Be afraid, be very afraid!

HORROR COULD BE THE TOAST OF THIS YEAR'S OSCARS

- BY ADAM MAIDMENT

Vampire-themed horror Sinners has been nominated for Best Picture

(ZINZI COOGLER, SEV OHANIAN AND RYAN COOGLER, PRODUCERS)

WHEN the shortlists were announced for this year's Oscars, the headline news was that Sinners had a record-breaking 16 nominations.

No film in history has received so many, but the bigger surprise is that it is a vampire-themed horror.

The Academy has generally shied away from embracing the horror genre over the years despite there being many opportunities to recognise some truly unique films.

Many see Silence of the Lambs as a horror. Thanks to a chilling performance by Anothony Hopkins as serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter, a strong yet vulnerable turn by Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling and on-point direction by Jonathan Demme, there's an unsettling atmosphere throughout and one or two genuine jump-out-of-your-seat moments.

But as worthy a winner as it was, is it really a horror?

Director James Whale's 1931 first big screen version of Frankenstein was ignored by the Academy. With Boris Karloff in the role of the monster, it was a critical and commercial hit but did not earn a single nomination, setting a familiar pattern.

Alfed Hitchcock's lack of recognition by the Academy is astonishing. Psycho did achieve four nominations, although it criminally failed to win an Oscar, as did The Birds.