2024 has been a thrilling year for horror fans, offering a diverse slate of terrifying tales, from chilling supernatural thrillers to visceral psychological horrors. Whether you’re into eerie atmospheres, heart-pounding jump scares, or unsettling character studies, this year’s crop of horror films has something for every kind of fright enthusiast.
This roundup showcases the 25 best horror films of the year, each leaving an indelible mark on the genre with their unforgettable moments and innovative storytelling. Though the highly anticipated Nosferatu remake is absent from our list, we have not yet had the opportunity to view it. That said, early reviews suggest this may be Eggers’ finest film to date, likely earning it a high-ranking spot on our list once we get the chance to see it.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the must-see horror films of 2024!
What It’s About: Based on Stephen King’s classic novel, Salem’s Lot follows writer Ben Mears as he returns to his childhood town, only to find it besieged by a vampire epidemic linked to a sinister house.
Why It’s on the List: This adaptation captures the moody dread and creeping terror of King’s original story while updating it for modern audiences. The atmospheric visuals and strong performances bring new life to this quintessential tale of small-town horror.
If You Like: Fans of Dracula (1992) or “Midnight Mass” will appreciate this gothic vampire saga.
What It’s About: At first glance, the Radleys seem like an ordinary family. But beneath their suburban facade lies a vampiric secret that threatens to tear their world apart.
Why It’s on the List: This wickedly witty and subversive horror film offers a clever blend of dark comedy and unconventional vampire tropes, exploring profound themes of family, identity, and repression in a way that sets it apart from typical contemporary horror fare.
If You Like: Think What We Do in the Shadows meets Let the Right One In.
What It’s About: In a dystopian future, the South African government targets the homeless with a deadly chemical agent called ‘V,’ leading to a gruesome fight for survival.
Why It’s on the List: With its sharp social commentary and grotesque practical effects, this shocking and unapologetically brutal film reinvents the exploitation-horror genre for a modern audience.
If You Like: Echoes of The Purge and They Live with a dash of early Peter Jackson.
What It’s About: An American family is invited to a charming British family’s country estate for a weekend getaway, only to discover that their hosts’ hospitality masks a sinister and unspeakable darkness.
Why It’s on the List: This unsettling psychological shocker presents a truly disquieting experience, combining nail-biting dialogue and escalating unease. remarkably, it manages to not only match, but even surpass the impact of the original – no easy feat for a remake, and the film’s reflection on social norms and human nature holds up a mirror to the audience and dares them to confront uncomfortable truths.
If You Like: Fans of The Uninvited Guest or Get Out will enjoy this slow-burning nightmare.
What It’s About: A man accidentally unleashes a deadly spider into his impoverished neighborhood, triggering chaos as the arachnids grow larger and more dangerous, forcing residents into lockdown.
Why It’s on the List: Reviving the creature feature format with a bold blend of unsettling practical effects and a timely undercurrent of social commentary, Infested delivers a much-needed jolt of fresh energy and harrowing stakes. If this doesn’t ick you out, nothing will.
If You Like: Think Arachnophobia meets Quarantine.
What It’s About: When a medallion is removed from a fire tower, it resurrects a vengeful spirit who embarks on a brutal killing spree in the woods, told from the perspective of the killer.
Why It’s on the List: This innovative slasher film deftly reinvents the well-trodden genre by diving deep into the twisted psyche of its deranged killer, offering audiences a raw, unflinching, and deeply unsettling perspective. Ingeniously immersive in its approach, the movie masterfully combines poetic cinematography with visceral, bone-crunching carnage, creating a uniquely harrowing viewing experience that grabs the audience by the scruff of the neck and drags them, kicking and screaming, along for a relentlessly suspenseful and shrewdly savage shockathon.
If You Like: Imagine William Lustig’s Maniac crossed with Friday the 13th.
What It’s About: Art the Clown returns to wreak havoc on Christmas Eve, turning a peaceful holiday into a blood-soaked nightmare for the unsuspecting residents of Miles County.
Why It’s on the List: This latest chapter doubles down on the franchise’s signature gory visuals and twisted, macabre comedy, firmly cementing Art the Clown as a modern horror icon. Ingeniously weaving in a holiday theme lends an extra layer of unsettling dissonance to the proceedings.
If You Like: Perfect for fans of Krampus and Halloween.
What It’s About: After a lab experiment goes awry, an invisible, hyper-intelligent raptor escapes and terrorizes a small town, leaving a ragtag group of unlikely heroes to stop it.
Why It’s on the List: Blending absurdity with suspense, this film takes viewers on a wild, unpredictable ride that never fails to entertain with its dark humor, inventive kills, and surprising heart. This film pays perfect homage to classic creature features of the past, incorporating a perfect balance of self-aware and clever humor. Incorporating this sense of sly humor helps to prevent the outrageous elements from feeling excessively exaggerated or cheesy, setting it apart from schlocky B-horror comedies that most often miss the mark.
If You Like: A mix of Jurassic Park and Tremors, with a pinch of Sharknado.
