6 BEST HORROR MOVIE PERFORMANCES OF 2025 SO FAR

The year is halfway through, and we have already had many strong performances in the films released so far, especially in the horror genre. Even with the year starting on the slower side as it normally does, there were unexpected gems released within the first few months of the year, such asHeart Eyes. Once spring hit, however, we started to see some truly great films in the genre, and some pleasantly surprising hits such as Final Destination Bloodlines. Whether the horror films released so far this year have been pleasant surprises or completely underwhelming, the performances have delivered.

Acting in horror movies can certainly be questionable, but when the right actor is paired with the right script, some of the best performances come out of the horror genre. Think of performances such as Demi Moore in The Substance, Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out, or Toni Collette in Hereditary. Not only can horror films be incredible films in their own right, but the performances can be some of the best you'll see in a movie all year. This year is no different, so here are the best horror performances of 2025, so far.

Sophie Thatcher in 'Companion'

The marketing campaign for Companion started strong at the end of last year before its release on January 31st of this year. The poster was just a pink background with the title written in a delicate script font. Most of the clips released were of Sophie Thatcher at a dinner table with her hand over an open flame and a single tear rolling down her terrified face. It was made to look like it was a romantic movie when it obviously was not. Unfortunately, the marketing campaign decided to give away a hugely important detail of her character in a trailer released shortly before the release date.

Nevertheless, the movie ended up being quite enjoyable despite some of it being spoiled in the trailer. A big reason for that is the wonderful performance by Thatcher as Iris. The movie follows Iris as she goes on a getaway trip with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) to visit his friends at a billionaire's luxury cabin. Spoilers ahead, but Iris is actually a companion robot that Josh rented from a tech company and programmed to his specific liking. When Iris learns this and realizes what Josh's true plans for her are, the weekend spirals out of control.

Thatcher does such a convincing job of portraying this sentient robot who learns that she, too, has feelings that are valid despite not being human. She conveys a wide range of emotions with just her eyes and facial expressions, making it easy to sympathize with Iris.

Lea Myren in 'The Ugly Stepsister'

One of the best surprises of the year, not just in horror, is Emile Kristine Blichfeldt's body horror fantasy, The Ugly Stepsister. The Norwegian film is a retelling of the Grimm Brothers' classic Cinderella fairytale, but told from the point of view of Cinederella's stepsister Elvira (Lea Myren). In this version, beauty is a brutal business that finds Elvira competing with Cinderella (Thea Sofie Loch Naess) for the affection of the prince. Unlike most retellings of this story seen before, no one is particularly likable, including Cinderella and the prince.

Beauty is most definitely pain in this film. Being deemed conventionally attractive is everything in this kingdom, so all the eligible girls put all of their focus into becoming the most attractive versions of themselves they can be. Elvira undergoes extensive physical treatments and procedures to alter her appearance, including breaking her nose to get rid of a bump and swallowing a tapeworm egg to prevent her from gaining weight when she eats.

The Ugly Stepsister is a unique blend of fantasy and horror, and when the body horror elements are at play, it is downright grotesque. Myren does an exceptional job of portraying this awkward 18-year-old girl who desperately wants to be with the prince, but is just a bit too weird to fit in with the other girls in the kingdom. She pushes the limits when it comes to the body horror elements and remains committed to the role even when the actions her character takes are utterly disgusting.

Colby Minifie in 'The Surrender'

Julia Max's supernatural horror film The Surrender quietly dropped on Shudder in May, and while it's not perfect, it is one of the hidden gems of 2025. The film follows a grieving mother and daughter whose fraught relationship is put to the test after the family patriarch dies. Missing her husband immensely, Barbara (Kate Burton) hires a mysterious stranger to perform a ritual to bring her husband back from the dead.

