Supernatural thrillers represent a unique sub-genre of cinemathat calls for filmmakers to take the most seemingly absurd concepts seriously. While many ofthe best thrillers of all-timetake place in a version of reality that is somewhat recognizable, supernatural films have to sell the audience on elements of their mythology that require a significant suspension of disbelief.
The best way for supernatural thrillers to differentiate themselves is to create memorable characters, and call upon some of the best actors in the industry to deliver emotional performances. Even if the concept itself is a work of fantasy, viewers want to be able to by into some level of emotional authenticity. Whether a supernatural thriller is able todevelop a compelling heroor a dastardly villain may serve as the primary reason why it either fails or succeeds. Here are the ten best supernatural thrillers with great acting, ranked.
10‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)
Directed by Roman Polanski
Rosemary’s Babywas a significant film with the development of the horror genre, as it provedthat a story about Satanic rituals and demonic conspiraciescould be given serious acclaim.Rosemary’s Babyfocuses on the young woman Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) as she and her husband Guy (John Cassavetes), who become unexpectedly pregnant after moving into a new apartment in Manhattan.
Farrow was able to capture the horror of an expectant mother who feels that she has been violated,and brings to life the film’s gruelling depiction of sexual assault and marital subjugation. The great actressRuth Gordonreceived an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Minnie, the sinister neighbor of Rosemary who begins introducing the apartment’s new inhabitants to a sinister cult conspiracy meant to bring forth the son of Satan in a haunted ritual.
Rosemary’s Baby
A young couple trying for a baby moves into an aging, ornate apartment building on Central Park West, where they find themselves surrounded by peculiar neighbors.
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9‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Directed by William Friedkin
The Exorcistis one of themost perfect horror films of all-time, and it’s not just because ofWilliam Friedkin’s brilliant work behind the camera. At the heart of this twisted tale of demonic possession is the fragile relationship between a mother (Ellen Burstyn) and daughter (Linda Blair) who are pulled apart by supernatural forces that they do not fully understand.
One of the reasons thatThe Exorcistis as scary as it is was the realism captured by the performances,as everything about the film’s depiction of family instability and maternity felt entirely authentic. While Burstyn and Blair are great giving two very different interpretations of what a “final girl” looks like, the greatMax von Sydowalso gives a memorable performance as a kindly priest who tries to rid the family of the corrupting forces of evil that have inhabited them.
The Exorcist
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Rent on Amazon
8‘Carrie’ (1976)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Carrieis one of the quintessential films of Brian De Palma’s career, as it managed to transforma fairly straightforward coming-of-age storyinto a horrifying examination of the consequences of subjugation and bullying.Sissy Spacek’s breakthrough performance as the titular teenage girl with superpowers is one of the most significant youth roles of all-time; despite how scary the film gets, there’s not a single instance in which the viewer does not feel for Carrie as she tries to survive some of the most miserable experiences imaginably for a teenage girl.
Piper Laurie earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actressfor her detestable performance as Carrie’s mother, who tries to prevent her from having any normal adolescent experiences. The film also featured a rarely villainous role forJohn Travoltaas a teenage bully who tries to take advantage of Carrie.
Carrie is a horror film directed by Brian De Palma, based on Stephen King’s novel. It stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy high school student who discovers her telekinetic abilities. Tormented by her peers and controlled by her fanatically religious mother, played by Piper Laurie, the film follows Carrie’s emotional and psychological struggles leading to a dramatic climax. Carrie solidified its place in the horror genre for its powerful performances and chilling atmosphere.
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7‘The Shining’ (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
The Shiningis one of themany masterpieces directed by Stanley Kubrick,and succeeded because it was able to bring to life the characters that readers had fallen in love with whilst readingStephen King’s wildly popular novel of the same name. WhileJack Nicholsonhas played more than a few memorable villains throughout his career, his performance as Jack Torrance is perhaps the scariest role that he has ever had.
Despite the initial backlash that her performance received,Shelley Duvall is the heart ofThe Shiningwith her performance as Wendy, a strong-willed mother who protects her child as Jack’s abuse gets out of control. Although Duvall brings a softness to the character at first, Wendy becomes one of the great “final girls” of all-time by the time thatThe Shiningreaches its terrifyingly chilly conclusion where Jack loses his mind.
The Shining
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.
6‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (1990)
Directed by Adrian Lyne
Jacob’s Ladderwas an interesting psychological thrillerthat examined the perils that veterans deal with when trying to cope with post traumatic stress disorder andother issues relating to mental health.Tim Robbinsgives one of his best performances as a haunted former serviceman who begins to increasingly feel as if he no longer has a firm grasp on reality.
