Top 10 Best Horror Films of 2024
Nosferatu- Dir. Robert Eggers
The main reason for the delay in this lists release, Robert Eggers remake of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu had been my most anticipated of the year, and it did not disappoint. As a huge fan of Eggers filmography I’ve always appreciated his key attention to detail in historical accuracy as well as his commitment to immersing the audience. These traits are dialed up to 11 in Nosferatu with beautiful sets, eye catching costumes, and one of the most accurate takes on the titular monster from Bram Stokers Dracula. The film also features Oscar worthy performances from practically all it’s main players, most notably Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgard. You can read my indepth review on the film right here on my blog.
Nosferatu is currently in theaters.
2. The Substance- Dir. Coralie Fargeat
The provocative body horror flick The Substance was probably one of the biggest surprises for me all year in the best way possible. I had gone in knowing practically nothing plot-wise, no trailers, no research, just good old fashion word of mouth from the fine folks of the horror community. I think this was probably the best way to experience the film because from one moment to the next I had no idea what would happen, the film is like the rush of a drug soaked in blood and puss. The film delivers phenomenal back and forth performances between Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, in a primal and intense tug of war for dominance. The film also has a weirdly zany input from Dennis Quaid who seemed to think he was playing The Joker in most of his scenes. The films third act transforms into jaw dropping monster flick in the vein of The Toxic Avenger and The Fly. Go into this film as blindly as possible, it really is the best way to go about it.
The Substance is currently streaming on Mubi and available on VOD.
3. Late Night with the Devil- Dir. Cameron & Colin Cairnes
Late Night with the Devil became an anticipated watch for me for a number of reasons, the first being that I’m a sucker for 70s horror and horror flicks that take place in the 70s. The second reason being it put one of my favorite character actors David Dastmalchian in the leading role, having seen him bring a 110% into every project he’s in no matter the screentime, I was excited to see him tear into a meaty role like this. Late Night with the Devil follows a charismatic talk show host in the 1970s doing a Halloween special and pulling out all the stops in an attempt to save his ratings, no matter the cost. The film kept me on edge throughout and for the most part felt accurate to the subject matter.
Dastmalchian of course kills it as Jack Delroy and leaves me wanting him in more lead roles. My biggest gripes with the film come in its third act, where the immersion of it being a 1970s live broadcast talk show is thrown out the window in service of a trippy nightmare. The film also left some people sour with its use of generative AI for some of it’s cut away art and backdrops. Don’t get me wrong I am an adamant AI hater and really don’t like that this happened, but it’s important to remember that this was all shot and picture locked before the 2023 WGA strikes and before we all saw AI art as a genuine threat. None the less Late Night with the Devil is an entertaining and fun horror flick that comes in at just over 90 minutes, it’s also my most rewatchable film of the year as every time I go back for more I notice new things creeping in the background.
Late Night with the Devil is currently streaming on Shudder. You can read my review of it here.
4. Terrifier 3- Dir. Damien Leone
Terrifier 3 made waves with audiences both in and outside the horror community, deservedly so. I had the fortune of being able to attend the films world premiere at Fantastic Fest and the audience reactions spoke for themselves. The film brings the franchise to new heights, brining Lauren LeVera and David Howard Thornton back in a bloody battle where all bets are off and no body is safe. Terrifier 3 pushes the limits of gore and challenged both seasoned and casual genre fans in a way that hasn’t been seen in a long time. The film also made history by being the highest grossing unrated film to ever be released in theaters, and left audiences excited for what director Damien Leone’s twisted mind has in store next.
Terrifier 3 is currently streaming on Screambox and available on VOD. You can read my review of it here.
5. In a Violent Nature- Dir. Chris Nash
In a Violent Nature was a polarizing film for many parts of the horror community. The high concept slasher film brought us into the killers POV for practically the entire runtime, it allowed us to see what the scary masked killer does in between the intense and violent kills. The answer? Walking, lots of walking and stalking. I didn’t find this to be an issue though as the technical aspects of the film shine through the most in many of these scenes, with an abundant use of long takes, a creepy score and unspoken world building. Don’t get the wrong idea though, this film is still filled with violent and gory kills, all of which look to be done with Tom Savini inspired practical effects. Speaking of Tom Savini, In a Violent Nature is probably the closest thing we’ve had to a new Friday the 13th film being released in theaters in more than a decade.
In a Violent Nature is currently streaming on Shudder.
