Why do horror/thriller films don’t usually received any Oscar nominations or awards? Does the Oscars have a double standard towards horror films? Does the Oscars really have a strong bias against this genre, if yes, then why? I guess it has got something to do with the limited target audience of horror films. It is really difficult to make a horror film. You have the main goal to scare the audience to death and if not they might feel upset. 

Why horror films don’t get an applause and credits that they deserve? Let me tell you some of the films that should have won the Oscar best picture category awards (which they truly deserved).

Poltergeist (1982)

A supernatural horror film which was produced by the genius Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper. This was the first successful film Poltergeist was all about the wonderful family who lived in the peaceful community of Cuesta Verde Estates. Chaos begins to overtake their peaceful home when a vicious ghost from T.V. abducted the family’s 6 year-old daughter named Dana (Dominique Dunne).

Kudos to the production effects staff who absolutely put an extra effort to the special effects (plus the fact that it was made during the 80’s). One of the scariest classic films of all time that I will never ever forget. It was a film breakthrough in the paranormal genre that we have seen a lot nowadays.

Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho got four nominations which include the best director category but it didn’t get the best picture (that was not really cool Oscar). An American suspense/horror movie hit in the 60’s which was about the woman named Marion Crane ( Janet Leigh). Marion was given 40,000 dollars in cash. Her boss told her to deposit the amount in the bank. Instead of depositing the money, she stole and run away. 

She stopped over at the Bates Hotel and her nightmare begins when she finally met the hotel owner Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Psycho is a true masterpiece and much better if this film won the Oscar’s Best Picture Award. Hitchcock really sets a benchmark for the horror film genre.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

How come this film won the best makeup award not the best picture? It was recognized, applauded and praised by the critics during the 80’s. The films starts with two best buddies David Kessler (played by Naughton) and Jack Goodman (played by Dunne). They were wandering the England and they have been warned that they need to go home earlier and leave the road before it gets dark. David finds himself in the hospital bed and he founds out that Jack was dead. He woke up with a huge bite of an animal on his shoulder.  

Just like the usual plot of a werewolf story because of his bitten shoulder he becomes a werewolf. David hunts his prey down all over London. One of the best werewolf films which have an original plot. And at the end it didn’t get the best picture award? Oh come on Oscar I will cry and mourn.