[Editorial] Announcing the Golden Claw Awards Nominees
We think it’s safe to say that last year was an gore-drenched, scare-fest of horror films and we were certainly treated with an abundance. That’s why the Golden Claw Awards were created, as a way to celebrate some of the best horror from 2022 and onwards.
From an idea by Andrew Pope comes the Golden Claw Awards, and we are very excited to be sponsoring the awards. Andrew dropped a message to me and Tim Coleman (Moving Pics Film Club) and asked our thoughts on a UK & Ireland based horror awards and we both immediately responded with a lot of excitement. From there the creation of the UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group was born, who will be voting for the final nominees within the Golden Claw Awards.
All horror critics based in the UK or Ireland are welcome to participate, with links to the poll available now via horror.critics.group@gmail.com or by DMing the Group’s Twitter account.
This is the first year of the Golden Claw Awards, and the final categories and nominees for each have now been finalised by the Group. You can see the list of nominees down below. Over the next two weeks the group will be voting on the final winners and we’ll be livestreaming an awards ceremony – so keep your eyes peeled for more details.
Andrew says: “"As the Group started recommending and debating the shortlists, their passion really started to shine through. So many arguments! This is an exciting time for horror movies, and that showed in all the films that almost but didn't quite get nominated. But when the smoke cleared, we could see the actual nominees were all superb. I can't wait to see which of them takes home a coveted Golden Claw. The UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group is committed to celebrating the UK and Irish horror scene, so I'm particularly excited to see who wins out in the UK or Irish Horror Film category. It's so important that we nurture our local talent! I'm also very excited for the DIE DIE DIE award for championing Diversity, Inclusivity and Equity in horror - this is the one award not voted on, but is instead a special award bestowed by the UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group committee. We look forward to announcing the winner!"
Tim says: “"It's such an honour to be involved in the Golden Claw Awards. Right now we're living through an incredible time for horror cinema, so it's wonderful being able to celebrate the incredible films being made in a genre which means so much to us all"”
And what do I say? Well I’m incredibly excited about the Golden Claw Awards because there is just so much phenomenal horror out there right now.
The winners will be announced across social media at a later date! Voting is now live so if you are a horror critic based in the UK or Ireland and would like to get involved, please email horror.critics.group@gmail.com and follow the Group on Twitter.
Categories and nominees in the Golden Claw Awards 2022
Best Film (UK or Ireland Cinema Release)
Barbarian
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bones and All
Nope
X
Best Film (Streaming Release)
Dashcam
Deadstream
Mad God
Sissy
The Leech
We’re All Going To The World’s Fair
Best Film (On the Festival Circuit)
Huesera: The Bone Woman
Hypochondriac
New Religion
Next Exit
The Harbinger
Best Film (Not in the English Language)
Huesera: The Bone Woman
Incantation
New Religion
Piggy
The Innocents
Best UK or Irish Horror Film
A Banquet
All My Friends Hate Me
Lola
Men
You Are Not My Mother
Best Documentary
A Life on The Farm
Living with Chucky
Orchestrator of Storms
Queer for Fear
The Found Footage Phenomenon
Best TV Show
All of Us Are Dead
Archive 81
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Stranger Things
What We Do In The Shadows
Yellowjackets
Best Lead Performance
Amber Midthunder - Prey
Anna Cobb - We’re All Going To The World’s Fair
Georgina Campbell - Barbarian
Graham Skipper - The Leech
Keke Palmer - Nope
Laura Gálan - Piggy
Mia Goth - X
Rahul Kohli - Next Exit
Taylor Russell - Bones and All
Zack Villa - Hypochondriac
Best Supporting Performance
Nicholas Hoult - The Menu
Rory Kinnear - Men
Justin Long - Barbarian
Rachel Sennott - Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bill Skarsgard - Barbarian
Brittany Snow - X
Kristen Stewart - Crimes of the Future
Melanie Stone - Deadstream & V/H/S/99
Mark Rylance - Bones and All
Steven Yeun - Nope
Best Direction
Zach Cregger - Barbarian
Kate Dolan - You Are Not My Mother
Keishi Kondo - New Religion
Jordan Peele - Nope
Ti West - X
Best Screenplay
Travis Stevens & Nathan Faudree - A Wounded Fawn
Zach Cregger - Barbarian
Kristen Roupenian & Sarah DeLappe - Bodies Bodies Bodies
Addison Heimann - Hypochondriac
Jordan Peele - Nope
Best Looking Film (Cinematography, production design, costumes, hair & makeup, lighting, etc.)
Bones and All
Mad God
Nope
Prey
X
Best Visual Effects
Deadstream
Fall
Nope
V/H/S/99
X
Best Score or Soundtrack
Michael Abels - Nope
Sebastain Gainsborough & Robin Carolan - The Northman
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Bones and All
VAAAL - A Wounded Fawn
Rich Vreeland - Bodies Bodies Bodies
Most Atmospheric Horror Film
Barbarian
Crimes of the Future
Nope
The Harbinger
X
Scariest Film
Barbarian
Dashcam
Fall
The Harbinger
You Are Not My Mother
Best Kill (exact details on the poll, but left off here due to potential SPOILERS!)
Barbarian
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Nope
Speak No Evil
Violent Night
Breakthrough Star
Amber Midthunder
Jenna Ortega
Eric Pennycoff
Taylor Russell
Joseph & Vanessa Winter
Best UK & Ireland Horror Festival
Celluloid Screams
Frightfest
Grimmfest
Mayhem
Soho Horror Festival
Best Media Outlet
Fishnets and Philosophy
Ghouls Magazine
The Evolution of Horror
The Final Girls
What a Scream
DIE DIE DIE award - for Championing Diversity, Inclusivity and Equity in Horror.
By decision of the UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group committee
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