2021 was a bit of a strange year for film releases, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though there were challenges and still many delays, fans got to enjoy many great new movies. Some of these came from the horror genre. While there maybe weren't as many big horror releases this year as there have been in the past, there were still a few standouts. And with these great new movies, came some stellar acting performances.
From a deaf girl setting out to save her family, to a legendary masked killer, these performances both terrified and endeared audiences. Horror continues its strong resurgence with quality titles, and these performances certainly helped the genre continue its box office domination in 2021.
Millicent Simmonds, A Quiet Place Part II
One of the most high-profile horror releases this year was A Quiet Place Part II. Set directly after the events of the first film, the second part follows a family in the midst of an apocalypse. Silence is key in this world, as monsters attracted to sound have overrun the land and have killed many people.
Millicent Simmonds plays Regan, the oldest child of the central family. She also happens to be deaf, making her both more vulnerable and equipped for this world. Regan was a prominent character in the first film, but she really is in the spotlight in the second part. The character is brave and has a real desire to save the world. She goes on a solo journey, both physically and mentally. Watching it unfold is tense and touching, with Simmonds' performance stealing the show.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Candyman
Nia DaCosta's new Candyman film was highly anticipated, in part because of horror icon Jordan Peele's involvement, and ultimately got mixed reviews. It was marketed as a "spiritual sequel" but is in fact a direct sequel of the 1992 original film, and tackles a lot of the same themes.
Instead of Virginia Madsen, or a woman at all, in the lead role, this film instead features Yahya Abdul Mateen II. He plays an artist named Anthony, living in Chicago. After hearing the story of Helen Lyle and the Candyman, he goes to the now gentrified Cabrini-Green neighborhood to get inspired. The deadly legend however begins to consume him and his life, turning him mad and even affecting his body.
Mateen has appeared in several works, but never quite in the lead role like this. This film heavily depends on his performance, and he completely delivers. Anthony is a man losing his grip, having something completely take over him. On top of that, there's a lot of gruesome body horror attached to this role. It was a lot to take on and Mateen completely delivers in every way, making this a really engaging watch for the viewers.
Rebecca Hall, The Night House
The Night House was a bit more of a quiet release this year, but it really packs a punch. And so does the performance of leading lady Rebecca Hall. The story follows Hall's character, Beth, in a very sensitive time in her life. She has just lost her husband to suicide and is starting the process of grieving. Throughout this process, however, she begins to uncover some secrets about her husband and his life that cause her to spiral.
Hall is the star of this movie, and it wouldn't be nearly as effective without her performance. She's very convincing in this role, which is really hard to pull off. Feigning being terrified in a way that isn't cheesy isn't an easy thing to do. She also has to play a lot of psychological parts as her character is, to an extent, losing her mind as well as constantly finding out new shocking information. It's easy to lose yourself as a viewer in this film, largely because of her work.
Morfydd Clark, Saint Maud
Though Saint Maud initially did the festival run a few years ago, it wasn't widely released in most places until 2021. The horror community was very excited for this one and when it was released, and people were blown away by the lead performance.
Morfydd Clark plays Maud, a newly converted Roman Catholic hospice nurse. She has had some struggles in her life and is looking for a fresh start. When she takes a job as a private nurse for a dying woman, she decides to make it her life's mission to save her soul. While this plot alone doesn't seem too horrifying, this is a deep psychological slow burn that's incredibly tense and very unsettling.
A lot of pressure is on Clark to perform here because she is responsible for a lot of these tense and unsettling moments. She plays the part of Maud just as creepy as she should. Not over the top, but still deeply disturbing. This film won't be for everyone, but it's undeniable how effective the main character is.
James Jude Courtney, Halloween Kills
Everyone was excited for Halloween Kills this year. The second in a reboot trilogy, starring the OG final girl Jamie Lee Curtis, this movie wasn't the best received by the general public. And for good reason, it's a little bit of a mess.
With that being said, James Jude Courtney takes the role of killer Michael Myers and he does an absolutely amazing job. This might be the best Michael Myers yet. He's brutal, he's got personality, and he's just really scary. Gone are the goofy and bland versions of Michael from the 1980s, in this reboot trilogy he has so much more presence. Though Courtney doesn't show his face or have any speaking parts, he absolutely nails this beloved part and is honestly the best part of the film.