What It’s About: A fugitive on the run from her past clashes with a determined agent in the rugged wilderness, but their cat-and-mouse game is disrupted by fresh horrors.
Why It’s on the List: the heart of the film lies not in saving humanity itself, but in following these two women from different generations as they struggle to find kind of hope and meaning in the face of a bleak future. So, despite the ever-present threat of time running out, the film rarely delivers high-octane action, instead focusing on the suffering and resilience of the two main characters and this is what makes the film all the more enjoyable. What’s more, it packs a powerful emotional punch, as Jess encounters only kind, decent people on her journey who offer her hope and humanity. Getting to know these kind souls, in real-time with Jess, makes their fates all the more shocking and tragic, and further emphasizes nature’s indiscriminate ferocity.
If You Like: This blends the high-stakes suspense of The Fugitive with the dread of Outbreak, filtered through the intimate, character-driven lens of Elena Knows.
What It’s About: Pop star Skye Riley begins to experience inexplicable terrors as she embarks on a world tour, forcing her to confront a dark past that threatens her sanity.
Why It’s on the List: A worthy sequel that expands on the original’s psychological horrors while delving deeper into themes of trauma and fame, Smile 2 offers both scares and substance.
If You Like: Think Black Swan meets the original Smile.
What It’s About: Two young missionaries knock on the wrong door, encountering a diabolical man who ensnares them in a deadly game of survival and faith.
Why It’s on the List: A tense and brutal battle of wits, Heretic claustrophobic thrills as it explores the fragile interplay of faith and fanaticism, reason and obsession, and the limits of human endurance. Refusing to take sides, the film instead delves into the nuanced complexities of these themes. Standout in his chillingly laid-back antagonist role, Hugh Grant delivers a truly memorable performance.
If You Like: Immaculate and Saint Maud which both offer a captivating exploration of the human experience in the face of disillusionment, horror, and the complexities of faith.
What It’s About: Suffering from amnesia, Ethan searches for his missing girlfriend in a post-apocalyptic world reclaimed by nature and teeming with mysterious creatures, with the help of a quirky survivalist.
Why It’s on the List: Through clever twists and richly-developed characters and performances, Die Alone offers a poignant and gripping exploration of love, loss, and survival in the face of social collapse and an unforgiving landscape. For fans craving zombie-esque narratives that delve far deeper than surface-level scares and action, Die Alone stands as a resounding triumph..
If You Like: Fans of “The Last of Us” and Memento will connect with the film’s themes and emotional journey.
What It’s About: Darcy uses haunted objects to exact revenge on the people responsible for her twin sister’s murder, uncovering eerie truths along the way.
Why It’s on the List: Oddity chills viewers to the bone with its creative premise, compelling lead performance by Carolyn Bracken, and one of the creepiest inanimate objects ever seen on screen. Blending supernatural horror and a gripping revenge narrative, the film fuses the mundane and the macabre, creating a pervasive sense of unease that is sure to leave audiences paralyzed with fear.
If You Like: There are definite echoes of Oculus, Talk To Me and The Conjuring here.
What It’s About: A 19th-century Icelandic widow must decide whether to risk the lives of her starving village to rescue shipwreck survivors during a harsh winter.
Why It’s on the List: The desolate Icelandic landscape, with its unforgiving, brooding backdrop, sets the stage for a story that unfolds at a meticulously crafted, creeping pace. As the characters grapple with complex moral dilemmas and weighty decisions that test the boundaries of their ethics and humanity, the narrative delves deep into the heart of their struggles against this bleak, foreboding setting.
If You Like: Fans of The Witch and The Lighthouse will appreciate its bleak tone and haunting visuals.
What It’s About: Set during the initial invasion, this prequel follows Sam and Eric as they navigate the chaos of a suddenly silenced New York City.
Why It’s on the List: Expanding on the franchise’s chilling premise, this installment captures the raw terror of the first days of survival with just as breathtaking sequences and heartfelt performances as the previous instalments.
If You Like: Perfect for fans of the original A Quiet Place, with echoes of Birdbox and 28 Days Later.
What It’s About: FBI Agent Lee Harker pursues an elusive serial killer whose crimes seem tied to the occult, discovering an unsettling personal connection along the way.
Why It’s on the List: The film taps into genuine moments of terror with its unsettling atmosphere and Nicolas Cage’s characteristically unhinged performance. However, it also possesses an undercurrent of goofy, almost campy energy, as Cage leans into his penchant for over-the-top eccentricity. Despite not quite fully living up to the hype, Longlegs ultimately proves to be a really entertaining supernatural thriller. This is buoyed by the electric chemistry between Cage’s unhinged intensity and Oz Perkins’ always beautifully disturbing command of mood and atmosphere.
If You Like: A spiritual cousin to Se7en, The Silence of the Lambs and Sinister.
What It’s About: In 1750 Austria, a devout woman’s oppressive life leads her to dark thoughts, culminating in a horrifying act of violence that changes her forever.
