This past year was an interesting journey for horror movies, which started off weak to the point of nearly flatlining, especially at the box office; however, by mid-year a turning of the tide was in motion, with some more interesting films breathing life into the genre, and also serving as an unexpected but welcome prelude to a line-up of truly incredible movies released in the latter half of the year that were rightfully embraced by both critics and audiences alike. So, what better time than now for us to share our respective lists of what we believe to be the TOP 10 HORROR MOVIES OF 2024.
What are some of your favourite scary movies of 2024?
Rabbit in Red’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2024
1/ The Substance
Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is a masterclass in psychological body horror, offering an in-depth critique of celebrity culture, misogyny, substance abuse, and the relentless pursuit of youth. With Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley delivering career-defining performances, this film will provoke, disturb, and fascinate – often simultaneously. It’s a stylish, mind-bending adventure that gets more intriguing with each shocking turn.
2/ Strange Darling
Director J.T. Mollner’s Strange Darling is an electrifying horror thriller that expertly weaves twists and turns for an unforgettable viewing experience. Shot entirely in 35-millimeter, the film has a rich, cinematic aesthetic that perfectly complements its fresh concept and flawless performances. Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner shine as the multifaceted lead characters caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse. It’s a heart-pounding adventure that will hold you in suspense from start to finish.
3/ Smile 2
Building upon the original’s chilling foundation, Smile 2 amplifies the tension through skillful pacing, brilliant performances, and disturbing plot twists. Naomi Scott showcases her range and vulnerability as pop sensation Skye Riley, a complex and relatable protagonist whose downward spiral into madness is both captivating and unsettling. From its heart-pounding opening to its adrenaline-fueled conclusion, the film delivers non-stop thrills and guarantees a wild ride.
4/ MaXXXine
As the thrilling final chapter of Ti West’s X trilogy, MaXXXine grabs your attention from the first scene with its electrifying energy, transporting you into a world of stylish, retro horror. Spotlighting 1980s Los Angeles, this giallo-inspired murder mystery flawlessly blends horror, drama, and dark comedy genres, delivering a wildly entertaining ride. While prioritizing style over substance, MaXXXine still manages to shine as a fun, popcorn romp, thanks to the talents of Mia Goth and the entire filmmaking team involved.
5/ Twisters
Twisters is a throwback to the classic summer blockbuster, with a perfect blend of thrills, excitement, and humor. This wildly entertaining sequel knows exactly what it is and leans into it, delivering an action-packed ride that begins with an intense opening sequence that immediately pulls you in. With a great soundtrack, featuring songs by Shania Twain, Benson Boone and Miranda Lambert, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, Twisters is a must-see for fans of the original.
6/ Abigail
The Radio Silence team, with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, prove they’ve still got it with Abigail, a bloody vampire flick with lots of laughs and thrills. While not the most revolutionary of concepts, the film still feels fresh in ways and keeps you engaged throughout its nearly 2-hour runtime. With skillfully crafted tension, a gifted cast and an eerie atmosphere, Abigail is a tremendously entertaining experience, especially in a theatre setting.
7/ Heretic
Heretic is a chilling exploration of the complexities of religion, free will, and control. Impressive acting and thought-provoking dialogue masterfully craft a sense of dread that permeates the film. Hugh Grant sends shivers down your spine as the diabolical Mr. Reed, a departure from his typical roles, while Sophie Tatcher and Chloe East devlier strong performances as the protagonists. With its tense atmosphere and claustrophobic setting, Heretic hits on all fronts for a psychological horror film.
8/ Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil, an American reimagining of the 2022 Danish thriller, builds tension through a slow-burning narrative that expertly balances suspense, chills, and cringe-worthy awkwardness, keeping viewers on edge. James McAvoy steals the show with a captivating performance, making this fresh take even more satisfying than the original.
9/ Longlegs
Longlegs, directed by Oz Perkins, is a chilling cinematic experience that will linger on minds long after watching. Though some plot points may be uneven, the film expertly delivers tension and dread. With outstanding performances and a haunting atmosphere, Longlegs stands out as a top horror experience of the year.
10/ Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Tim Burton’s unique style is brought to life again in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, an entertaining sequel with beautifully crafted production design and visual effects. Michael Keaton seamlessly slips back into his iconic role, looking and acting as if no time has passed. Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder stand out the most, and Jenna Ortega proves a valuable addition to the cast, bringing a fresh vibe. With its blend of humor, nostalgia, and spooks, this film is not to be missed for fans of the original.
