Summary
- In a Violent Nature stands out for its unique perspective that follows the silent killer, providing a suspenseful and brutal narrative.
- Sting walks the line between horror and comedy with a monstrous spider wreaking havoc in an apartment building – a fun and chilling watch.
- Immaculate smartly twists religious faith into horror without relying on supernatural elements, delivering a terrifying and gripping story.
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You are watching: 10 Best Horror Movies Of 2024
After seeing what the best horror movies of 2023 had to offer, horror fans knew 2024 had its work cut out for it. Fortunately for audiences, the follow-up year delivered in surprising ways, whether through never-before-seen premises, stunning performances, extreme gore, hilarity, and some of the best kills on the big (or small) screen. Prequels to established franchises and narratives that took big swings paid off for the most part, and indie horror continued to prove itself as important to the genre as mainstream movies.
With the taste in the genre different for every viewer, these horror movies span all kinds of flavors, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. It’s too early to determine whether these films will ever be among the best horror movies of all time, but they certainly made the cut for must-see horror in 2024.
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Every Horror Movie Releasing In 2024
2024’s horror movies include sequels like Beetlejuice 2 and MaXXXine and new movies by Robert Eggers and M. Night Shyamalan. Here’s when they release.
10 In A Violent Nature
The indie horror was a hit for IFC Films
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In a Violent Nature
R
Drama
Horror
Thriller
In a Violent Nature is a 2024 horror-slasher film written and directed by Chris Nash that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. A group of campers in the middle of the wilderness stumble across a fire watchtower and discover a locket buried beneath its charred ruins. However, by unearthing the locket, they’ve invited the wrath of its prior owner and now must survive the rampage of a supernatural killer looking to retrieve his possession.
Director Chris Nash Release Date January 22, 2024 Studio(s) Shudder Distributor(s) Shudder , IFC Films Writers Chris Nash Cast Lauren-Marie Taylor , Andrea Pavlovic , Ry Barrett , Reece Presley Runtime 94 Minutes
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In a Violent Nature brilliantly subverts horror expectations by not only centering most of the film’s perspective from the killer’s point of view, but doing so in a way audiences have never really seen before. Horror movies like American Psycho and The House That Jack Built are among a select few where viewers follow the killer acting as the film’s main character. What sets In a Violent Nature apart is that this is a silent slasher taking the reins of the story; viewers have no choice but to follow his steady footsteps and relentless brutality without monologues or justifications.
The result is a raw, increasingly suspenseful, and smart narrative. Johnny, the undead killer, only wants one thing in the movie: to retrieve his dead mother’s necklace that was stolen from his grave and wreak bloody vengeance on those who stole it. The premise is simple and effective, working well within classic slasher tropes specifically inspired by Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th. The moments the camera focuses instead on Johnny’s victims only increase the tension as the audience never forgets that Johnny is mere feet away, watching and waiting.
For the most part, the gore is not about shock and awe but instead makes the viewers experience the pure rage driving the slasher. ,
Every kill from In a Violent Nature is a satisfying masterclass in the use of prosthetics and ingenuity. One of the most interesting aspects of the movie’s violence is not only the gore, but that these scenes are not gruesome just for the sake of being over-the-top violent. Johnny is a furious, vengeful spirit who still has a few child-like qualities. For the most part, the gore is not about shock and awe but instead makes the viewers experience the pure rage driving the slasher. In a Violent Nature’s ending is the cherry on top of this memorable, haunting film.
9 Sting
The year’s best creepy-crawly adventure
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Sting (2024)
R
One cold, stormy night in New York City, a mysterious object falls from the sky and smashes through the window of a rundown apartment building. It is an egg, and from this egg emerges a strange little spider…The creature is discovered by Charlotte, a rebellious 12-year-old girl obsessed with comic books. Despite her stepfather Ethan’s best efforts to connect with her through their comic book co-creation Fang Girl, Charlotte feels isolated. Her mother and Ethan are distracted by their new baby and are struggling to cope, leaving Charlotte to bond with the spider. Keeping it as a secret pet, she names it Sting.As Charlotte’s fascination with Sting increases, so does its size. Growing at a monstrous rate, Sting’s appetite for blood becomes insatiable. Neighbours’ pets start to go missing, and then the neighbours themselves. Soon Charlotte’s family and the eccentric characters of the building realize that they are all trapped, hunted by a ravenous supersized arachnid with a taste for human flesh… and Charlotte is the only one who knows how to stop it.
