Horror is a genre that lends well to a broad spectrum of emotion, and in 2021, we got horror films that were weird, funny, bleak, and also cathartic experiences. So, we put together a list of the Top Horror Movies of 2024. From inventive original concepts, genre-blending experiences, gruesome takes on feminism, and two that embrace legacies, these are our top.
To make our Top Horror Movies in 2024 list, the film had to have a release available to United States audiences in the calendar year of 2024. That means festival films that have not come out in theaters or on digital platforms can’t make the Top Horror Movies of 2024 list.
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Additionally, horror is a broad genre that intersects with others. Films included here are either pitched as horror by the studios, on a horror streaming platform, categorized as such, or use horror themes to propel its narrative — save the “this isn’t horror” argument for social media.
So, without further ado, here are our Top 20 Horror Movies of 2022.
20. The Piano Lesson
Director: Malcolm Washington
Writer: Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington
“…The score and the music succeed because of the people. The characters make the score electric, bringing Alexandre Desplat’s compositions to life. The film is kinetic and dynamic and reveals the multitude of emotions that run through one house and the generations that call it home.
The Piano Lesson is the best-acted film, thanks to Danielle Deadwyler and John David Washington. The duo seals in the film’s timeless magic, which echoes deeply from screen to heart. An adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, The Piano Lesson is one of Netflix’s most beautiful and emotive films.” —Kate Sánchez
The Piano Lesson is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
19. It’s What’s Inside
“It’s What’s Inside takes a well-explored concept, capitalizes on it, and reinvigorates it. Without revealing too much about the film, the tightness of Jardin’s script and the charisma of the actors is second to none. As the actors begin to change from one character to another, they each have to be believable in their new skin. It pays off every time.
It’s What’s Inside is a fantastic film, a perfect Midnighter, and a new take on a party game all in one. You have to watch it the moment it releases.” —Kate Sánchez
It’s What’s Inside is available to rent on Netflix.
18. Alien: Romulus
Director: Fede Alvarez
Writer: Rodo Sayagues
“Alien: Romulus is an astounding time at the theater. The strength of Alvarez’s command of atmosphere and confinement allows the set pieces to speak volumes and keep you clenching your armrest. Despite its hiccups, this is a film I would watch and rewatch in the theater and enjoy it more each time. Just a bit below greatness, Alien: Romulus shows a bright future for the franchise if Alvarez keeps at the helm.
Alien: Romulus is the Alien film I have been waiting for. While I don’t think anything will ever reach the pinnacle of the original film, Alien: Romulus is a horror-forward swing for the fences with a third act that is uniquely unsettling. With more than enough aesthetic, dialogue, and narrative parallels with the original film, this sequel manages to establish itself as a sharp and thrilling entry that embodies what the franchise is all about.” —Kate Sánchez
Alien: Romulus is available to rent on Hulu & Disney+.
17. Your Monster
Director: Caroline Lindy
Writer: Caroline Lindy
“The film’s character work is fantastic, of course, but so is the set design and costuming. In a practical effects sense, Your Monster is stunning. The monster in the closet isn’t just believable; he’s sexy, and that’s really what a monster lover story calls for. The devotion to practical effects work, original music, and allowing [Melissa] Barrera to sell it all makes Your Monster an absolute stunner.
Your Monster is a weird, dark, and fantastical tale. Laura is a cathartic character, and with a killer finale, this is a film that everyone who has struggled to push back needs to watch. An indie film that uses ingenuity and creativity at every single turn, it’s sublime. Love your monster, embrace your monster, let it out.” —Kate Sánchez
Your Monster is available to rent on Prime Video and VOD.
16. V/H/S Beyond
Director: Jay Cheel, Jordan Downey, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin Martinez, Virat Pal, Kate Siegel
Writer: Evan Dickson, Jordan Downey, Christian Long, Justin Long, Mike Flanagan, Virat Pal, Kevin Stewart, Benjamin A. Turner
“V/H/S/Beyond is the whole package. It’s not only “good for a V/H/S movie,” but it’s actually excellent on its own. Whether horror anthologies are your thing or not (they’re certainly not my favorite kind of horror films), there’s a sense of quality control across the board here that makes V/H/S/Beyond one of the few horror anthologies of late that’s an easy recommendation.
