Horror films have had a bad history of just being seen as low-budget and generic, with audiences starting to predict how they will go and only really going to watch them to experience a jumpscare. That history has been picking up positively, though, as films like Talk To Me hit the spotlight. It goes without saying, though, that there are a lot of times when horror films have succeeded in creating a truly horrifying and unforgettable cinematic experience. This then begs the question, why aren’t horror films recognized at big award shows like the Oscars? That discussion about the illegitimate treatment of horror films as their own category can be saved for later, but this doesn’t mean that horror as a concept isn’t recognized. There have been a wide variety of films that have been able to achieve horror without specifically being horror movies, and prestigious filmmakers and awards academies have received them with open arms. This article will highlight some good examples of these moments in the film that filmmakers and audiences should look out for and appreciate more. 

The Birthing Scene in Blade Runner 2049

Starting off with a scene from Dennis Villeneuve’s visionary sequel to the original Blade Runner film, we have the birthing scene. This is a scene in which the Wallace Corporation, largely recognized as the villainous antagonist of the film, birthing a replicant into the dystopian world. The birth of the replicant is shown in great detail as the camera pans into the scene of the replicant falling to the ground and gasping for air. This is all accompanied by Jared Leto’s creepy and ominous voice that puts to light the idea of living with fear even when we are just born. It sets in stone a theme of the film about whether replicants are truly alive or not. This scene brings a great experience to the viewer in terms of uneasiness and suspense as Wallace lightly grazes his hand on the newborn replicant as she breathes uncontrollably. It seeks to create an unwarranted sense of immersion that impacts not only the viewer but the performers and the crew alike. It’s another masterclass by Villeneuve in his filmography, which may seem like an almost throwaway scene at first glance but brings so much into the character of Wallace. 

The Unearthing of The Body in Once Upon A Time in Anatolia

This scene from Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s 2012 film is another one that brings horror, this time to the thriller and investigative genre. It is featured around the first half of the film and is a great example of bringing the horror genre into the thriller genre. It’s a well-crafted scene that leaves the audience gasping and almost vomiting as they see the accuracy of the human body that the investigators are unearthing. It can be argued that the accuracy of said body was intentionally horrifying in order to bring a more truthful reaction from the actors and the audience. The foggy and gray landscape also helps to set the scene for the events that take place and makes it apparent in the looks of the investigators and the suspects that they are not in a hospitable location. Nuri Bilge Ceylan builds on this further in the movie, with one key aspect being shown throughout the film: facing who one is and what one is capable of.

The Snake Briefcase Scene in Prisoners 

With another entry on the list, Dennis Villeneuve and his film Prisoners take the concept of horror a level further with this scene. The scene is composed of Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) going to a suspect’s home to question them. When he arrives, he greets the suspect, and the conversation takes place with the suspect seemingly hiding behind the door of his home.