Happy Halloween!!!
This is my favorite time of year so I come bearing gifts. There were a lot of horror flicks released in 2024, (I’m still wading through a bunch) which is always excellent news for a horror fan. It has been a mixed bag, but I did find many worthy films to make my list.
13) Abigail
This was a fun movie spearheaded by Alisha Weir’s fine performance
A group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure and bring her to an isolated mansion. What could go wrong?
12) Late Night with the Devil:
A clever idea that was not as scary as I had hoped, but David Dastmalchian is magnificent as the late night talk show host trying to goose his ratings.
11) Arcadian:
A post apocalyptic film starring Nicolas Cage, who is trying to survive with his two sons after really great looking creatures unleashed hell on the planet. Cage continues to make a ton of movies and some of them are really good.
10) Infested
I’m not a big fan of bugs attacking people, but this french thriller was excellent. Don’t let the subtitles bother you. It had a “Rec” vibe to it and it was scary.
9) Exhuma
This cool movie is like a twofer. You’ll understand after you see it. South Koreans know how to make movies. It’s got Shaman’s and ghosts and ancient demons.
8) A Quiet Place: Day One
This is another great entry in the Quiet Place cannon brought to us by John Krasinski. If this is any indication, please keep making more movies.
7) The First Omen
This was an excellent film. It stands up on its own even without being a prequel to one of the great horror masterpieces.
6) Alien Romulus
I saw this in the theater and I really enjoyed it. The crabbers was creepier than ever. It doesn’t break new ground like Aliens did, but it had a vision and pulled it off.
5) Smile 2
I know, me too. I was pleasantly surprised that the sequel was much better than the original. Naomi Scott gives a bravura performance as the infected pop star. Writer/director Parker Finn rose to the challenge.
4) The Substance
The no holds barred performances of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley elevate this body horror show to grisly heights. I’m not a fan of body horror films because in lesser hands it would turn into a gore-feast which are so boring. Writer/director Coralie Fargeat would have none of that.
3) Oddity
“A psychic medium attempts to uncover the truth behind her sister’s murder at the site of the crime,” IMBD.
I love low budget horror films like this.
2) Longlegs
Oz Perkins came up with a creepy and offbeat serial killer movie starring the always good Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood Alicia Witt and yes, another Nicolas Cage film.
1) Strange Darling
This is my favorite horror film so far.
Great performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner (Veronica Mars) anchored the film that is shown out of order for a good reason.
It’s a trippy ride and the twists and turns are well deserved.
Trick or Treat. Don’t skimp on the candy.