Director Kiah Roache-Turner Release Date April 12, 2024 Writers Kiah Roache-Turner Cast Jermaine Fowler , Alyla Browne , Ryan Corr , Penelope Mitchell , Silvia Colloca , Noni Hazlehurst , Robyn Nevin , Danny Kim Runtime 91 Minutes Main Genre Horror
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Horror audiences who have arachnophobia or prefer not watching spiders crawling along people’s faces and tearing them apart may want to avoid this year’s alien creature feature, Sting. The movie walks a thin line between horror and comedy as viewers are introduced to an eclectic mix of tenants living in an apartment building in New York. Many of them are related to Charlotte (Alyla Browne), who finds a new spider she names Sting and keeps secretly as a pet, unaware that the little monster crash-landed through a window as a meteorite from space.
Sting lead Alyla Browne also played Young Furiosa in George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
One by one, people are gruesomely killed or snatched up and webbed in the creature’s lair inside the vents to feast on later, including Charlotte’s family members. It’s up to the young girl to save the day despite navigating complex and difficult family dynamics, financial stresses, and her biological father abandoning her. As heavy as that sounds, Sting is effective in its humor as much as its chilling tone. The movie’s predictability doesn’t hurt its entertainment value or how it plays on the nostalgia of classic monster movies and cult scary comedies like Arachnophobia.
8 Tarot
The movie stars Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon
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Tarot (2024)
PG-13
The plot centers on a group of college friends who start dying in ways that are related to their fortunes after having their tarot cards read. Before their time runs out, they have to work together to uncover the mystery.
Director Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg Release Date May 3, 2024 Studio(s) Screen Gems , Alloy Entertainment , Ground Control Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg Cast Harriet Slater , Jacob Batalon , Avantika Vandanapu , Adain Bradley , Humberly González , Olwen Fouéré , Wolfgang Novogratz , Larsen Thompson Runtime 92 minutes Main Genre Horror
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Tarot was 2024’s reminder to not mess around with scary-looking objects that do not belong to you. Despite multiple warnings from the home’s owner, a group of friends renting the place for the night ignore the literal warning signs and snoop around. Eventually coming across a foreboding deck of tarot cards, they ask experienced tarot reader Haley (Harriet Slater) to give them each a reading. Ignoring the rule regarding not using someone else’s deck, Haley gives everyone in the room a tarot reading, including herself, sealing their fates.
Olwen Fouéré plays a key role in Tarot and is also a main character in 2024’s The Watchers alongside Dakota Fanning.
What follows is a fun, popcorn-style horror movie made strong by the authentic creature designs of the manifestations of the cards that come to life to kill based on each friend’s destiny established by Haley’s readings. Tarot follows familiar tropes that make the plot and the loopholes predictable, but there are surprises and effective scares throughout that keep the film interesting. Jacob Batalon is perfect as Tarot’s comic relief, and Slater adequately leads a cast who are convincing as friends in over their heads and facing their nightmarish ends.
7 Immaculate
Sydney Sweeney led and produced the film
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Immaculate
R
Horror
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Immaculate is a 2024 horror film directed by Michael Mohan and stars Sydney Sweeney. When a devout woman named Cecilia is offered a position at a prestigious convent in Italy, she takes it with little hesitation. However, Cecilia’s world is turned upside down when she discovers the terrible secrets hidden within her new place of faith.
