With their striking visuals, creative soundtracks, intriguing philosophical themes, and magnetic performances, horror movies deserve more Oscars, a point that Infinity Pool's Mia Goth has been campaigning for in recent months. Brandon Cronenberg's eerie body horror movie capitalizes on Goth's unique ability to be both girlish and aggressive as Gabi, an ardent fan of Alexander Skarsgård's novelist James, who, after intruding on his bucolic stay at a wealthy resort, takes him on a whirlwind journey to the depths of human ecstasy and depravity. As her most frequent scene partner (and literal partner in crime), Skarsgård also showcases many facets as a performer, vacillating between reticent and unhinged with unexpected aplomb.

In a recent interview about Infinity Pool, Mia Goth declared horror movies deserved Oscars recognition beyond the typical technical categories. Some of the most impressive acting performances, as highlighted by Goth over the past several years, can be found in horror movies, and the fact that they get overlooked simply for being attached to the genre is an industry tragedy. Whether Goth should have been nominated in the Best Actress category ahead of the 95th Academy Awards aside, her stand-out performance in Infinity Pool proves that she, like horror movies in general, deserves more recognition than they receive.

Why Horror Is So Overlooked By The Oscars


According to the interview, Goth thinks horror is overlooked by the Oscars because "it's very political and that it's not entirely based on the quality of a project per se, I think there's a lot going on there, a lot of cooks in the kitchen when it comes to nominations and categories that are recognized." (via @jakesTakes). In other words, the Oscars snub horror even when it's incredibly deserving, thereby making it more obvious when films like Infinity Pool get ignored. There are also socio-political machinations behind the scenes that play a part in who and what gets nominated by the Academy, as well as a crowded field of contenders.

Horror often deals with aspects of human nature that intentionally make audiences uncomfortable, as well as features visuals (namely blood and gore) that are also specifically aimed to shock. While components are provocative, they are by their nature unsettling and give horror a reputation for being focused on cheap thrills. However, in movies like Infinity Pool, there are so many other elements to rejoice in, particularly stunning cinematography, arresting themes of egoism and identity, as well as magnetic performances from its two leads.

Infinity Pool’s Mia Goth & Alexander Skarsgård Were Big Oscars 2023 Snubs


Mia Goth played both Maxine and Pearl in X, dual performances that blew audiences away in 2022, and continued to play Pearl in Ti West's sequel (albeit narratively a prequel film) later the same year, which should have secured the young star an Oscar nomination for her energetic and memorable performance. Unfortunately, Goth wasn't nominated for either movie, along with several other horror performances, such as Ralph Fiennes in The Menu, or Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya for Nope. 2022 was a strong year for horror with other contributions like Barbarian, Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, and Men, but its most star-studded films never received any acting nominations.

Skarsgård was also shut out of the 2023 Oscars after The Northman was a huge box office injustice, receiving no recognition for carrying Robert Eggers’ distinct Viking epic that utilized horror elements to weave a unique tale of revenge. It was physically and psychologically demanding of its lead, and Skarsgård exposed himself artistically in ways that should have earned him a nomination. If not for The Northman, than for Infinity Pool, which pushed his limits as an actor and brought out a complex and nuanced performance amidst its surreal visuals.

Which Horror Movies Have Received Oscar Nominations (& Wins)


The Academy Awards typically favors heavy dramas, rarely giving genres equitable time in the spotlight. While the 2023 Oscar nominations have snubbed horror, the genre has received nominations (and wins) in previous years. Psycho (1960), Alfred Hitchcock's most famous film was nominated four times, including Best Director, but unfortunately didn't win a single category. In the decades since horror movies have been nominated for and won in several technical categories, and seven horror movies have been nominated for Best Picture; The Exorcist (1973), Jaws (1975), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Six Sense (1999), Black Swan (2010), Get Out (2017), and Parasite (2021).

Due to the tension and interpersonal conflict often found in horror movies, they provide the perfect opportunity for character studies, which is why they've been able to secure a few acting honors over the years. Kathy Bates took home Oscar gold for Best Supporting Actress in Misery (1990), and The Silence of the Lambs rewarded Anthony Hopkins' scenery-chewing horror performance as the diabolical Hannibal Lecter with the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as his costar Jodie Foster for Best Actress. In more recent years, Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her chilling performance in Black Swan.

Horror movies also occasionally get recognized for their diverse and fascinating storylines. The Silence of the Lambs received an Academy Award for Best Writing for its adapted screenplay of Thomas Harris's novel of the same name. Get Out earned Jordan Peele an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and Parasite surprised horror fans by winning four Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay along with Best Picture, Best Director, and Best International Foreign Film. Cronenberg's mind-bending screenplay for Infinity Pool, which avoids crucial sci-fi mistakes, is exactly the sort of unique story that should have been nominated for the 2023 Oscars.

Could Infinity Pool Earn Oscar Nods In Creative Categories?


If it didn't receive nominations for the big categories like performance and direction, Infinity Pool could have earned Oscar nods for creative and technical categories. The cinematography by Karim Hussain brought the fictional country of La Tolqa to life, while the editing by James Vandewater shaped the visceral pace of the film, and the production design by Zosia Mackenzie created a rich and textured ambiance in different locations. It could have even mirrored a dark horse like The Batman, a superhero movie that blended noir and horror elements with its Caped Crusader origin tale in 2022, which was nominated for makeup and hairstyling, sound, and visual effects.

The previous decade has seen the rise of prestige horror with Hereditary, A Quiet Place, and Jordan Peele's entire filmography. While none of these movies share particular plot lines or themes, they do have several hallmarks; a distinguished aesthetic and performances of a higher caliber, making them feel like the genre is being taken more seriously. Unfortunately, the term also implies that most of the contributions to the genre are trash. Where Infinity Pool lies is subjective, but its bold visuals, taut storytelling, and lead performances by Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård indicate that it deserves Oscar recognition whether the Academy thinks so or not.