A brief history of vampires at the Oscars

Ryan Coogler‘s sinners I may not win all of the 16 Oscars are already up for this weekend, but there are definitely going to be quite a few. Either way, sinners that’s it the very strange horror movie to be recognized by the Academy, which tends to overlook genre films beyond the craft and technical categories.

And even beyond that, sinners It is extremely rare vampire Movie to get the love of the Oscars. But while it’s groundbreaking for many reasons, there are a few notable titles that helped pave the way for sinners‘Seductive, frightening, creature-filled extravaganza.

Nosferatu (2024)

Robert Eggers’ intense attention to perfect period details helped Nosferatu earn nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Bill Skarsgård’s risk-taking performance as the titular vampire didn’t garner recognition, but we all know that the Best Makeup and Hairstyling nomination had a lot to do with Skarsgård’s luxurious Nosferatu mustache.

The Count (2023)

Pablo Larraín’s unconventional horror comedy imagines that the famous Chilean dictator of the 1970s, Augusto Pinochet, was actually a 250-year-old French vampire named “Claude Pinoche.” It was nominated for Best Cinematography, a seal of approval that hopefully turned even more eyes to what can only be described as a unique blend of political satire and the supernatural.

shadow of the vampire (2000)

Here’s another “what if” scenario with a vampire component. E. Elias Merhige’s clever spin on Hollywood history revisits the filming of the 1922 silent classic. Nosferatu but asks: “What if Max Schreck, the actor who plays the vampire, were a real bloodsucker?” John Malkovich is usually fantastic as famed director FW Murnau, but it’s Willem Dafoe’s creepy turn as Schreck/Count Orlok that left the biggest impression.

He earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor (his second in that category after Platoon), and shadow of the vampire She also earned a nomination for the makeup that helped bring “life” to Dafoe’s mysterious character.

Interview with the vampire (1994)

Before it was a cult TV series on AMC, it was a best-selling book by Anne Rice and, oh yes, a feature film starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater and Tom Cruise, the casting of the latter being wildly controversial at the time. It earned nominations for Best Art Direction (both decadent New Orleans glamor and parched Paris glamor), as well as Best Original Score for Elliot Goldenthal, who didn’t win for this but later won an Oscar in the same category for Frida.

Dunst’s outstanding performance garnered much critical praise, but no Academy recognition; However, Pitt and Cruise won “Worst Screen Couple” at the Razzies.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Francis Ford Coppola’s lavish adaptation of the most famous vampire novel is now remembered primarily for Gary Oldman’s performance as the Count (cheesy but good) and Keanu Reeves’ performance as Jonathan Harker (cheesy but bad… but like, good-bad).

However, the film won three Oscars: Best Costume Design for Eiko Ishioka’s magnificent Victorian dresses, capes, costumes and vampire couture; Better sound editing for all that yelping, sniffling, and screaming; and Best Makeup, highlighted by Oldman’s age range and monstrous transformations.

It also earned a nomination for Best Art Direction (an award now known as Best Production Design), but somehow End of Howard He went with that one.

Honorable mention: Let the right one in (2008)

Despite racking up a slew of awards from critics groups and a BAFTA nomination for Best Non-English Language Film, this gripping story of a young-looking vampire, the father figure who protects her, and the (really) young neighbor who falls in love with her failed to win the Academy Awards.

It wasn’t even Sweden’s choice for its Oscar nomination that year. But Let the right one inbased on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, it ultimately won the rarest of accolades: an American remake (from 2010). let me in) that actually didn’t suck. No pun intended.

And so that you have your scorecard ready, here is a list of everything. sinners is nominated for the 98th edition of the Oscars, which will be held this Sunday, March 15: Best Picture, Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan, who played a double role in the film), Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), Best Supporting Actor (Delroy Lindo), Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler), Casting, Production Design, Photography, Costume Design, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Visual Effects, Original and Original Music. Song (“I lied to you”).

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