The UK and Ireland Horror Critics Group has announced the nominees for the 2024 Golden Claw awards.
The most nominations went to Evil Dead Rise and Talk To Me, who are tied on 12 nominations each.
Just behind them are Godzilla Minus One (8 nominations), When Evil Lurks (6 nominations) and Infinity Pool (5 nominations).
The UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group was founded in 2022.
They host the Golden Claw Awards to celebrate the best of horror cinema from the last 12 months – from cinemas, VOD and festivals.
The Golden Claws are presented in partnership with Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club, and are designed to boost the perspectives of UK & Irish horror critics.
The 2024 Golden Claw winners will be announced at a central London location on March 23.
All horror film critics based in the UK or Ireland are eligible to vote – ballots have been circulated, with additional ballots available from the Group upon request.
The UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group, and the Golden Claws, can be followed online at twitter.com/UKIHorror and www.horrorcritics.group
The UK & Ireland Horror Critics Group’s current standing committee is Tim Coleman, Andrew Pope, Zoë Rose Smith
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””
Andrew says: “”This is an exciting time for horror movies, and that shows in the list of nominees. 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!”
Zoe says: “’I’m incredibly excited about the Golden Claw Awards because there is just so much phenomenal horror out there right now.”
Last year the big winners were Nope (Best Director – Jordan Peele, Best Visual Effects, Best Looking), Barbarian (Best Cinema Release, Best Supporting Performance – Justin Long), X (Lead Performance – Mia Goth), Hypochondriac (Best Horror on the Festival Circuit, Best Screenplay), The Harbinger (Most Atmospheric Film, Scariest Film), and Jenna Ortega (Breakthrough Award – Scream V, X, Wednesday, Studio 666). The award for Best UK or Irish Horror Film was a split decision, going to both Alex Garland’s Men and Kate Dolan’s You Are Not My Mother.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES FOR THE 2024 GOLDEN CLAW AWARDS
Best Film with a UK or Ireland Cinema Release
Evil Dead Rise
Godzilla Minus One
Infinity Pool
Pearl
Talk To Me
Best Film to go Straight To VOD in the UK/Ireland*
*or with a very limited cinema release
El Conde
Huesera: The Bone Woman
No One Will Save You
Raging Grace
When Evil Lurks
Best Film on the Festival Circuit*
*and not released in cinemas or on VOD by the end of January 2024
Late Night With The Devil
The Moor
New Life
Red Rooms
The Coffee Table
Best UK or Irish Horror Film
Attachment
Hostile Dimensions
How To Kill Monsters
Raging Grace
The Moor
Best Film Not In The English Language
El Conde
Godzilla Minus One
Huesera: The Bone Woman
The Coffee Table
When Evil Lurks
Best TV Show
Black Mirror (Season 6)
Dead Ringers
Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder
The Fall Of The House Of Usher
The Last Of Us
Best Lead Performance
Tobin Bell – Saw X
Russell Crowe – The Pope’s Exorcist
Kaitlyn Dever – No One Will Save You
Max Eigenmann – Raging Grace
Mia Goth – Pearl
Ryunosuke Kamiki – Godzilla Minus One
Joaquin Phoenix – Beau Is Afraid
Nick Stahl – What You Wish For
Alyssa Sutherland – Evil Dead Rise
Sophie Wilde – Talk To Me
Best Supporting Performance
Joe Bird – Talk To Me
Jaeden Paige Boadilla – Raging Grace
Nicholas Cage – Renfield
David Corenswet – Pearl
Morgan Davies – Evil Dead Rise
Patrick Dempsey – Thanksgiving
Mia Goth – Infinity Pool
Patti Lupone – Beau Is Afraid
Lily Sullivan – Evil Dead Rise
Zoe Terakes – Talk To Me
Best Director
Ari Aster – Beau Is Afraid
Lee Cronin – Evil Dead Rise
Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou – Talk To Me
Demián Rugna – When Evil Lurks
Takashi Yamazaki – Godzilla Minus One
Best Screenplay
Michelle Garza Cervera and Abia Castillo – Huesera: The Bone Woman
Lee Cronin – Evil Dead Rise
Danny Philippou – Talk To Me
Ti West and Mia Goth – Pearl
Takashi Yamazaki – Godzilla Minus One
Best Cinematography
Dave Garbett – Evil Dead Rise
Karim Hussain – Infinity Pool
Aaron McLisky – Talk To Me
Kōzō Shibasaki – Godzilla Minus One
Mariano Suárez – When Evil Lurks
Best Visual and Special Effects
Jon Campfens, Beau Parsons, Simon Han and Cailin Munroe – Saw X
Liam Neville and Caoimhe Maguire – Evil Dead Rise
Peter ‘Babylon’ Owens, Marty Pepper, Dylan Browne and Sharna Hackett – Talk To Me
Andy Robinson, Ádám Szücs and Dan Martin – Infinity Pool
Takashi Yamazaki and Kiyoko Shibuya – Godzilla Minus One
Best Score
Tim Hecker – Infinity Pool
Bobby Krlic – Beau Is Afraid
Stephen McKeon – Evil Dead Rise
Naoki Sato – Godzilla Minus One
Cornell Wilczek – Talk To Me
Scariest Horror Film
Evil Dead Rise
Huesera: The Bone Woman
Red Rooms
Talk To Me
When Evil Lurks
Best Kill* (Warning – SPOILERS!)
Evil Dead Rise – Marauder deadite vs wood chipper
Saw X – Brain surgery trap
Scream VI – Shaky ladder
Thanksgiving – Turkey in the oven
When Evil Lurks – Dog vs child
*One of these is arguably (?) not a kill, but the demand from Critics Group members to include it was overwhelming.
Breakout Star Award
Judah Lewis – Suitable Flesh
M3gan (yes, the character) – M3gan
Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou (directors) – Talk To Me
Alyssa Sutherland – Evil Dead Rise
Sophie Wilde – Talk to Me
Best UK or Irish Horror Media Outlet
Dead Meat (podcast)
Evolution of Horror (podcast)
Ghouls Magazine (site)
Horror Queers (podcast)
Moving Pictures Film Club (podcast)