Emilia Clarke’s Haunting Turns in Horror That Might Leave You Sleeping with the Lights On
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Emilia Clarke may forever be etched in pop culture as Game of Thrones’ fiery Daenerys Targaryen, but her career beyond Westeros has ventured into darker, more unsettling territory. While she’s explored romance, drama, and comedy, Clarke has also dipped into horror and psychological thrillers — with a few roles chilling enough to make even her most devoted fans “too scared to sleep alone.”
Voice from the Stone (2017): Tuscany’s Ghostly Whispers
Among Clarke’s creepiest projects is Voice from the Stone, a slow-burn psychological thriller set in 1950s Tuscany. Clarke plays Verena, a nurse charged with helping a mute boy named Jakob, whose silence seems tied to the mysterious death of his mother. As Verena attempts to reach him, she finds herself drawn into an eerie web of supernatural forces.
The film’s trailer, which Teen Vogue warned might have viewers reaching for the light switch, set the tone for an atmospheric, spine-tingling watch. Critics were divided, but many praised Clarke’s vulnerability and emotional depth, noting how her performance grounded the ghostly tension. The combination of a haunting location, unnerving sound design, and an unraveling mystery has kept the film in horror fans’ conversations — and on lists of movies that can make you glance over your shoulder at night.
Murder Manual (2020): Shackled and Unsettling
Clarke returned to the genre in the horror anthology Murder Manual, starring in the segment “Shackled.” In it, she plays Malu, a woman imprisoned in a circus who must grapple with both physical captivity and the psychological scars of her past. While the film as a whole received mixed reviews, Clarke’s portrayal stood out for its intensity and emotional rawness, proving her ability to bring dimension to even the most surreal and disturbing setups.
Murder Manual leans into macabre imagery and psychological dread, marking a departure from the gothic elegance of Voice from the Stone and revealing another facet of Clarke’s horror range.
Horror’s Lingering Grip on Clarke’s Legacy
In 2025, Clarke hasn’t released any new horror projects — her upcoming work, such as An Ideal Wife, is steering toward drama — but her past forays into the genre continue to find fresh audiences. Voice from the Stone in particular has enjoyed a resurgence in retrospectives and fan discussions, cementing it as the definitive example of Clarke’s ability to meld fear and empathy onscreen.
Though her horror résumé is brief, these films highlight her willingness to dive into psychologically complex roles set against unsettling backdrops. For fans eager to see Clarke in a different light — or in this case, in the shadows — Voice from the Stone remains a go-to recommendation.
Even years later, it’s the kind of movie that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, and maybe, just maybe, makes you check that the bedroom door is locked before turning out the lights.
