Summary
- 2024 was a standout year for horror, with diverse stories like body horror and slashers.
- Memorable performances in movies like Longlegs and Heretic captivated audiences.
- Unique sequels like Smile 2 and Terrifier 3 brought fresh perspectives to the horror genre.
Thanks to Barbarian, the fifth Scream film, and Pearl, 2022 was a stand-out year for the horror genre, which made fans wonder how 2023’s horror movies would shape up. 2024 was another thrilling year for spooky stories and proved that audiences will see new scary films in droves. Slashers, tales about ghosts, body horror, and more are all fair game.
As 2025 quickly approaches, fans of frightening flicks have a lot to look forward to. But it’s also a good time to reflect on the last 12 months and all the fun and entertaining movies that played on the big screen. From a gory sequel to a gruesome story about youth and beauty, these are the best 2024 horror movies that everyone will be talking about for a long time.
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The Substance
Demi Moore’s body horror movie The Substance could win the award for being the most talked about horror movie of 2024. While some people found it too gross, others thought the story of a woman’s desire to be young and beautiful forever was endlessly gripping. The movie proved that Moore should explore the spooky genre more and also featured a great performance by Margaret Qualley, who has another horror movie lined up.
In an interview with The Guardian, Moore talked about the message of The Substance and how she felt about it. She said:
“It was a very hard film, very raw; very vulnerable to make. But at the same time liberating. I had less pressure than Margaret, because she had the added pressure to look amazing. I degrade throughout and I knew going in that I wasn’t going to be shot in the most glamorous way, or with the edges softened. In fact, the opposite. But there was something freeing about that.”
Longlegs
Longlegs was not only a record-breaking horror movie, according to Forbes, but it was also yet another example of why Maika Monroe is one of the best horror actresses around. After starring in the beloved 2014 movie It Follows and the feminist film Watcher, Monroe took on one of her most memorable and arresting characters. Monroe played FBI agent Lee Harker who chases a serial killer named Longlegs (Nicolas Cage).
Many fans likely checked the movie out because they were curious to see Cage as a serial killer, and that is definitely the most interesting part of the promise. But there’s so much more to this movie, which is sophisticated and well-crafted.
From the Longlegs ending to the little moments in between, every scene is fascinating and proof of what can be achieved with the slasher genre. It’s more than the typical cat-and-mouse game, although it has been compared to the brilliant Silence of the Lambs, which is also about an intelligent woman whose life becomes interwined with a killer.
Heretic
Who wouldn’t want to see Hugh Grant play one of the most mysterious horror movie characters ever written? Released in November 2024, Heretic quickly became a favorite for many. The story centers around two nuns who knock on Grant’s character’s door and realize they’re in for more than they anticipated.
Everyone can watch Heretic at home now, which is great news since this is some of Grant’s finest work. He’s cheeky and charming yet horrifying, and the entire movie has an impressive tense tone that never lets up for a second. In an interview with NPR, Grant talked about playing an evil character and said:
“I’m fascinated by it. And it’s fun for actors. And it’s also always interesting and magnetic for audiences. They’re always drawn to the bad guy rather than the dreary goody two shoes lead.”
Smile 2
Smile 2 is another stand-out 2024 horror movie thanks to how unique it feels, which is no easy feat for a sequel. There are so many reasons to praise this movie. For one thing, Smile 2 is scary and funny. For another, it tells a creative story about a pop singer haunted by a curse that makes her see people grinning no matter where she goes.
While there are a lot of movies that feature creepy grins, including films about killer dolls with seemingly innocent smiles on their faces, the Smile franchise is different. The movies are about grief, loss, trauma, facing fears, processing emotions, and identity. These serious themes make Smile and Smile 2 particularly impressive. Whether fans want to see it again or people didn’t get the chance, Smile 2 is now available to watch at home.
Terrifier 3
Some franchises become duller the longer they go on. That isn’t the case with Damien Leone’s Terrifier movies. Whether or not Art The Clown is human, he’s a villain for the ages, and he went on another brutal killing spree in Terrifier 3.
Terrifier 3 could start a trend because the Christmas setting is so much fun. But no matter where the franchise goes from here, there’s a lot to appreciate about the third movie in the franchise. Although it doesn’t shy away from bloody kills, which are too much for some audiences, the final girl character Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) makes the third movie worth watching. Art The Clown remains a compelling figure who is chaotic, wild, intense, and, well, terrifying.
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