Call it the tweaking of the concept, coincidence, or a careful selection of filmmakers, but V/H/S/Beyond indicates that the series may have finally found the secret formula to make watching a collection of horror shorts feel like a holistic experience.” —James Preston Pool
15. Strange Darling
Director: Parker Finn
Writer: Parker Finn
“Love hurts, love scars, or, in the case of Strange Darling, “love” will have you running away from your disastrous one-night stand. Strange Darling is the perfect example of people not being all they appear to be and is full of intriguing twists. The film has something to say, and if it does register with you, then it’ll make for a treat to analyze. It’s a horror thriller that doesn’t shy away from bizarre or heart-pounding moments throughout its runtime. And the moment Strange Darling reveals one of the biggest twists of all, you’ll rethink everything you had thought prior.
As far as original horror movies go, Strange Darling is quite unique in how it tells its story and what it does with its own plot. The dreamy and grainy look that’s created by using 35mm film really aids in the viewing experience. It makes Strange Darling feels like some kind of dream-turned nightmare. Strange Darling is the type of original horror film that’s most enjoyable when you don’t know what’s going to happen. Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner knock it out of the stratosphere with their performances, so you’ll have a good time either way.” —Vanessa Maki
14. Longlegs
Director: Osgood Perkins
Writer: Osgood Perkins
“Osgood Perkins has shown his ability to craft absolutely horrifying landscapes and situations for his characters. That continues with Longlegs. Yes, Cage and Monroe are large reasons for the film’s stirring success. But it’s Perkins’ tightening of the noose before knocking you off the stool that makes the narrative’s execution thrilling.
An FBI thriller that replicates moments of genre history, it pivots into hellish occult that makes it something special. Longlegs is a deeply unsettling experience from beginning to end. It’s sharp yet subtle in the best ways.” —Kate Sánchez
13. Oddity
Director: Damian Mc Carthy
Writer: Damian Mc Carthy
Oddity is viscerally scary with a sound design that constantly disorients and pulls the rug out from under you. Using one location, a wood golum, and a whodunnit to propel its narrative, this quiet horror film is constantly looking to make you jump. A film that reminds the viewer that a good jump scare is actually not a bad thing; this look at love and the awful way it consumes people is one hell of a scare-fest.
Oddity is streaming now on AMC+ and to rent on Prime Video.
12. Terrifier 3
Director: Damien Leone
Writer: Damien Leone
“The practical effects here are unmatched. Art and Victoria deconstruct a body, revealing all kinds of nasty bits one never even knew existed. Furthermore, just as he listened to criticisms of the first film’s lack of a plot for the second film, Leone seems to have listened to the criticism of his films’ female victims getting the worst of it. This time around, Art is an equal opportunity offender, killing both men and women indiscriminately. However, it’s easy to see discourse amassing over Art’s victimizing children, and perhaps rightfully so.
But that’s the magic of what makes Terrifer 3 work. In an era where we’ve seen just about everything in horror, it can still shock. These films have captured the zeitgeist, and Terrifier 3 represents the furthest a modern horror movie has gone in a while. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to the viewer’s particular taste, but it’s undoubtedly gutsy. If the Terrifier project’s goal is to build a totally singular, boundary-annihilating experience that will rattle even the most seasoned gorehounds, Terrifier 3 might be Damien Leone’s masterpiece.” —James Preston Pool
Terrifier 3 is streaming now on AMC+ and to rent on Prime Video.
11. The First Omen
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
Writer: Arkasha Stevenson, Tim Smith, Keith Thomas
“The screenplay’s dissection of authority, entitlement, and claim over women’s bodies is timely. Stevenson’s influence on these subjects is clear and markedly different from that of the competing nun film Immaculate. While ratings are a factor in how certain scenes are executed, women’s pain is not wholly up for display here. Stevenson’s direction and Aaron Morton’s lens paint a sense of voyeurism without being intrusive. Whether switching from Margaret’s perspective to an outsider p.o.v., there’s always a sense someone is watching…
The First Omen pays tribute to its predecessors while laying down the pathway for the future. It more than justifies the reasons for its existence while incorporating new horrors to make audiences squirm. By the time the credits roll, The First Omen will have you thinking about the hypocrisy of the powers-that-be, bodily autonomy, and then some with this fitting prequel.” —Sarah Musnicky
The First Omen is streaming now on AMC+ and to rent on Prime Video.
