The Oscar nominations are out… and the horror genre will finally be recognized on the main stage! The most morbid of genres, which has historically been treated as critically insignificant in comparison to other more mainstream genres, is being honored in a big way this year in the form of multiple Academy Awards nominations of Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water and Jordan Peele’s Get Out.
The Shape of Water received the highest number of nominations of any film up for awards this year, accumulating a total of 13 nominations across a wide array of categories. The record number of nominations for a single film stands a 14, and that’s only ever been achieved by All About Eve, Titanic, and last year’s La La Land. The Shape of Water joins just nine other films to ever receive 13 nominations, including Gone With the Wind, Forrest Gump, Chicago, Marry Poppins, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The film is up for Academy Awards in the following categories:
- Best Picture
- Best Directing: Guillermo del Toro
- Best Original Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor
- Best Actress in a Leading Role: Sally Hawkins
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Richard Jenkins
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer
- Best Cinematography: Dan Laustsen
- Best Production Design: Paul Senham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin
- Best Film Editing: Sidney Wolinsky
- Best Costume Design: Luis Sequeira
- Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat
- Best Sound Editing: Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira
- Best Sound Mixing: Christian Cooke, Bran Zoern, Glen Gauthier
Earlier this month, Guillermo del Toro won a Golden Globe Award award for Best Director, so his nomination for an Academy Award in the same category shows the universal recognition that is being given to his work on The Shape of Water.
2017 was a banner year for horror, and del Toro and his film has stiff competition in the form of another excellent horror movie from another visionary director: Jordan Peele’s Get Out. The two films will be competing for Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Original Screenplay. Here are all of the categories for which Get Out has been nominated:
- Best Picture
- Best Directing: Jordan Peele
- Best Original Screenplay: Jordan Peele
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Kaluuya
Regardless of whoever wins, these nominations reflect two very talented filmmakers and their very talented collaborators who lead the horror genre with their impeccable work. Horror movies have always been making a fortune for Hollywood… it’s about time they’re being recognized for their exceptional merit!
Stay tuned to Horror News Network for more details on horror at the Academy Awards as soon it breaks!