Scarlett O’Scara’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2024
1/ Strange Darling
This nonlinear indie horror is pretty much flawless in every possible way, with an exceptionally written (and directed) script by JT Mollner, sensational performances from leads Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner, perfect direction, an exhilarating music score, and atmospheric cinematography. An awesome achievement, and the sort of film that the less you know about it before seeing it, the better.
2/ The Substance
A movie which has substance, style, and soooo much Moore, as in Demi, who offers up an incredible, career-best performance in writer-director Coralie Fargeat’s body horror masterpiece. I honestly can’t stop thinking about this delectably bonkers movie, and I hope the Academy can’t either when it comes to Oscar nominations in (at least) Actress, Screenplay, and Make-Up categories; Director and Picture would be nice, too.
3/ Smile 2
Writer-director Parker Finn’s entertaining and often deliciously gory sequel to my fave horror movie of 2022 begins with a banger of an opening scene (featuring can-do-no-wrong Kyle Gallner) and then launches into an interesting storyline involving Naomi Scott’s struggling pop star, who delivers an awesome performance. Lukas Gage also shines in a brief but pivotal role. Is the ambitious Smile 2 better than the original? I’m still trying to decide that myself, but I think it just might be.
4/ Alien: Romulus
Director and co-writer Fede Alvarez, no stranger to the horror genre (2013’s wickedly effective Evil Dead remake, and masterful Don’t Breathe in 2016) delivers the goods in this latest addition to the ALIEN franchise, with an intelligent script, a young, talented cast who are totally invested in the material, especially Final-Girl-In-Space Caillee Spaeny, and David Jonsson, incredible sets, and plenty of nicely executed frights that build towards an awesome, intense finale. This is the kind of movie that will make you consider revisiting the rest of the Alien films, it’s that good.
5/ Nosferatu
Inspired by Bram Stoker’s literary classic, and the screenplay of the silent movie classic Nosferatu (1922), Robert Eggers’ admirable creation is an atmospheric, elevated vision of both, made even better by the beyond brilliant cinematography of Eggers’ long-time collaborator Jarin Blaschke. And don’t even get me started on the performances of the talented cast, which includes an unrecognizable Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe.
6/ Exhuma
The South Korean film Exhuma finds a team of four supernatural experts discovering some very dangerous consequences following their excavation of a grave that is as deadly as it is ominous. This intelligently written, directed and acted movie builds in atmosphere and suspense towards a hugely satisfying finale, quite an accomplishment for a movie with a running time of 135 minutes. And although in North America it only grossed around $2.5 million, its global haul is close to $100 million.
7/ Heretic
Religion is a theme in 2024 that horror wore more like a badge of honor than a cross to bear, and Heretic explores the theme in an entertaining, thought-provoking and effective manner, all thanks to a clever script, smart direction, two impressive performances from Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, and especially Hugh Grant, who pretty much runs away with the film in a complicated role that is as deliciously far removed from his romcom resume as you can get.
8/ MadS
OMD (as in “Oh. Mon. Dieu.”)!! This French horror film is truly something special. Writer-director David Moreau’s movie wastes little time in revealing what horror sub-genre it will be exploring, and then spends the rest of its running time turning that sub-genre on its head in the best, most innovative, refreshing and thrilling way. What is equally remarkable is that MadS appears to have been filmed in real time, and without any edits or scene cuts; it’s one (89 minutes) long tracking shot, and another reason to be impressed by the movie. And kudos to the young cast who are fully invested in their demanding roles.
9/ The First Omen
Horror stepped back in time to the 1970s this year with both Late Night with The Devil and The First Omen being set in that dreamy decade of disco, denim and THE DEVIL! For me the latter film is the more successful of the two, with an effective, well-written, directed, filmed and acted prequel to the classic original The Omen (1976) that masterfully delivers a truly memorable origin story for devilish Damien.
10/ Slay
In this splendid horror-comedy plenty goes wrong for its four drag queens, inadvertently booked into a biker bar in the middle of nowhere being the least of their problems; however, plenty goes VERY right for this movie’s audience, especially when a growing army of thirsty vampires is thrown into the mix. Slay lives up to its title by infusing new blood into the familiar vampire horror sub-genre, all the while providing plenty of LOL moments with some hilarious, bitchy dialogue perfectly served up by the talented cast, and quietly delivering an important message or two in the process.