Horror cinema has experienced a remarkable renaissance over the past few years. From the psychological dread of Ari Aster's Midsommar to the visceral terror of Danny and Michael Philippou's Talk to Me, the genre is thriving with fresh voices and boundary-pushing storytelling. Audiences have become increasingly invested in not just the scares but also the performers who bring these nightmares to life. The debate over who deserves the titles of new scream kings and queens is fierce, with names like Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega dominating conversations. Yet there is one actress who is consistently left out of the discussion: Kiernan Shipka. Through a string of horror roles spanning television and film, Shipka has proven time and again that she possesses the range, charisma, and sheer command of the screen that defines a true scream queen. It is time to correct this oversight.
'Totally Killer' Showcased Kiernan Shipka's Scream Queen Abilities
Shipka's most recent foray into horror comes with the Prime Video film Totally Killer, directed by Nahnatchka Khan. In this slasher-comedy, Shipka plays Jamie Hughes, a modern teenager who accidentally travels back in time to 1987 to stop a serial killer from murdering her mother and three other young women. The film brilliantly balances laugh-out-loud humor with genuine suspense, and Shipka is the linchpin that holds it all together. Her performance is wonderfully smug yet vulnerable, capturing the voice of contemporary youth clashing with the retro sensibilities of the 1980s. She handles the comedic banter with ease, whether mocking her parents' generation or navigating awkward interactions with horny teenagers. But when the horror escalates, Shipka shifts seamlessly into panic mode, portraying fear with raw authenticity. The climactic confrontation inside a spinning Gravitron ride is a standout moment—a vertigo-inducing sequence that relies heavily on Shipka's physicality and emotional intensity. Director Khan has publicly called Shipka a "legend" and predicted she will achieve great things, and this performance fully justifies that praise.
Before 'Totally Killer', Kiernan Shipka Starred as Sabrina Spellman in 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'
Many viewers first encountered Shipka's horror prowess in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a dark reimagining of the Archie Comics character that ran for four seasons from 2018 to 2020. The show embraced campy melodrama, occult imagery, and supernatural thrills, and Shipka anchored it all as the half-witch, half-mortal Sabrina Spellman. Taking over a role famously played by Melissa Joan Hart in the 1990s sitcom was a daunting challenge, but Shipka made it entirely her own. She portrayed Sabrina as a determined, rebellious young woman wrestling with her dark lineage and her desire to protect her friends and family. Across multiple storylines involving demons, eldritch horrors, and the devil himself (played by Luke Cook), Shipka sold every moment of absurdity with conviction. The series may have had inconsistent writing, but her performance never wavered. She brought emotional depth to moments of terror and triumph, making viewers believe in a world where magic and murder coexist. It is telling that even critics who disliked the show praised Shipka's commitment. Her work on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina should have been enough to crown her a scream queen, yet the recognition remains elusive.
Kiernan Shipka Has a Deeper History With the Horror Genre
Beyond these two high-profile roles, Shipka's filmography reveals a consistent pattern of choosing horror projects that challenge her. In 2015, she starred in Oz Perkins' atmospheric debut The Blackcoat's Daughter (originally titled February). The film is a slow-burn psychological horror about two girls stranded at a remote boarding school over winter break, one of whom becomes possessed by a demonic entity. Shipka plays Kat, a quiet, melancholic student who gradually succumbs to the possession. Her performance is restrained and haunting—she conveys demonic influence not through histrionics but through subtle shifts in posture and expression. Paired with Lucy Boynton, Shipka delivered one of the most understated yet powerful horror performances of the 2010s. The film has since gained a cult following, and it stands as a testament to her ability to work within atmospheric, artistic horror.
In 2019, Shipka starred in The Silence, a Netflix horror film about a family surviving an invasion of sound-attuned creatures. While the movie was widely criticized as a weak imitation of A Quiet Place, Shipka's portrayal of a deaf teenager struggling to protect her family was heartfelt and convincing. She learned sign language for the role and brought empathy to a character that could easily have been a cliché. Even in a lesser film, she elevated the material through sheer professionalism and talent. Other horror-adjacent credits include a guest role in the Netflix anthology Creepshow and appearances in the psychological thriller The Last Summer. Each project, whether successful or not, showcases her willingness to tackle the genre from different angles—comedy, drama, slasher, supernatural, and even creature features.
What Will It Take for Shipka to Be Recognized as a Scream Queen?
Given her extensive horror résumé, why is Kiernan Shipka so often overlooked in conversations about new scream queens? One factor is the nature of her projects. Many of her horror roles have been in television series or streaming films that do not command the same prestige as major theatrical releases. Mia Goth gained widespread acclaim for her dual role in X and Pearl, both of which were critical darlings. Jenna Ortega became the face of the Scream franchise and also appeared in X and Wednesday. These actors have benefited from high-profile, often gory films that scream queen status traditionally demands. Shipka, by contrast, has been more associated with campy series (Sabrina) and smaller atmospheric films (The Blackcoat's Daughter). Horror comedies like Totally Killer are often dismissed as lightweight entertainment, not the stuff of legendary horror performances.
Yet the definition of a scream queen is evolving. The term originated with actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis, who starred in straightforward slasher films such as Halloween. Today, the genre encompasses a much wider range of tones and styles. Shipka's ability to navigate from the quirky horror-comedy of Totally Killer to the somber possession drama of The Blackcoat's Daughter proves she has the versatility to wear the crown. She also possesses the distinct qualities of a scream queen: she is memorable, she commands the screen, and she makes audiences genuinely care about her characters' survival. Her role as the literal daughter of Satan in Sabrina is an ironic nod to the genre's history of demonic heroines.
Perhaps what Shipka truly needs is a defining, iconic horror film that reaches a wide audience and becomes a cultural touchstone. A role in a major slasher franchise (like a future Scream or Halloween installment) or a lead in a highly anticipated horror blockbuster could cement her status. Until then, it is the responsibility of critics and fans to reassess her body of work and give her the recognition she deserves. Kiernan Shipka is not just a promising young actress—she is already a seasoned scream queen in waiting. Her performances in Totally Killer, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Blackcoat's Daughter, and beyond are testaments to her talent and her deep understanding of fear. Horror is richer for having her in its ranks, and it is time we stopped sleeping on her contributions to the genre.
Totally Killer is currently streaming on Prime Video. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is available on Netflix. The Blackcoat's Daughter can be rented or purchased on major digital platforms.
Source: Collider News