Director michael mohan Release Date March 22, 2024 Studio(s) Fifty-Fifty Films , Black Bear Distributor(s) Neon Writers Andrew Lobel Cast Sydney Sweeney , Álvaro Morte , Benedetta Porcaroli , Dora Romano , Giorgio Colangeli , Simona Tabasco Runtime 89 minutes
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Immaculate is arguably Sydney Sweeney’s best role yet. She plays the devout Sister Cecilia, who travels to an Italian convent she will now call home. Unfortunately for her, Cecilia does not know about the nun who attempts to escape at the beginning of the film and has her leg viciously snapped or Father Sal Tedeschi’s (Álvaro Morte) sinister plans. Within time, Cecilia finds herself pregnant by immaculate conception and supposedly carrying the new Savior. She quickly realizes the convent is not holy and becomes trapped inside its insidious walls before taking extreme measures to escape.
The true horror of Immaculate lies in so-called devout people twisting their religious faith in horrifying and harmful ways; an actual demon is not needed for this story to terrify audiences.
The film smartly ties the big reveal about how Cecilia was impregnated to science and man’s hubris instead of a supernatural explanation. The true horror of Immaculate lies in so-called devout people twisting their religious faith in horrifying and harmful ways; an actual demon is not needed for this story to terrify audiences. Some viewers might hesitate to admit that Immaculate’s shocking ending is also the most appropriate one to close out Cecilia’s on-screen journey. She begins the story in a peaceful and hopeful place, only to be forced to end it bloody, violent, and wrathful.
6 Arcadian
The monsters help this apocalyptic tale stand out
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Arcadian (2024)
Arcadian is a sci-fi thriller film by director Benjamin Brewer and released in 2024. Set after the events of a near-world ending event, Arcadian follows Paul and his twin sons as they battle against unseen forces from beyond the stars that look to destroy anything they lay eyes on.
Director Benjamin Brewer Release Date April 12, 2024 Studio(s) Saturn Films Distributor(s) RLJE Films Writers Michael Nilon Cast Nicolas Cage , Sadie Soverall , Jaeden Martell , Maxwell Jenkins , Joe Dixon , Samantha Coughlan , Daire McMahon , Joel Gillman Runtime 92 Minutes Main Genre Horror
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Arcadian takes the family drama set in an apocalyptic premise to a fresh place, largely thanks to powerful performances and unforgettable monsters unlike anything seen on-screen before. Nicolas Cage plays a father in a world where most of humanity has been seemingly wiped out. Those left behind do their best to survive, which includes securing themselves inside at night in hopes that the unnamed creatures don’t kill them. The monsters in Arcadian are a bizarre, multi-species threat that ostensibly mutated over time into the nightmares that haunt the woods. Their unique designs are crucial to the movie’s success.
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Nic Cage’s Top Horror Movies By RT Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Score To Date |
|---|---|
|
Longlegs |
100% |
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Mandy |
90% |
|
Color Out of Space |
86% |
|
Arcadian |
82% |
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Mom and Dad |
74% |
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Vampire’s Kiss |
65% |
|
Willy’s Wonderland |
61% |
|
Renfield |
58% |
|
The Wicker Man |
15% |
Beyond the freaky, broad-mouthed monsters and sufficient storyline, what makes Arcadian engaging are the performances by Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins. Cage’s Paul is desperate to protect his teenage sons, Joseph (Martell) and Thomas (Jenkins), and ensure they are prepared to survive in this world without him one day. Cage has starred in a long list of films of varying quality, but he is as reliable an actor as they come. Martell stands out in his own right, stealing every scene in one of his most powerful showings, as Jenkins thrives in Arcadian’s heavier emotional moments and action sequences.
5 Night Swim
Swimming pools become scary in this horror thriller
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Night Swim
PG-13
Horror
Thriller
Where to Watch
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Based on the 2014 short film Night Swim is a horror-thriller film that follows a woman being terrorized by a spirit in her swimming pool. Kerry Condon and Wyatt Russell star in the film, handled by Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions.