6. Abigail- Dir. Matt Bettineli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
While Nosferatu takes the number one spot, that doesn’t mean there’s not room for two vampire films on the list. Abigail, the Radio Silence teams take on a universal monster film follows a group of hired goons trapped in a manor with their hostage, who happens to be a bloodthirsty vampire. Originally titled as Dracula’s Daughter, Abigail brings a fun twist to the vampire sub-genre, this was expected as Matt and Tyler have a knack for the horror comedy blend with their previous films being Ready or Not and the last two Scream films. The films beating heart lies in its fantastic ensemble cast. My favorite performances of the film coming from Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens and Kathryn Newton, and while it’s early in the film there’s also a handful of great scenes from the late Angus Cloud. The films performances, fun set pieces and riveting fight choreography made this a treat to see in theaters.
Abigail is now streaming on Amazon Prime video.
7. Longlegs- Dir. Osgood Perkins
Unless you were living under a rock, you probably heard about this film before it even hit the silver screen. Longlegs had one of the best ad campaigns for a horror film since The Blair Witch Project, though it may have steered some audiences into expecting something far different than what was delivered. Many early reviews references Silence of the Lambs in comparison to Longlegs, leading many audiences into thinking the film would be a gritty and realistic serial killer man-hunt film. The actual film takes a wild departure from that adaptation, infusing voo-doo rituals and satanic magic into what started as a by the book crime film. This wasn’t an issue for me as the films performances alone make going along for ride worth it, add to that the films paranoia inducing cinematography and editing, I felt pleasantly unnerved on the drive home from the theater. This film also brings another tense and jaw-dropping performance from Nicholas Cage.
Longlegs is currently available on VOD. You can read my review here.
8. Alien: Romulus- Dir. Fede Alvarez
The latest installment to the long running Alien franchise left many people divided. While I feel the film overindulges on it’s nostalgia factors with a bunch of call backs and painfully obvious references, the films strongest force comes from the performances of Cailee Spaeney, David Johnson, and Isabela Merced. Johnson I feel needs to be singled out for his dynamic performance as Andy. His performance as an Android split between two different objectives felt like he was playing two different characters all together, he really is the heart and soul of the film. The films pacing takes us deeper and deeper into a dread inducing sci-fi nightmare, with a showstopping third act. The film also immersed me with it’s haunting sound design, forcing you to hear each echo and thud in the abandoned space station, knowing that something is approaching.
Alien: Romulus is streaming on Hulu.
9. V/H/S Beyond- Dir. Jordan Downey, Justin Long, Christian Long, Virat Pal, Kate Siegal, Justin Martinez and Jay Cheel
V/H/S Beyond takes the franchise to new heights, literally. The V/H/S franchise has grown a cult following since it’s debut film in 2012 and has been consistently putting out some high quality new additions to the franchise every year since 2021. Usually installments from the previous few coral the filmmakers to a certain year, this installment however let the filmmakers shoot for the stars with the only stipulation being to keep it within the sci-fi horror subgenre. What resulted is one of the wildest installments in the franchise. V/H/S Beyond keeps you on your toes from start to finish and has something for everyone. The first segment being like a first person shooter horror game come to life, followed by a historic bollywood story that felt like a spiritual sequel to one of my favorite V/H/S segments “Amateur Night”. The film also contains the directorial debut of actress Kate Siegal, and a wild animalistic body horror-comedy. This film is the definition of a mixed bag but everything in the bag is good, even the wraparound segment kept my attention despite it usually being the weakest parts of these films.
V/H/S Beyond is available to stream on Shudder. You can read my review here.
10. Smile 2- Dir. Parker Finn
When I first heard that 2022’s Smile was getting a sequel, I was admittedly hesitant about the idea. Smile had stuck the landing and kept me on edge with some of the most intense jumpscares I had seen in awhile (except for that one they spoiled in all the damn trailers). The film also had a perfectly tragic ending that felt like it would be tainted with a sequel. I’m happy to say I was incredibly wrong about this, as Smile 2 was a thrill ride I wasn’t expecting.
The film kicks off with probably my favorite opening to a horror film this year, and spirals into a tense nightmare at a neck-break pace. The films lead Naomi Scott absolutely kills it as troubled pop star Skye Riley, who finds herself to be the next victim of the first films entity. The film takes a lot of twists and turns that you as an audience member can’t help but second guess everything, this is only heightened by it’s eye-popping third act. The film does a great job making you feel an insane amount of sympathy and pity for the victim at hand, done through a concoction of well directed intentionally awkward scenes and Scotts acting chops. The film also has a wicked soundtrack.
Smile 2 is streaming on Paramount Plus.
Overall 2024 has been a strong year for the horror genre, with 2025 looking like a great follow up.
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