Colby Minifie, who you probably know as Ashley on The Boys, plays Barbara's daughter Megan and gives such a nuanced performance. Her character is starkly different from the character she plays on The Boys, and her work in this film has greatly showcased her range as an actor. Megan wants absolutely nothing to do with the creepy ritual her mom wants to try. Still, she agrees to participate because she knows her mother is grieving, and she wants their relationship to be better. Once this ritual fully commences, it is genuinely creepy and unsettling. Megan witnesses some disturbing things through this ritual and is forced to confront many terrible truths about her family's past.

Minifie effortlessly moves between anger, disappointment, fear, and grief throughout the film. She conveys loss so well, and if you've lost someone, chances are her performance will hit home.

Miles Caton in 'Sinners'

Undoubtedly, the biggest pleasant surprise to be released so far this year is Ryan Coogler's hugely successful masterpiece, Sinners. The Southern gothic horror drama takes place in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta and follows two twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), as they return to their hometown to start fresh. Little do they know, there is something even more sinister waiting for them there than what they left behind in Chicago.

The Smokestack twins are back in Mississippi to buy an old farmhouse to turn it into a juke joint. They recruit their younger cousin, Sammy (Miles Caton), to help them get the place ready for an opening night celebration. Sammy is musically gifted, and in a certain musical scene, we see just how powerful Sammy's blues music is. It conjures spirits of the past, present, and future to show the evolution of blues, but it also attracts the attention of a nearby vampire clan who want to steal Sammy's gift.

Sammy is one of the most important characters in the film, and newcomer Miles Caton is incredible in his first role. Sammy has such soulfulness to him, and Caton brings this out tremendously. His musical talent, both his instrument playing and his singing, is phenomenal. It fully rounds out Sammy's character and adds to the extremely detailed layers of this film. Caton will undoubtedly be a name to watch for in the future.

Sally Hawkins in 'Bring Her Back'

Danny and Michael Philippou, a.k.a. RackaRacka from their YouTube days, have finally released their highly anticipated second film, Bring Her Back. The brothers' debut film, Talk to Me, was met with immense critical and audience praise in 2023, and horror fans have eagerly been waiting to see what they would do next. The film follows Andy (Billy Baratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), two siblings who are relocated to a foster home after their dad dies suddenly. Their eccentric new foster mom, Laura (Sally Hawkins), introduces them to her other foster child, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), who is clearly disturbed. Soon, it becomes apparent that Laura is using Oliver for something sinister.

Bring Her Back is quite different in tone from Talk to Me. While there were plenty of moments of fun and laughter in the Philippou brothers' first horror film, there are almost none of that here. There are brief moments of dark humor, but there is a lingering sadness throughout every frame of the film. Sally Hawkins is a talented actress, but she gives a career-best performance in this film. Her portrayal of Laura is incredibly creepy, both because of her forced niceness and her sinister intentions. She also brings deep despair to the role, as Laura is ultimately a mother whose grief becomes all-consuming. Laura does some truly horrific things to try to bring her daughter back, and Hawkins balances her descent to madness perfectly with her grief.

Michael B. Jordan in 'Sinners'

Sinners is the fifth collaboration between Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, and it may very well be their best work yet. They work exceptionally well together to tell meaningful stories, and Coogler brings out fantastic performances from Jordan. This film is incredibly layered, filled with carefully researched historical detail, and exceptionally crafted world-building. The cultural relevance built into this world is truly outstanding, and deservedly one of the best movies of the year.

Jordan had the challenging task of portraying identical twin brothers who are both similar, yet have differing personalities. He not only played the dual roles, but he also seamlessly crafted two distinct characters who are instantly distinguishable on screen. It is always clear which twin is which, thanks to the subtle differences in personality and body language Jordan created for each of them. Sinners was filmed with IMAX cameras, which, on their own, make filming more difficult because they are bulky and noisy. Having to work around that while making sure you are hitting the right blocking for each twin, so the shots follow continuity, is challenging. Yet Jordan made it look easy. It's not just one of the best horror performances of the year, it's one of the best performances of the year overall.

2025-06-15T09:49:59Z