Although it’s a film that gets quite surrealist at times as a result of the extended dream sequences,Jacob’s Ladderdoes a great job at connecting with its empathetic protagonistbecause Robbins is able to bring such a depth of understanding to his performance. It’s unlikely that the mind-blowing twist that endsJacob’s Ladderon a particularly haunting note would have been nearly as effective ifAdrian Lynehadn’t gotten a performance out of Robbins that was anything less than excellent.
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder is a horror mystery centering on a mourning father and scarred Vietnam War vet named Jacob that is dealing with dissociation. After his child dies, Jacob struggles to separate reality from his delusions. Jacob’s Ladder stars Tim Robbins alongside Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven, and Jason Alexander.
5‘In The Mouth Of Madness’ (1994)
Directed by John Carpenter
In The Mouth Of Madnessis one of the standout films of John Carpenter’s careerbecause itexamines the interesting relationship that artists havewith both their work and fans.Sam Neillgives one of the greatest performances of his entire career as an obsessive insurance investigator who begins a search for his favorite horror author, only to find his grasp on reality challenged at every turn.
In The Mouth Of Madnessdoes a great job at balancing camp and realism,and the fluctuations in tone allow Neill to have a blast chewing the scenery. While it is entirely possible that Carpenter saw Neill’s character as a stand-in for himself, the performance is so wildly successful on its own terms that it is able to engage viewers that would be otherwise unaware of the subtext about creative ownership and toxic fandom.
In the Mouth of Madness
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4‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
The Sixth Sensewas an extraordinarybreakthrough film for M. Night Shyamalanthat made headlines because of its shocking twist ending, but it’s the amazing performance that has made it an enduring classic all these years later. The story of a struggling young boy (Haley Joel Osment) whose mother (Toni Collette) connects him with a mild-mannered child psychologist (Bruce Willis) is compelling in its own right, regardless of any of the supernatural undertones.
Osment shows an extraordinary amount of range for a young actor, and Collette does some of the most heartbreaking work of her career as a mother who does not know how to give her child the support he needs to be healthy. While he is best known for his roles in action movies, Willis was able to give a more grounded performance that proves he was far more versatile than he was often given credit for.
The Sixth Sense
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
3‘The Babadook’ (2014)
Directed by Jennifer Kent
The Babadookis one of the more impressive horror films about griefin recent years, because ituses the titular monster as a metaphorfor the lingering pangs of anxiety and guilt that people feel as they recover from the death of a loved one.Essie Davishas long since been one of the most underrated actresses of her generation, butThe Babadookgave her the chance to play a grief-stricken mother who is forced to confront the concept that her worst nightmares may be real.
The Babadookis an immensely relatable film for anyone that has ever dealt with parenthood, as Davis brings to life a depiction of feminine rage that is often not seen in horror cinema.The Babadookhas solidified itself as a modern classic, but it’s unlikely it would have earned the same reputation without the outstanding work that Davis did.
The Babadook
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2‘The Witch’ (2015)
Directed by Robert Eggers
The Witchwas a very unique period horror moviethat solidifiedRobert Eggersas one of the most exciting directors of his generation.In what served as both a literal and metaphorical examination of the perils of religious extremism,The Witchprimarily focuses on the relationship between a young girl (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her father (Ralph Ineson) as they become aware that their new community in New England has become cursed by some sort of supernatural entity.
The Witchdoes a great job at outlining the ways that family dynamics worked in the Colonial age, with performances that felt reminiscent of the ways actual interactions were carried out. Taylor-Joy would go on to give other great horror performances inSplit, Thoroughbreds,andThe Menuamong others, but her work inThe Witchis what solidified her as the single most iconic scream queen of her generation.
A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.
1‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Directed by Ari Aster
Hereditaryis a film that is challenging to watch more than oncebecause the ways in whichAri Asterexamines the loss of a child are very disturbing. However,Hereditarywould not work nearly as well as it doeswithout the amazing performance by Toni Collette; her delivery of the now iconic “I am your mother” speech is one of the greatest moments in horror history, making it even more upsetting that Collette’s performance did not earn her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Collette isn’t the only great performance inHereditary, asAlex Wolffis outstanding as the teenage boy who tries to separate himself from the guilt of being directly involved in the death of his younger sister.Gabriel Byrneis also quite strong as a disheveled patriarchal figure who gradually comes to recognize that he is no longer able to save his family from their worst impulses.
Hereditary
When her mentally ill mother passes away, Annie, her husband, son, and daughter all mourn her loss. The family turn to different means to handle their grief, including Annie and her daughter both flirting with the supernatural. They each begin to have disturbing, otherworldly experiences linked to the sinister secrets and emotional trauma that have been passed through the generations of their family.
