Another year has ended and it has been another year of some great horror movies. There was something for everyone this year especially when it comes to creativity. We had independent movies show up at the box office. We had aging actors put in some of the best work of their careers. We had demonic possession, movies about serial killers, movies about killer animals, and much much more. Horror is an outlet for many people and has always been what I love talking about most. That said, here are the top 10 horror movies of 2024.
10. Infested
Infested is pretty terrifying, especially if you are not a fan of spiders. This movie has a lot of them. The story is about a guy named Kaleb who is passionate about exotic animals. He brings a venomous spider to his apartment but it soon escapes. Now Kaleb and the people living in his apartment have to battle a huge cluster of dangerous rapidly reproducing spiders.
This movie is electric from beginning to end. It starts with a bang and doesn’t stop. This is a French-language film, but despite the language barrier, it does a good job of bringing us good character development and clever scares. The characters have to go through many different situations to try to escape this building, and almost every scene is filled with tension and some fun spider effects. Infested is available on Shudder.
9. A Quiet Place: Day One
When the first Quiet Place movie came out everyone seemed to love it. It was a clever idea filled with tension, strong performances, and scares. The sequel came out, and even though it was well received, the thought that this could become stale quickly did occur to me. “A Quiet Place: Day One” gladly does something fresh with the concept.
The movie stars Lupita Nyong’o as a terminally ill patient during the early stages of the invasion. We get to see how and what it looked like when the world went to hell. Granted, we still don’t get much information about the creatures but it doesn’t make the movie any less great. The city setting is welcomed because it is much harder to be quiet in a big city. Lupita gives a strong performance as someone who isn’t necessarily trying to escape the creatures but as someone who is trying to get what she wants out of life before the creatures get her. The movie was a pleasant surprise and is currently streaming on Paramount Plus.
8. Alien: Romulus
The Alien Franchise is one of the most beloved horror/thriller/action franchises. The first two movies are considered masterpieces by many and it seems like studios have been trying to recreate that ever since. This is easily the best Alien film since those first two.
A group of young space colonists who try to escape a doomed life on a mining planet come face to face with one of the most terrifying creatures alive. The thing this movie does best is to bring things back to basics. A lot of the newer Alien films throw too many ideas at you and they just end up feeling empty. Alien: Romulus is scary, well-directed, and has great moments. This proves that sometimes a smaller thriller can revive a franchise by bringing it back to its roots. The movie is currently streaming on Hulu.
7. Lowlifes
A family on vacation in their RV encounters two hillbillies. They are forced to stay at their home and soon have to fight for survival. Honestly, sometimes a plot can be so simple, and yet the film can be done so very well.
There is a twist that comes 20 minutes into the movie (and I will not spoil it) which it makes the rest of the film an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. The twist is what made this movie land on my list. This movie is well-acted and well-shot throughout. A family fighting for survival has been done before but it hasn’t been done like this. We root for multiple characters to fight and survive and we as an audience are hit with several twists that leave us needing to see how everything ends. “Lowlifes” is now streaming on Tubi. I am impressed that Tubi put out such a good horror film.
6. It’s What’s Inside
Some streaming services, which are not known for putting out good horror movies, are doing some incredible things this year. A group of college friends gets together for a pre-wedding party. The party soon turns into a psychological nightmare when a surprise guest brings a machine that allows them to switch bodies.
This movie is a trainwreck in the best way possible. If you suddenly were able to switch bodies with someone else, what would you do? What starts as a fun party game soon turns into a night of betrayal, extortion, and backstabbing. The acting is great here and so is the writing. Every character in here is unlikable but they are supposed to be. Characters find secrets about each other. Some even refuse to switch back because perhaps the body they are currently in has more potential.
“It’s What’s Inside” is filled with tension, laughs, and a twist ending that puts the cherry on the cake. “It’s What’s Inside” is available on Netflix.
5. Nosferatu
I am a huge fan of the novel Dracula. There have been many adaptations throughout the years. Some good, some bad. What I wanted was something faithful to the book, a faithful representation of our monster, and a strong feeling of dread. Not only do we get all of that, but we get so much more.