Director Bryce McGuire Release Date January 5, 2024 Studio(s) Atomic Monster , Blumhouse Productions , Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Rod Blackhurst , Bryce McGuire Cast Kerry Condon , Wyatt Russell , Nancy Lenehan , Amélie Hoeferle , Jodi Long , Gavin Warren Runtime 116 Minutes
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Night Swim is the least scary film on this list. Still, what the movie brings to the table are believable characters, interesting mythology, a few decent tension-filled scenes, and Wyatt Russell. Russell stars as Ray Waller, a former pro baseball player who was forced to retire early due to multiple sclerosis (MS). When his family moves into a new home with a swimming pool, Ray’s symptoms begin to disappear the more time he spends in the water. The family learns the hard way that the pool’s waters have a dark history and require sacrifices in return for its gifts.
The cast plays the Waller family sincerely, making their plight all the more sympathetic. Even Ray, who makes decisions that unwittingly put his family in danger, has understandable motivations for not wanting to give up the pool. Having so much ripped away due to an illness and then suddenly being healthy again with a new, bright future ahead would make many people blind to the very clear signs of a haunted swimming pool. Night Swim’s ending provides a satisfactory conclusion to a story that could easily fall short but maintains an emotional throughline that makes viewers care about the characters.
4 Abigail
Alisha Weir is a convincing ballerina vampire
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Abigail (2024)
R
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Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett Release Date April 19, 2024 Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Guy Busick , Stephen Shields Cast Kathryn Newton , Dan Stevens , Giancarlo Esposito , Kevin Durand , Melissa Barrera , Alisha Weir , Angus Cloud , William Catlett Main Genre Horror
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Abigail is the most entertaining horror movie of 2024 overall. It features a strong ensemble led by Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, and Alisha Weir, with every cast member executing their roles perfectly. A group of criminals believe they’re in for a big payday after kidnapping a young girl, but their easy babysitting gig turns into a nightmare when it’s revealed that the titularly named Abigail is actually a vampire. The night becomes an all-out battle for survival as the group desperately tries to live long enough for the sun to rise; even then, escape is unlikely.
Even the Abigail soundtrack provides a thrilling atmosphere in addition to the movie’s mostly one-location setting in the vampire’s gorgeous but creepy mansion.
Loosely inspired by 1936’s Dracula’s Daughter, the film offers multiple twists, plenty of scares, bloody kills, and laugh-out-loud moments. Even the Abigail soundtrack provides a thrilling atmosphere in addition to the movie’s mostly one-location setting in the vampire’s gorgeous but creepy mansion. Kevin Durand lights up the screen as Peter, the crew’s muscle and the movie’s pitch-perfect comic relief, followed closely by Kathryn Newton. Abigail is endlessly rewatchable and remains a strong contender for the most fun viewers will have watching a horror movie.
3 The First Omen
The Omen prequel explores Damien’s birth
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The First Omen
R
The First Omen is a horror film from director Arkasha Stevenson that acts as a prequel to the 1976 film The Omen. The film follows a young woman who goes to Rome to become a nun but begins to question her faith after encountering a terrifying darkness that aims to spawn an evil incarnate.
Director Arkasha Stevenson Release Date April 5, 2024 Studio(s) Phantom Four Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Ben Jacoby , Tim Smith , Arkasha Stevenson , Keith Thomas Cast Nell Tiger Free , Tawfeek Barhom , sonia braga , Ralph Ineson , Bill Nighy Runtime 119 Minutes Main Genre Horror Franchise(s) The Omen Sequel(s) The Omen
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The First Omen is a great example of a prequel to a classic horror franchise done right. Set immediately before the beginning of 1976’s The Omen, the movie tells the story of Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), who finds herself in Rome ready to take the veil in service of the Catholic Church. After meeting a troubled girl named Carlita (Nicole Sorace), Margaret is contacted by Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson) telling her of a dark conspiracy by this particular religious sect. As insidious events and horrific hallucinations plague Margaret, she discovers the truth behind the church’s evil plans.
