So, here are my top 10 horror films of 2024.
I won't be doing an honorable list, as I could go on and on as I feel 2024 has been a pretty solid year. You can see all my 2024 horror movie reviews here.
The Coffee Table
The Coffee Table was my number one horror movie of 2024.
I came across it when Stephen King praised it, and I am glad I did, and while it does belong under the horror umbrella for me, we have no jump scares here, it's all psychological, which is my favorite sub genre of horror, and what I also love about this film is it blends genres really well too, one minute you are watching a drama with a bit of dark comedy, and the next your mind is full of anxiety and dread.
To say this film is dark and anxiety inducing would be an understatement, and I haven't watched a film in a long time that had me reeling for days after watching it like this one did.
It's an incredibly simple film in a lot of ways, but is also a film that has a massive impact on you and you will want to look away at times as the sense of dread feels all too real.
Don't go in expecting a 'traditional' horror film, it offers more than that but not many films have made me feel how this one did.
The Coffee Table is like a slow motion car crash that you will never forget watching. [The Coffee Table Review]
Nosferatu
The hype was real, Nosferatu delivers in so many ways.
Robert Eggers masterfully uses atmosphere and visual storytelling to create a lingering sense of unease, and every aspect of the film contributes to a cohesive vision that is as unsettling as it is beautiful.
Gothic horror might not be for everyone, I have seen plenty of people say it is boring, but for me, Nosferatu is a brilliant, beautiful film, in more ways than one. [Nosferatu Review]
Oddity
If you want a film with plenty of atmosphere and that slowly builds the tension and dread, then I would highly recommend watching Oddity.
It delivers a steady, unsettling experience with plenty of shocks and scares, and the excellent direction serves the story well revealing hidden truths and producing jump scares with simple techniques all while crafting an engaging plot that culminates in a satisfying conclusion.
It's a well acted and constructed film with plenty of dread and is also very compelling. [Oddity Review]
The Substance
Demi Moore is back! Hell yeah.
Firstly, The Substance released some of the best posters for a movie I have seen in a while, I loved them.
As for the actual film, it is one I cannot wait to re-watch in 4k, just when you think the film has peaked, it goes onto another level.
Demi Moore is fantastic and the direction by Coralie Fargeat is full of intention and art, and I'd be surprised if you watch this film and not want to revisit it pretty soon.
The Substance is bold, its intense, its a bit crazy and you might want to take a deep breathe after watching it to let it all sink in. [The Substance Review]
MadS
This French horror film was shot in a single take over five days, and is an impressive piece of work.
It's an intense and gripping film that in the world of zombie horror films, feels fresh and brings new things to the table with a strong narrative thrown in too.
It also has surprises too as the film cleverly plays with your expectations and making the horror at times feel quite personal, and at times, silly and comical, in a positive sense.
It's very hard not to respect and appreciate this film, and it really does deliver. [MadS Review]
Strange Darling
Strange Darling is more of a thriller I think, but I would call it horror adjacent, and its appearing as horror and thriller on most sites and reviews/lists, so I will just follow the herd, and is a film I did enjoy it a hell of a lot.
Just when you think you have a handle on the story, it heads off in a completely different direction, and these twists are not cheap gimmicks but carefully constructed narrative turns that feel earned, and the film’s climax is a whirlwind of emotion and action, with Gallner and Fitzgerald delivering performances that are incredibly praiseworthy.
Well worth a watch, however you want to classify it. [Strange Darling Review]
Lowlifes
Biggest surprise horror movie of the year? Well that award goes to the Tubi original Lowlifes.
To say I wasn't expecting much from this would be an under statement, but for a film that could’ve easily been a by the numbers flick, it ends up being something way more than that.
It's a film that doesn’t try to be what you think it’s gonna be, as it plays with your expectations, then laughs in your face while it takes you down a darker, more disturbing path.
If you haven't watched Lowlifes yet, do yourself a favor and watch it, as it's probably the most under appreciated horror film of 2024. [Lowlifes Review]
Infested
We had two spider horror movies released in 2024, (Well, 2 I am aware of), one was Sting, which was OK I suppose, but I much preferred Infested, as found it quite the gritty film with much better tension.
Once it gets going, the onslaught is relentless and doesn't let up, and with some fantastic sequences thrown in too, I found a lot to like about this one and thought it had a lot of depth thrown in too for a creature feature type film.
It portrays the animal kingdom at its most ruthless and terrifying, and if such exponentially growing spiders existed, humanity would be at their mercy, merely tenants on their planet. [Infested Review]
The First Omen
This was a film I was looking forward to, being a fan in particular of the original and it didn't disappoint me and was a film I really enjoyed.
Director Arkasha Stevenson demonstrated a keen understanding of the original film's tone and atmosphere, and delivered a prequel that honors its legacy while offering fresh insights.
And a mention for Nell Tiger Free who was brilliant as Margaret, who adds a lot to the emotional weight that the film delivers.
And yes, I thought it was much better than the disappointing Immaculate, which I thought was a bit of a mess. [The First Omen Review]
Terrifier 3
I could have put 5 or 6 films in this spot to be honest, but I am going to go for Terrifier 3, and what a 2024 it has been for Art the Clown.
Terrifier 3 is the success story in the horror genre this year, as it smashed expectations and broke records and with it, we have a new mainstream horror icon.
Now, none of the Terrifier movies are ones you would really call good movies, we will have no complex story lines or too much character development here, oh no.
It's not meant to be taken too seriously, but what we do get is a lot of fun, and Terrifier 3 is also surprisingly meticulous with its sound design and pacing and quite technically impressive as well.
It's clear this film has struck a chord with many mainstream film fans, and it is something I am all in for, as sometimes, a person just wants to have some some fun. [Terrifier 3 Review]
Right, you know above where I said I wasn't going to give any honorable mentions? Well, I sort of lied, as I have one film I want to mention, as while far from perfect, it was made on a budget so small that I thought it was better than some of the mainstream films I have seen with 10000x the budget.
Milk & Serial
A found footage movie made on a mere $800 budget and released on YouTube by Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson.
The acting was much better than I thought it would be, and despite a bit of a slow start, it really picks up, it is a pretty simple film of course because of the budget, but they managed to pull something watchable from it, and one I think deserves a lot of respect. [Milk & Serial Review]
What were some of your favorites? A much better year than 2023 for horror I think?