2024 was another strong year for horror. As the genre continues to befuddle mainstream studios at the box office…creative talent continues to push the boundaries of what horror can be. Theaters were filled with imaginative horror like Out of Darkness, Lisa Frankenstein, Lovely, Dark and Deep, Sting, Immaculate, The First Omen, Arcadian, I Saw the TV Glow, In a Violent Nature, Cuckoo, Alien: Romulus, Blink Twice, Speak No Evil, Never Let Go, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Azrael, Terrifier 3, Smile 2, Heretic and plenty more.
Video on Demand was no slouch either. Sleep, Invoking Yell, Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, First Time Caller, Somewhere Quiet, Monolith, Cold Meat, Frogman, Faceless After Dark, The Coffee Table, Ganymede, Little Bites, The Vourdalak and Frankie Freako all made their way into homes via the format.
Of course, streaming services had their day in the sun as well. Netflix gave us Home For Rent, Indigo, Lumberjack the Monster, Don’t Move and It’s What’s Inside. Stalwart horror platform Shudder delivered You’ll Never Find Me, Infested, The Demon Disorder, Daddy’s Head, Humane and V/H/S/Beyond. Not to be outdone, SCREAMBOX brought us Here For Blood, The Funeral, We Are Zombies, Body Parts, Cryptids and Haunted Ulster Live. Even Tubi (Lowlifes) and Hulu (Mr. Crocket) housed memorable offerings.
Of course, none of these films cracked our annual Top 10. That’s why they’re all in the unlabeled honorable mention section. Any movie that was widely available in The United States for the first time in 2024 was eligible. If it debuted at a festival or in another country prior to 2024…but was released in the US for the first time in 2024…it is eligible. If it made the festival rounds in 2024 but hasn’t seen a release of some kind during the year…it won’t be eligible. That goes for the Scare Value Awards as well.
This year’s top ten features movies released theatrically, on demand and via streaming services. If you need further proof that great horror has returned to cinemas…wait until you see how many of this year’s top ten horror movies you could have seen in a mainstream theater in 2024.
Presented in alphabetical order. Write-ups may contain spoilers.
The Top Ten Horror Movies of 2024
Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil fully commits to its idea. The result is a movie as unique as it is wildly entertaining. For all of its style and tricks…it’s Dastmalchian’s performance as the ambitious late-night host that steals the show. It’s the role of a lifetime. One that could have easily slipped into parody in lesser hands. Dastmalchian feels perfectly at home.
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Longlegs
Osgood Perkins finds a good fit for his patient approach to storytelling. Nicolas Cage gets to showcase some fine Nicolas Cage-ing. Despite its dark and suspenseful tone…Longlegs puts some genuinely funny flourishes into its slowly unrolling drama. Maika Monroe is in fine form as always. Blair Underwood turns in a performance that makes you wonder why people haven’t been casting him in meatier parts. It all blends together into an engaging psychological horror thriller worthy of the buzz.
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Love Will Tear Us Apart
Anyone expecting something similar to Ugana’s wild Visitors may feel disappointed to learn that Love Will Tear Us Apart is fairly grounded. … Perhaps I should say “comparatively” grounded. It’s still crazier than your average movie. The tonal shift allows the wild moments to shine even brighter. A fun movie full of unexpected moments. Ugana has emerged as a must watch filmmaker.
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MadS
Energy is the name of the game in MadS. Much of it is achieved through the film’s one-take presentation…but the story itself has plenty to spare. One standout performance dominates the middle of the picture as the movie itself continues to ramp up the craziness. It may end up in familiar places…but it gets there in the most exciting ways possible. A good concept and an even better technical achievement.
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Nosferatu
Eggers is the king of marrying style to substance. His Nosferatu is no different. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who deems his version the definitive take on Bram Stoker’s tale…even if the film he’s remaking would argue that it wasn’t taking from it in the first place. The highest quality production values, great performances, a prolonged sense of dread…Nosferatu is everything we’ve come to expect from Robert Eggers.
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Oddity
Shudder’s great year rolls on with another very good original offering. Oddity mixes a haunted house with a revenge story and enhances both sides of the equation. You’ll have to wait a while for the movie to make its way to Shudder…but it is well worth watching in theaters. You’ll be able to solve the puzzle once all of the pieces are laid on the table…but that doesn’t dull the effectiveness of each piece added to it.
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A Quiet Place: Day One
I don’t want to use the phrase “better than it has any right to be” about A Quiet Place: Day One…but it would probably fit. Prequels are getting better lately. That doesn’t make Day One any less of a triumph. It allows both the drama of the story and the threat of the movie to stand out. Those looking for a creature feature will find some terrific set pieces to enjoy. Those craving something deeper that will resonate more emotionally…will find even more.
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Stopmotion
This is an incredibly original work that demands your attention. A consistently surprising story, a fearless performance, a brutal examination of the relationship between an artist and their work. It provides a second examination…the one between art and audience. Be sure to be a part of that audience
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Strange Darling
Strange Darling is a difficult movie to talk about. You really have to go in with no prior knowledge to fully enjoy the wild ride it has in store. Shuffling up the scenes in the story allow it play out in a more exciting way than normal. It may tip you off on some aspects of the movie that are better left as a surprise. That’s why I told you not to read this review…or any review…until you see the movie for yourself. Which you should definitely do.
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The Substance
A positive buzz has surrounded The Substance since it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. The buzz undersold it. Demi Moore is extraordinary as the aging starlet who goes to extreme lengths to get back on top. Maragaret Qualley matches her energy as the newer model who will go even further to keep her spot. For two acts, The Substance is an engaging showcase for the two leads. Then the third act comes. The movie unleashes one of the wildest climaxes you’ll ever see in a mainstream theater. Seriously. You’ll question if this is really happening. You’ll wonder if the actors finished reading the script before signing on. Most of all, you’ll see one of the best endings of the year…attached to one of the best movies of the year.
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Related Links
The Top Ten Horror Movies of 2022
The Top Ten Horror Movies of 2023