The prequel stays firmly within the tone established by the rest of The Omen franchise. Additionally, there are fun Easter eggs in The First Omen beyond the presence of Father Brennan, such as a callback to the “It’s all for you” scene in the original film. In telling a story that directly leads into The Omen, the filmmakers smartly ensured the movie respected continuity as much as possible. That said, they play a little loose in a couple of aspects, but the most important is cleverly explained in a way that doesn’t destroy what audiences know about Damien’s origin story.
2 I Saw the TV Glow
A surreal coming-of-age tale
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I Saw the TV Glow
PG-13
Drama
Horror
I Saw the TV Glow is a horror film by writer-director Jane Schoenbrun, released in 2024. A young man named Owen is introduced to a late-night TV show that reflects their reality. As the two begin to bond over the series, it suddenly is canceled, causing Owen’s view of reality to shatter.
Director Jane Schoenbrun Release Date January 18, 2024 Studio(s) Smudge Films , Fruit Tree Distributor(s) A24 Writers Jane Schoenbrun Cast Justice Smith , Brigette Lundy-Paine , Danielle Deadwyler , Fred Durst , Helena Howard , Ian Foreman Runtime 100 Minutes
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I Saw the TV Glow is the most surreal horror drama of 2024 and possibly the most important. Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, previously best-known for We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, the movie centers on Owen (Justice Smith) and his friend Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine). After Maddy introduces Owen to a horror-mystery series called The Pink Opaque, he becomes increasingly obsessed with the show, and his reality starts to blur. The cancelation of The Pink Opaque threatens to shatter Owen’s reality completely, and that’s only the beginning of the movie’s coming-of-age story.
As I Saw the TV Glow explores the film’s deeper meanings of identity, escapism, childhood obsessions, and the queer experience, Smith shines in a raw, emotional performance. As Owen’s journey plays out, the theme of self-discovery and acceptance as a young adult burrows itself into the narrative, and Smith executes Owen’s experience skillfully. The ending of the movie promises the potential closing of one chapter and a hopeful opening of another; messages told in surreal environments Schoenbrun excels at.
1 Late Night with the Devil
The found footage style gets an update in this original film
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Late Night With the Devil
R
Late Night with the Devil is a horror thriller starring David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy. Delroy is a late-night talk show host in 1977 trying to keep his broadcast on the air. But when he tries to communicate with the devil through a young girl live on the air, things don’t go according to plan.
Director Cameron Cairnes , Colin Cairnes Release Date March 22, 2024 Studio(s) Image Nation Abu Dhabi , VicScreen , AGC Studios , Good Fiend Films , Future Pictures , Spooky Pictures Distributor(s) Umbrella Entertainment , Maslow Entertainment Writers Colin Cairnes , Cameron Cairnes Cast David Dastmalchian , Laura Gordon , Ian Bliss , Fayssal Bazzi , Ingrid Torelli , Rhys Auteri , Josh Quong Tart , Georgina Haig Runtime 86 Minutes Main Genre Horror
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Late Night with the Devil earned the metaphorical award for 2024’s most ingenious premise. The film is set up as a found-footage documentary of sorts, only it happens to be a recorded taping of a 1970s late-night talk show hosted by Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian). This particular episode finds Jack desperately attempting to earn high enough viewership to keep his show on the air. His idea is to dedicate the hour to an all-Halloween-themed episode, including communicating with the Devil, who could be possessing a young girl. To say this plan blows up in Jack’s face is putting it lightly.
As the movie ramps up and the tension builds, Late Night with the Devil takes its time to explore the timeless argument of skepticism vs. belief, grounding the story in a sense of reality.
Dastmalchian’s performance proved him a leading actor, especially in the horror genre. All eyes are on him almost constantly, and he carries the weight effortlessly. As the movie ramps up and the tension builds, Late Night with the Devil takes its time to explore the timeless argument of skepticism vs. belief, grounding the story in a sense of reality. Jack’s history, the loss of his wife, and the background of the possessed girl, Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), gives the movie substance as the story heads into a brutal third act that ends in the only way it should have.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment