Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners and The Substance are at the forefront of the 2025 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards nominations, each securing 10 nods. These awards, recognizing excellence in horror across film, television, and gaming, highlight the most compelling genre projects released between July 2024 and June 2025.
The Chainsaw Awards were created to honor horror works often overlooked by mainstream ceremonies. This year, both movies compete in major categories, underscoring their significant impact within the horror community.
Competition and Nominations Breakdown
Sinners and The Substance are both nominated for best wide release, best cinematography, best score, best director, best screenplay, and best costume design. Their lead and supporting actors also appear among nominees. Both films face competition from titles like Strange Darling, Cuckoo, The Ugly Stepsister, 28 Years Later, and Longlegs.
Additionally, the nominations cover diverse categories such as best streaming premiere, best kill, and best creature effects, reflecting the wide scope of the horror genre recognized by the Chainsaw Awards.
Insights from Industry Leaders and Organizers
Phil Nobile Jr., Fangoria’s Editor-in-Chief, commented on the nomination process:
“This year we continue the new tradition of pitting the second half of last year with the first half of this year in a cage match of cinematic carnage,”
and added,
“Like the Grammys, but gorier. It’s made for a rather chaotic list of nominees, and we expect the voting to be vicious and voluminous.”
Michael Varrati, writer and director of the Chainsaw Awards, highlighted the importance of fan involvement in the final outcome:
“One of the most exciting aspects of putting this show together each year is knowing that it all comes down to the fans. Until the votes are cast, there’s always an element of the unknown,”
he said.
“This year’s nominees represent a wide and diverse range of stories and artistry from across the genre. I encourage horror fans to vote, because their voice, their love of a film, could be the thing that makes all the difference.”
Selection Process and Past Recipients
The nominees were selected by a panel comprising more than 150 industry tastemakers, creators, and professionals who evaluated horror releases within the eligible period. Established in 1992, the Chainsaw Awards have recognized influential figures such as Wes Craven, Lupita Nyong’o, Alyssa Sutherland, and Anthony Hopkins, marking the event’s lasting significance in honoring horror achievements.
Upcoming Announcement and Broadcast Details
The award winners will be announced during an October broadcast on Shudder, providing horror fans an opportunity to see the results of their voting and celebrate the genre’s best offerings of the year.
Complete List of 2025 Film Nominees
Best Wide Release
28 Years Later
Bring Her Back
Final Destination: Bloodlines
Heretic
Longlegs
Nosferatu
Sinners
Strange Darling
The Substance
The Ugly Stepsister
Best Limited Release Movie
Azrael
Frankie Freako
Freaky Tales
Get Away
Little Bites
Best Streaming Premiere
Best Wishes to All
Blink Twice
Cannibal Mukbang
Gazer
Mr. Crocket
Best International Movie
Cuckoo
Dangerous Animals
Oddity
Red Rooms
The Ugly Stepsister
Best First Feature
Best Wishes to All
Blink Twice
Cannibal Mukbang
Mr. Crocket
The Ugly Stepsister
Best Lead Performance
Lily-Rose Depp, Nosferatu
Willa Fitzgerald, Strange Darling
Sally Hawkins, Bring Her Back
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Maika Monroe, Longlegs
Demi Moore, The Substance
Lea Myren, The Ugly Stepsister
Hunter Schafer, Cuckoo
Naomi Scott, Smile 2
Sophie Thatcher, Companion
Best Supporting Performance
Nicolas Cage, Longlegs
Miles Caton, Sinners
Ralph Fiennes, 28 Years Later
Hugh Grant, Heretic
David Jonsson, Alien: Romulus
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Jack O’Connell, Sinners
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Bill Skarsgård, Nosferatu
Dan Stevens, Cuckoo
Best Director
Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Robert Eggers, Nosferatu
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Osgood Perkins, Longlegs
Best Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Andres Arochi, Longlegs
Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu
Benjamin Kracun, The Substance
Anthony Dod Mantle, 28 Years Later
Best Score
Robin Carolan, Nosferatu
Ludwig Göransson, Sinners
Raffertie, The Substance
Young Fathers, 28 Years Later
Zilgi, Longlegs
Best Costume Design
Ruth E. Carter, Sinners
Linda Muir, Nosferatu
Manon Rasmussen, The Ugly Stepsister
Eliot Rockett, MaXXXine
Emmanuelle Youchnovski, The Substance
Best Makeup FX
Felix Fox, Harlow MacFarlane, Werner Pretorius, Longlegs
Damien Leone, Terrifier 3
John Nolan, 28 Years Later
Pierre Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, The Substance
David White, Traci Loader, Nosferatu
Best Creature FX
Paul McDonnell, Oddity
Millennium FX / Morphology / Studio Gillis, Smile 2
Pierre Olivier Persin, The Substance
Studio Gillis, Werewolves
Legacy Effects / Studio Gillis / Wētā Workshop, Alien: Romulus
Additional Categories Highlighting Genre Diversity
Best Documentary Feature nominations include Doc of Chucky, Generation Terror, George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, In Search of Darkness: 1990 – 1994, and Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic.
Best Non-Fiction TV Series or Miniseries contenders are The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, Horror’s Greatest, The Last Drive-In, and Svengoolie.
Best Series nominees cover acclaimed shows such as The Creep Tapes, From, The Last of Us, Squid Game, and Yellowjackets.
Best Video Game recognizes titles including Death Stranding 2, Mouthwashing, Silent Hill 2 Remake, Slitterhead, and Sorry We’re Closed.
Best Public Domain Resurrection honors Popeye’s Revenge, Mousetrap, Popeye the Slayer Man, Screamboat, Shiver Me Timbers, and Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Ryan Coogler’s religion?
A. Religion is a fresh topic in Coogler’s films, although he finds its impact throughout his work. Raised as a Baptist, he went to Catholic schools. Before his birth, three of his grandparents passed away. He found it interesting how his parents spoke about staying connected to them.
