My Top Ten Horror Movies of 2024
The Best of the Past Year
It’s that time of year again! I already wrote a story about my most hated horror movies of 2024. Now it’s time for the flipside, my favorites of the year. Here are my top ten horror movies of 2024.
I’ve already written full reviews of most of these movies. I’ve given each a brief synopsis below. The common characteristic here is innovation. When you watch as many horror movies as I do, you really appreciate when a film distinguishes itself creatively.
My Previous Top Tens:
10. The Well
Italian horror was having a moment in 2024. This was the third horror movie I saw this year about an American woman who finds terror in Italy. Immaculate and The First Omen are the others.
Lauren Lavera makes her first, but not last, appearance on this list as an art restorer who encounters a cursed painting and an ancient conspiracy. Her performance, and the film’s beautiful cinematography, earn The Well a spot on my list.
9. In A Violent Nature
In A Violent Nature is filmed mainly from the perspective of Johnny (Ry Barrett), an undead maniac who lurks inside a forest. It’s an innovative, artsy take on the slasher genre.
For fans starved for a new Friday the 13th movie (can we at least get that Crystal Lake prequel series someday?), In A Violent Nature provides fun backwoods slasher gore galore.
That said, the numerous scenes of Johnny wandering alone through the forest will test your patience, as they did mine.
Movie Review: In A Violent Nature
8. Oddity
Revenge is a common theme in horror films, but this movie tackles it from a fresh angle. Oddity’s protagonist is Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) a blind shopkeeper who seeks to avenge the death of her twin sister, whom she suspects was killed by her husband.
Armed with supernatural trinkets from her curiosity shop, she visits the husband and his new girlfriend with vengeance in her heart. Oddity is a creepy and inventive film that continuously subverted my expectations. It has moments of genuine terror, especially early on.
7. Alien Romulus
Alien: Romulus is a midquel (set between Alien and Aliens) that revives the moribund franchise with a fresh new cast led by Cailee Spaeny. It makes its biggest impact in a shocking, gutsy twist ending.
Most of the Alien sequels are more action than horror, but this one brings the series back to its roots. I’m hoping for more Alien movies like this.
6. Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil is entertaining, funny, and occasionally eerie. It does a remarkable job imitating the appearance of real ’70s variety shows. My favorite character is Carmichael Haig (Ian Bliss), a hardcore skeptic who refuses to believe in the demonic shenanigans.
This is one of the most innovative found footage movies of the past decade. There’s been a ton of demon possession movies in recent years, but none like this.
Movie Review: Late Night with the Devil
5. Terrifier 3
Terrifier 3 moves the action from Halloween to Christmas, but it features the same wild gore as its predecessors. David Howard Thornton and Lauren Lavera are back and excellent again. Director Damien Leone continues to deliver his uncompromised grisly vision.
I like this one a shade less than Terrifier 2, but it still lives up to the hype. Leone has clearly matured as a filmmaker. Bring on Terrifier 4!
4. Strange Darling
I praised Oddity for subverting expectations, but Strange Darling is 2024’s true queen when it comes to unexpected twists. A brilliant performance by Willa Fitzgerald and a clever nonlinear structure sets this movie apart from other thrillers.
It’s a fast-paced thrill-ride through rural Oregon that kept me guessing all the way through. The cinematography is excellent, especially for a relatively low budget film.
3. I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw The TV Glow is a bizarre, creative, and surprisingly moving journey. Two teenage friends, Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Owen (Justice Smith), are living in the ’90s United States. Each must decide whether to embrace their authentic selves or conform to societal expectations.
The first path is hard, and requires courage, but leads to a meaningful life. The second is easier, but leads to endless misery and repression. Which will they choose? Which would you choose? This movie definitely isn’t for everyone, but it worked for me.
Movie Review: I Saw the TV Glow
2. Longlegs
Maika Monroe has been a favorite of mine for quite some time, and not just because she’s beautiful. Her career received a major boost in 2024, thanks to the success of Longlegs.
Monroe delivers a quietly intense performance as an FBI agent who is tracking the elusive Longlegs (Nicolas Cage), an utterly insane supernatural serial killer. This movie is often compared to The Silence of the Lambs, and deservedly so in my view. It succeeds as both horror and thriller.
1. Nosferatu
Marching in right at the end of the year to snatch the top spot on my list is Nosferatu, Robert Egger’s sterling remake of the 1922 silent classic. Bill Skarsgard is spot on as the bloodsucking Count Orlok, Lily Rose-Depp is suitably sexy as Ellen, and Willem Dafoe is a kick in the pants as Von Franz.
Egger’s respect and faithfulness to the original Nosferatu shines throughout this film. Many remakes try to outdo their predecessors, but they rarely succeed. This one is both a tribute and an update. It’s hard to imagine a better modern take on Nosferatu.
Hoping for More Great Horror in 2025!
Want to know which movies I’m most excited for in the new year? Check out my list of highly anticipated horror movies!
Thanks for reading!