Why It’s on the List: A must watch, especially for fans of artfully executed genre cinema, The Devil’s Bath offers a harrowing descent into madness and delivers one of the year’s most shocking prologues AND finales.
If You Like: Evocative of Saint Maud and The VVitch.
What It’s About: A young woman serving the church in Rome uncovers a conspiracy tied to the origins of a great evil, setting the stage for the events of The Omen.
Why It’s on the List: An assured outing for The Omen series and a stellar debut for Stevenson, this chilling prequel expands the mythos of The Omen, adding depth and new layers to one of horror’s most iconic stories.
If You Like: Perfect for fans of Rosemary’s Baby and the original The Omen.
What It’s About: Jasper, a “dead letter” investigator, stumbles upon a blood-stained plea for help that leads him into a dark and dangerous mystery, with the enigmatic Trent at its center.
Why It’s on the List: Dead Mail is a brilliantly structured, meticulously paced, and retro-aesthetic film that evokes a nostalgic sense of the bygone VHS era. It keeps the audience on their toes with each twist and turn, all of which are meticulously planned to subvert expectations. Moreover, its poignant exploration of the complex brokenness of loneliness adds depth to what is already a very special film..
If You Like: Fans of The Ninth Gate or The Vanishing will find much to enjoy here.
What It’s About: A supermoon triggers a horrifying transformation in humans worldwide, leaving survivors to prepare for another night of chaos a year later, when humanity’s primal instincts threaten to resurface.
Why It’s on the List: This is a singularly imaginative werewolf tale that’s best described as the mongrel offspring of Aliens, The Purge, and Dog Soldiers – maybe with a bit of The Aggression Scale thrown in too. But what sets WEREWOLVES apart from the typical werewolf tropes is the way it subverts audience expectations, moving beyond the standard depiction of lycanthropic creatures as mindless, feral beasts. Instead, the werewolves retain a strong semblance of their underlying humanity, adding a fascinating layer of complexity that elevates the film beyond the expected “werewolves run amok” storyline.
If You Like: Imagine Aliens meets The Purge with a hint of Dog Soldiers.
What It’s About: A revolutionary product called The Substance allows users to create a perfect version of themselves, but the balance of sharing time between “selves” soon spirals into chaos.
Why It’s on the List: This uniquely unsettling and provocative sci-fi thriller delves deep into the unsettling intersection of body horror and psychological suspense, offering a chilling exploration of the complexities of identity, the perils of vanity, and humanity’s insatiable fixation with the pursuit of physical perfection. At the heart of this sui generis genre exercise is a fearless, career-defining performance from Demi Moore, who fully commits to the film’s outrageous, outlandish premise
If You Like: The Substance has echoes of “Black Mirror” and The Fly.
What It’s About: In 1977, talk show host Jack Delroy’s Halloween special goes disastrously wrong when he accidentally invites true evil into the homes of his viewers.
Why It’s on the List: This retro horror masterpiece explores the dangers of unchecked ambition through a hypnotic, unsettling morality tale. Blending sharp social satire with nerve-wracking supernatural scares, the film delivers one of the most unique and captivating viewing experiences of the year.
If You Like: Fans of Ghostwatch or The Cleansing Hour will lap this one up.
What It’s About: Two estranged siblings hide in a farmhouse after a robbery, only to find themselves trapped in a different time and confronted by a force testing their family bond.
Why It’s on the List: Felker’s directorial debut provides a richly immersive cinematic enigma box experience that invites repeated viewings to fully unravel its myriad layers. Propelled forward by two outstanding lead performances that bring an infectious intensity and raw vulnerability to their roles, the film serves as a powerful exploration of identity, regret, and the malleability of reality.
If You Like: Think Timecrimes meets Coherence.
What It’s About: A one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s murder spree, unraveling a twisted web of manipulation, violence, and deceit.
Why It’s on the List: Strange Darling is a deeply unsettling horror film that masterfully captures the dark, grisly essence of 1960s and 1970s serial killer thrillers. With its ominous, retro-inspired visuals and profoundly disturbing themes, it delivers a gut-wrenching, provocative experience—equal parts terrifying and thought-provoking.
If You Like: Writer/director JT Mollner and cinematographer/producer Giovanni Ribisi shared the films that influenced Strange Darling with letterboxd, citing, Mademoiselle, The Devils, The Innocents, The Servant, Harakiri, Cries and Whispers, Blue Velvet, The Red Shoes, Dead Ringers and Repulsion.
What It’s About: Gretchen moves to the German Alps to live with her father and his new family, but her quiet surroundings soon give way to blood-soaked visions and a disturbing family secret.
Why It’s on the List: Cuckoo earns its place at the top with its breathtakingly eerie setting, exceptional performances, and a masterful blend of enigmatic tension, unsettling narrative, haunting soundscape, and striking cinematography, making it a true masterpiece of atmospheric horror and psychological dread.
If You Like: Fans of Hereditary and The Others will appreciate its slow-burn brilliance.