10. Late Night With The Devil
Director: Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes
Writer: Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes
“Late Night With The Devil is exquisitely paced. The story unfolds in real time throughout one late-night show recording. At just 93 minutes, the film is the perfect length and doesn’t sacrifice any character-building because of it. By introducing the film with Jack’s background, the quick exposition sets up all the dominoes that are about to fall. We know the stakes and who Jack is. We know his loss, and we know that nothing is going to go as planned. Entering the film with this found footage weight hanging over it is expertly exploited…
Late Night With The Devil nails comedy and horror in equal measure despite drawing a quick line between the two as the film hits its halfway point. Another horror jewel in Dastmalchian’s crown, this film is unlike anything you’ve seen and worth watching on the biggest screen.” —Kate Sánchez
Late Night With The Devil is streaming now on Hulu, AMC+, and to rent on Prime Video.
9. Smile 2
Director: Parker Finn
Writer: Parker Finn
“When Smile premiered last year at Fantastic Fest, it felt like a loud and mean return for theater horror in a big way. Whether it was the creepy viral marketing campaigns at baseball games or the terrifying grins, the film felt like a pop culture moment. That said, I didn’t think we really needed another one. In Smile 2, the sequel to 2023’s Smile, Parker Finn returns as the writer and director, and he doubles down on his concept, exaggerating it and twisting it in new absurd ways that create a much-needed balance between ridiculous premise and absolutely grotesque and intense violence…
Smile 2 is the kind of sequel I didn’t know I needed. It’s just as mean as the first film, but it also captures the vibrancy of pop stardom. Balancing levity and violence, horrific imagery, and situations with campier moments of possessed backup dancers, Finn exceeds all expectations. Smile 2 is one of the best theater horror experiences of the year. From sound and costumes to jump scares and violence, Smile 2 is just damn good.” —Kate Sánchez
Smile 2 is available to rent on Prime Video and VOD.
8. Red Rooms
Director: Pascal Plante
Writer: Pascal Plante
“It’s the climax of Red Rooms that transforms it from just being a good film to mandatory viewing. Without spoiling, Kelly-Anne goes into the dark web to find missing evidence. Her journey into the drudges of the internet is not only the most accurate depiction of TOR (The Onion Router) browsers seen in mainstream film…
Red Rooms ends with the subtlety of shoving a mirror directly into the audience’s face. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, one that is initially tough to sit with but becomes the entire film’s mantra. Red Rooms is a gutting, slick, surprising take on true crime that makes its audience rampant with one of the defining cultural obsessions of the modern era. It’s a monster transformation in slow motion, one that is all the more sickening because we’re the ones who bring ourselves to that point out of our selfish need to insert ourselves into the macabre.” —James Preston Pool
Red Rooms is available to rent on Prime Video and VOD.
7. Heretic
Director: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Writer: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
“East’s Sister Paxton is a necessary dose of comedic relief and joy when paired with Reed and Thatcher’s Sister Barnes. She remains the beacon of hope amidst the darkness in these trials, with Thatcher’s more nuanced, serious Barnes serving as a force meant to challenge. While Grant is very much in his element in Heretic, East and Barnes ensure they are not steamrolled. Instead, they both shine equally, opposite to Grant’s overt trickster energy.
For some, Heretic may prove an exercise in patience. This is an incredibly wordy script framed mostly as a theological debate, something that easily sparks tension just from the subject matter. With Hugh Grant’s sadistic, theologically obsessed villain, that’s enough to silence haters. Or at least, it may be enough to convince anyone to endure conversations that remind them of awkward holiday family dinners.” —Sarah Musnicky
Heretic is available to rent on Prime Video and VOD.
6. Cuckoo
Director: Tilman Singer
Writer: Tilman Singer
“The largest element of the film that needs to be talked about is the hard third-act swerve, but if I did, I’d rob you of one of the best “oh sh * t” moments I’ve watched in a horror film. With a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of raw energy, Schafer’s Gretchen is an excellent final girl and a character you can identify with at the same time.
Cuckoo is a testament to doing a lot with a little and the enduring power of the uncanny valley. Dan Stevens and Hunter Schafer make a powerhouse team, and the film’s mythology makes a story entirely engrossing, just over the right edge of weird.” —Kate Sánchez
Cuckoo is available to rent on Prime Video and VOD.
