If there’s any genre of film that’s prone to snobbery, it’s horror.
I try really hard not to, but it’s a challenge.
Decades of incredible films have shaped my expectations, and it’s sometimes hard to fall in love with new films in this niche.
Look, I’ve accepted that I’ll never get the chance to watch The Exorcist for the first time.
But as time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to find horror movies that truly unsettle me.
However… I curated this list because the horror products of 2024 will blow my mind.
Unlike any other year in recent history, there have been bombings one after another.
Each movie comes with my enthusiastic recommendation, and I hope you’ll come back here and let me know what you thought after watching it.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at seven of the best horror movies of 2024 and where to find them.
long legs
Topping the list is Legs , a creepy Ozzie Perkins film that’s easily the best horror film of the decade.
Starring Nicolas Cage (who is almost unrecognizable in the role) and Maika Monroe, the film tells the story of a young detective searching for answers in a serial killer case.
As if the premise wasn’t unsettling enough, the story takes a twist when Detective Harker (Monroe) discovers she’s closer to the case than she thought.
If you like slow builds, gruesome visuals, a jump scare or two, and twists that even M. Night Shyamalan couldn’t see coming, then Legs is for you.
Watch Long Legs online
A Quiet Place: Day One
After wowing audiences with two stunning films in the franchise, fans of The Dead have high hopes for the prequel, which will be released this year.
Starring the incomparable Lupita Nyong’o and Stranger Things season 4’s breakout star Joseph Quinn, Day One takes us back to where we started.
When the world first crumbles at the hands of sound-sensitive monsters, Samira (Nyong’o) is a terminally ill woman who wants nothing more than to taste her favorite pizza one last time.
Accompanied by incredible talents like Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff, Nyong’o and Quinn redefine the genre with stunning performances A genre.
This movie is for those who like a good post-apocalyptic horror movie, but I kind of wish we saw more pre-apocalyptic movies so we could see where this all ends.
Watch A Quiet Place: Day One online
hold your breath
Hulu has a ton of originals, but with the release of Hold Your Breath, it’s outdone itself.
This psychological thriller will make you question everything you thought you knew as it follows a family in Depression-era Oklahoma.
Fighting suffocating sandstorms and dwindling resources, Margaret (Sarah Paulson) and her daughters face more terrifying forces they can’t explain.
Paulson is no stranger to horror, and this role was designed for her and her signature on-screen scream.
If you like historical fiction, a sense of the supernatural, and the trope that humans are scarier than monsters, you’ll love Hold Your Breath.
Watch Hold Your Breath online
flawless
This is the year for Sidney Sweeney (of Euphoria fame), who proves just how worthy her success is in this supernatural horror film.
Even though nun-themed horror movies can feel derivative, this one stands out.
Sweeney’s performance is top-notch, and she’s joined by a long list of great Italian talent.
This film has the makings of a classic.
When The Exorcist meets Rosemary’s Baby and adds a modern twist, something perfect happens.
Anyone who likes the religious elements of classic horror films from the ’70s and ’80s will enjoy this movie.
Watch “Flawless” online
watchman
Ishana Night Shyamalan makes her stunning directorial debut with “Guardians,” starring Dakota Fanning.
Following in her father’s legendary footsteps (but clearly forging her own path in the genre), Ms. Night Shyamalan has created a deeply unsettling world set in the dark Irish woods.
A huge mystery, detailed world-building, and star power make this creepy monster movie an instant hit.
If you like a movie where you feel like you’re there, waiting for the horror to unfold, then you’ll love “Guardians.”
Thanks to Ms. Night Shyamalan’s inspired directorial choices, we’ve never seen any film that so viscerally combines folklore with modern horror.
Watch Watchmen online
Spend the night with the devil
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a movie like Late Night with the Devil.
In fact, I don’t believe there is anything like it.
Set in 1977, a late night talk show host (David Dastmalchian) and his audience experience a series of bizarre events that will turn your stomach and make you sleep with the lights on.
Prior to this film, I had only seen Darthmalzian in supporting roles, but he stole the show as the star.
Aesthetically, Late Night with the Devil is a fun throwback retro game, but the plot and visuals will leave you feeling deeply unsettled.
It may take you several days to recover emotionally and mentally from what you have seen. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Watch Late Night with the Devil online
Lisa Frankenstein
Fans of “Dark Cody” will love this fun, campy comedy/horror starring Kathryn Newton (“Wicked”) and Cole Sprouse (“Riverdale”).
Set in the 1980s, this movie is sometimes gory, sometimes vulgar, but always funny and the perfect way to spend an evening when you want a scare.
Joe Crist and Carla Gugino play exaggerated parental stereotypes, and Newton and Sprouse tell the story of young and complicated love.
Fun fact: Even though Cole Sprouse is the main character, he has zero lines in the film, instead using grunts and body language to portray his character.
The comedic script keeps things from getting too dark, as do the over-the-top 80s retro horror scenes.
But combined with Newton’s remarkable portrayal of a frustrated outcast teen and Sprouse’s brilliant nonverbal performance, the film offers enough realism to round out its own silliness.
Watch Lisa Frankenstein online
There’s no doubt that 2024 is going to be a fantastic year for horror movies.
I can’t remember the last time I had so many hits released in the same twelve months, and I’m not complaining!
As an avid horror fan, I often struggle to find new movies in the genre that I can relate to.
But over the past year, my expectations have been exceeded time and time again.
Have you seen the movies listed?
Are there any other works released this year that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments!
