There have been a couple of incredible performances in horror movies as of late, but Mia Goth is the one that has everyone calling on the Academy to give her an Oscar nod. That’s because of her incredible performance in A24's Pearl, which ends with her character delivering one of the best-ever movie monologues.
When it comes to screenwriting, the prevailing wisdom is to show, not tell. Characters should show who they are by their actions and behavior, rather than flat-out telling the audience. But in the right place and at the right time, an expository monologue can be powerful, illustrative, and awesome. Especially within the horror genre.
Heather’s monologue, as she clutches a camera in the dark and apologizes to her parents, is perhaps the most iconic moment of The Blair Witch Project. Partway through Joe Dante’s Gremlins, after the titular creatures have taken over the town, one of our main characters decides to regale the audience with a story about why she hates Christmas. It turns out her father slipped and broke his neck while attempting to climb down the chimney dressed as Santa, and the body wasn't discovered until several days later. In her words, "and that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus." It's bizarrely macabre, but also extremely memorable.
How about Silent Night, Deadly night when Grandpa Chapman comes out of his coma, unbeknownst to the adults, and suddenly starts talking to his grandson Billy. His story comes as a warning, about how Christmas Eve is the scariest night of the year. It’s pure lunacy at its best.
Well, now you can add Mia Goth’s Pearl to the top of the heap of all-time great horror movie monologues. The ending is even scarier, with Pearl carefully placing the bodies of her parents at the dinner table and smiling as the credits roll.