5. The Substance
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Writer: Coralie Fargeat
“…The Substance is perhaps the grossest, nastiest thing to come out this year. With pedal-to-the-metal performances from all, horrifyingly creative gore, goo, and everything in between, and a narrative and thematically unique and fresh fable, The Substance is a knockout.
On the surface, it’s an untamed, gruesome body horror containing nonstop entertainment to no end. But its mastermind Fargeat, nearing her 50s herself, ensures this tale contains much deeper connotations and a serious social commentary. And when looking past the blood, bodily fluids, and carnage, it’s a bleak and woeful reality that could use more films like this to spur more constant conversation, lest things are fated never to evolve or change.” —Anna Miller
The Substance is available to rent on Prime Video.
4. SLEEP
Director: Jason Yu
Writer: Jason Yu
“A simple film that doesn’t hide behind effects work, SLEEP takes full advantage of its powerfully talented leads. Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi have acted together a number of times before, and as a married couple, they are believable in an almost unquantifiable way. It’s not just the way that they talk to each other through the scripted dialogue but the glances they share, the small touches, and how they share a space that builds a dynamic chemistry that makes the film’s twists and impact all the more intense.
Taking place primarily in one location, director Jason Yu is able to use the apartment’s rooms and doors to great claustrophobic effect, making what you can’t see as rich and fulfilling as the things you can. As a directorial debut, Yu has shown his attention to using a small budget to be innovative, thoughtful, and excel.
SLEEP is an intimate horror story that has two endings depending on which path you choose to take. The ghost could be real, or Hyun-su could be making the choice to never abandon his wife’s side. It’s a testament to how strong the script is that no matter the reality, it still resonates.” —Kate Sánchez
SLEEP is available on Prime Video.
3. Nosferatu
Director: Robert Eggers
Writer: Robert Eggers
“To call Nosferatu (2024) a decadent exploration of restraint seems like hypocrisy. Yet, Eggers’s stillness allows his larger-than-life titular character, his obsession, and his violence to breathe. The quiet moments in the film allow the vibrantly violent elements to expand in their place. The deaths mean more, the fear means more, and the yearning runs bone deep…
Nosferatu (2024) shows that Robert Eggers has not finished growing as a filmmaker. With each subsequent film beautifully different from the last, Nosferatu (2024) charts a path for the future of an iconic character but also establishes that Eggers is here to stay. He is deeply rooted in horror, in storytelling, and in bathing his audience in the grandeur of the damned, no matter the time period he chooses.” —Kate Sánchez
Nosferatu is playing in theaters December 25, 2024.
2. Handling The Undead
Director: Thea Hvistendahl
Writer: Thea Hvistendahl, John Ajvide Lindqvist
“The film builds its drama and trauma in thin layers of intimate moments as every family desperately wants to be whole again.
Handling the Dead is a horror film, but it’s one that invests time in how terrifying and unsettling grief can be. Does a body mean more than a memory? Is letting go a second death or simply an understanding of the first? There is no clear answer, with each character taking their own path through their pain. That’s what makes it painfully impactful.” —Kate Sánchez
Handling The Undead is streaming now on Hulu.
1. Exhuma
Director: Jang Jae-hyun
Writer: Jang Jae-hyun
“On the surface, Exhuma is a slow-building folk horror tale that surprises and shocks once the horror kicks in. But there’s so much to gain coming into the film with prior knowledge of Korea’s recent history. From the characters’ names to specific dialogue points to the grave’s location, Jae-Hyun’s Exhuma is a multi-layered tale of Korean resistance. This resistance is illustrated in its rituals and who administers them, from grave rites, the intricately detailed shamanistic displays on screen, and more.
Exhuma unfolds beautifully with each new chapter adding layers of foreboding amidst the horror. There’s so much for horror fans to love from Jae-Hyun’s latest. Just remember, once you start digging deeper, there’s so much you’ll never be able to look past again.” – Sarah Musnicky
Exhuma is streaming now on Shudder.
Whether you want b-movie comedy or deep stories about grief, these are our Top Horror Movies of 2024. Did your favorite film make our top horror movies of 2024 list? Let us know on social media: @butwhythopc.
