturbing and gorgeous movies of 2024. She plays a badass shaman who is an expert on the supernatural. Not only is Shaman Hwa-rim cool, smart, and fun, but she also does most of the heavy lifting in this upsetting gem. In addition to knowing her shit, she’s performing the ceremonies, which are beautiful to watch as an audience member. However, I imagine it takes a physical toll on the actor driving this chaotic and long ride. Go-eun’s stage presence is one of the many amazing things fighting for your attention for the entire duration of Exhuma. However, she manages to make standing out seem effortless. This is exceptionally hard to do next to South Korean acting legend, Choi Min-sik (Oldboy). It immediately becomes clear that this is Go-eun’s film, and we are all welcome.

3. Jung Yu-mi as Soo-jin, Sleep (dir. Jason Yu)

I think about Jung Yu-mi’s performance in Sleep a few times a week, and I haven’t seen this movie since March. Her character’s frustration and fear still stand out, and she is one of the best horror mommas of the year. Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) could have easily been another forgettable new mom in the genre. However, Jung captures the exhaustion and loneliness of her situation but never loses sight of what makes her character tick. She’s smart, resourceful, funny, and, most importantly, a relatable person trying to figure out what’s causing her husband’s dangerous nocturnal adventures. This woman is strong and refuses to let anyone gaslight her. She is also not leaving this situation without her husband and their new baby. We know this woman is human, but Jung infuses her with so much energy that you almost pity the evil presence that dared to invade her home.

2. David Jonsson as Andy, Alien: Romulus (dir. Fede Álvarez)

David Jonsson was given some upsetting tropes, but managed to land one of the best performances of the year regardless. The Alien franchise has never been kind to Black characters. So, it was cool to see an actor take the scraps he was given and churn out a feast. Jonsson gave depth to a faulty Android programmed to serve and protect the girl he views as a surrogate sister. Andy was, ironically, the only character capable of empathy and humanity, which this actor reminded us of each time he was on screen. Jonsson captures the audience’s attention from the beginning, even while we’re frustrated with how Andy is written. We can’t help but root for him when he makes the shift and stops putting humans first. Jonsson gives 180% to both versions of Andy, which is why he has the breakout performance of the movie.

1. Lupita Nyong’o as Sam, A Quiet Place: Day One (dir. Michael Sarnoski)

Lupita Nyong’o has been quietly awaiting her second Oscar for a decade. So, seeing her show out with another outstanding performance in the horror genre is bittersweet. Michael Sarnoski’s script and direction give Nyong’o a high-stakes world that showcases her artistry at every turn. This film seems orchestrated for her to continuously hit us right in the feelings as her character reminds us there is always something worth living for. Sam (Nyong’o) is a New Yorker painfully aware of how little time we have on this floating rock. Nyong’o gives this character seemingly endless strength, reliance, and grace as she moves through this terrifying world. Her performance in A Quiet Place: Day One is not just another outstanding talent showcase on her resume. It is also easily the best performance of the year.

Did you also find yourself obsessed with so many performances you cannot stop talking about them this year? Then we should nerd out about the actors that set 2024 on fire at @misssharai.

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