“Nosferatu” is one of the most beautiful movies of the year. Just about every frame looks like a painting. Some reviews have claimed the movie was boring. I disagree. It is a slow burn, but it does a great job of creating a dark atmosphere and an uncomfortable sense of hopelessness. The performances are top-notch, and I love the gothic vibes. This is not a horror movie for everyone but it does all it sets out to do immaculately. “Nosferatu” is currently playing in theatres.
4. LongLegs
“Longlegs” is about an FBI agent in the 90s searching for a serial killer who dabbles in the occult. I love a dark psychological horror film, especially if it gives similar vibes to that of “Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven.”
“Longlegs” is quite unnerving as we try to piece together the mystery at the same time as the lead is. The story is gripping, and the movie is shot so well that the setting itself becomes a character. Nicolas Cage is unbelievably good in this. Every choice he makes is creepy, and he is a person you wouldn’t want to be alone in a room with. He is one of the best horror characters of the year, for sure.
I also can’t stress enough how amazing Maika Monroe is. This movie proves once again she is a scream queen who is here to stay. “Longlegs” is available to purchase on streaming.
3. Oddity
After her twin sister is brutally murdered, blind Darcy goes after those responsible with haunted items as her tools for revenge.
“Oddity” is a simple movie with an easy-to-follow and straightforward plot. It is highly effective in its storytelling and its scares. There is tension and well-crafted jolts in this creepy ghost story. Even though the story is simple, and might even be predictable at times, what matters most is not the story being told but how it’s being told. With how good this movie is directed and shot, it was pretty easy to put this as one of the best horror movies of the year. The movie comes and goes quickly but it is just so incredibly unique.
It is so hard not to spoil these movies but just know a lot of the tension comes from waiting to see if the object in the picture above is going to move or not. “Oddity” is available on Shudder.
2. Strange Darling
A twisted one-night stand soon turns into a cat-and-mouse game with a serial killer. This was a very unexpected pleasant surprise. This movie is another one that is hard to talk about because it is best to see it blind.
The story here is told nonlinearly, giving us little bits at a time. The filmmaking here is fantastic. The movie knows when to focus on certain shots and cut away on others. The most successful thing about this movie is how you think you know what is finally going on, and suddenly you are hit with another twist. It is a fun ride for sure.
Kyle Gallner is fantastic as always but Willa Fitzgerald gives us the performance of her career. Once again, I refuse to spoil this movie, but she is given so much to do and handles everything masterfully. “Strange Darling” is available to purchase on streaming.
1. The Substance
There is simply no argument that “The Substance” is the best horror movie of 2024. Elizabeth Sparkle is an aging actress who tries a substance that promises to bring out an enhanced version of herself.
This movie is just so damn good. Not only is this a creepy movie and concept, but it also has something to say. It talks about how hard it is for aging women in Hollywood to stay relevant. The special effects are amazing. This is a body horror movie. It is gross. It is disturbing. It all has a purpose. The effects and makeup in this movie are jaw-droppingly good.
The movie is so good at giving the audience many different feelings. One moment you can feel grossed out and disturbed and the next you can relate to a character and their sadness. The movie may be exaggerated at times to show off the horror but the realism is also there. There is a scene when Elizabeth is struggling to leave her home. She wants to go but she looks into the mirror about 100 times. How many of us have felt something like this?
Demi Moore easily gave us one of the best performances of her career. It is such a vulnerable bold performance and she deserves so much credit. If you need any more proof why this is the best horror movie of the year, even the Academy seems to be considering it. The movie has already been showered with many award nominations and many assume Demi Moore will get an Oscar nomination. The Academy usually ignores horror but it just shows how many different people this movie has reached. “The Substance” is available on Amazon Prime.
Honorable Mentions
- In A Violent Nature
- Exhuma
- Cuckoo
- Abigail
- Late Night With the Devil
- Terrifier 3
- Heretic
- The First Omen
- Life of Belle
- Slay
- Smile 2
What is your favorite horror movie of 2024? And what horror movies are you looking forward to seeing in 2025? Let us know in the comments below.
