2024 has been filled with horror releases, with frightening stories about everything from rampaging spiders to demonic late-night talk shows. This crop is distinctive for its unconventional reworkings of well-worn tropes. There's a slasher that's equally indebted to Terrence Malick as it is to Jason Voorhees; a dystopian-future tale about a family escaping global destruction to investigate an explosion; and Two Movies about nuns with evil pregnancies. Even better: Several of these efforts have made waves at the indie box office, reflecting horror audiences' affinity for venturing into strange new places.
Some of the biggest films of the year are yet to come, ranging from original masterpieces (“Trap,” “Longlegs”) to highly anticipated sequels (“Maxine,” “Alien: Romulus”) to bone-chilling indies (“Terrifier 3,” “Oddity”). But the following films are already among the best releases of 2024.
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Abigail
Image source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have perfected their blend of horror and comedy with “Scream VI” and “Ready or Not,” and “Abigail” is no exception. When a gang of scoundrels kidnap a vampire who appears to be a little girl, they quickly find themselves in over their heads in this bloody adventure, which is elevated by inspired performances from Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens.
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First omen
Image Credit: ©20th Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
20th Century Studios
Director Arkasha Stevenson and star Nell Tiger Free make the most of this moody prequel to the nearly 50-year-old franchise. Exquisite camerawork and creepy sets create a sinister backdrop for Sister Margaret's investigation into her unwanted conception. And Free's increasingly wild acting is reminiscent of cinematic triumphs like 1981's “Possession.”
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victim
Image credit: Courtesy of Shudder
Shivers
One of the most notable this year is the French Spider Bonanza, in which director and co-writer Sebastien Vanicek brings a wave of murderous arachnids to a seedy apartment building. Viewers will jump, wince, and itch as the body count rises and the spiders run amok across every wall and surface.
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stop motion
Image credit: Courtesy of Shudder
IFC Films/Shudder
Robert Morgan's grim look at artistic obsession blurs the lines between reality and nightmare as a stop-motion animator (Aisling Franciosi) breaks free from her controlling mother but must face untold darkness while crafting her own story. A punishing mix of psychological, surreal and physical horror, Morgan's vision is bleak but gorgeous.
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Nirmal
Image credit: Courtesy of Everett Collection
Neon
Sydney Sweeney is all set to be crowned scream queen as she leads this highly sensational tale of a young nun who finds herself pregnant. Directed by Michael Mohan, this beautifully filmed saga grows creepier until Andrew Lobel's script descends into B-movie madness, amping up the bloodshed and giving Sweeney an indelible final shot.
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I saw the TV glow
Image source: Courtesy A24
A24
This touching, surreal drama about lonely teens who are forever bonded through a cult TV series is equally compelling and poignant. Writer-director Jane Schoenbrun has created a bold story that explores the dysphoria of the closeted trans experience, where the discomfort of isolation becomes more disturbing than any monster.
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Kind
Image credit: Courtesy of Shudder
IFC Films/Shudder
Director Caitlin Cronenberg's first feature film is set in a future where the Earth's resources are limited and citizens are urged to euthanize themselves for cash to reduce the population. Michael Sparaga's funny, sharp script focuses on a wealthy family that can't buy its way out of trouble this time. A fun and dirty indie that examines how badly we treat our loved ones.
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the coffee table
Image credit: Courtesy of Everett Collection
Cinephobia Release
This deeply horrifying domestic drama is not for the faint of heart, but it has a charm that should not be spoilt. Director Kay Casas turns a cheap coffee table purchase by a new father into a story that spins out of control, with a terrifying twist of fate that will leave viewers sweating nervously. Go ahead without fear if you dare.
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late night with the devil
Image Credit: ©IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
IFC Films/Shudder
David Dastmalchian (“Dune,” “Ant-Man”) is impressive as a second-rate talk show host determined to boost his ratings, so he dreams up a Halloween episode featuring a girl who may be possessed by the devil. The cleverly plotted story progresses in real time and keeps the proceedings unsettling until a peculiar final scene.
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violent in nature
Image Credit: Everett Collection
IFC Films/Shudder
Director Chris Nash's innovative take on '80s slasher films appeals to VHS-era fans. The deliberately paced film follows a supernatural killer named Johnny, who has a camera on his shoulder that keeps his perspective in check. Amid the outrageous murders and crisp camerawork lies a scathing satire filled with empathy, beauty, and genuine fear.