Horror movies are back and better than ever in 2024, and the entertaining films have come from directors and veterans. While several horror films are pigeonholed to have predictive plots and endings, this might be a disregard for several genre-bending films that have ranked in popularity 

this year. In recent years, horror movies have explored a blend of psychotic and thrill plots and have started shining on voices that might have been overlooked in previous years. So, in this article, for your convenience, we have listed the horror movies of the year, and how have they garnered the attention of audiences.

Smile 2

Smile 2 is a psychological supernatural horror film. Releasing on October 18, 2024, the film is written and directed by Parker Finn and casts Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, a famous pop music recording artist, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner as Joel, a police officer who is cursed with the Smile Entity, and Lukas Gage as Lewis, Skye’s friend who passes the Smile Entity to her.

A sequel to Smile that earned commercial success in 2023, Smile 2 was announced when Finn announced a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures. The language is English and will be released by Paramount. The film stars Naomi Scott, who starts experiencing traumatizing events as she is about to go on a tour

The Devil’s Bath

A historical horror drama film, The Devil’s Bath was released on 20 February 2024, and earned positive reviews from the global audiences. Written and directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the film stars Anja Plaschg as Agnes, Maria Hofstätter as Mother Gänglin, David Scheid as Wolf, Natalija Baranova as Ewa Schikin, and Lukas Walcher as Luke.

With an IMDb of 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes of 90 percent, and 73 percent Metacritic, the film is based on the book suicide by Proxy in Early Modern Germany: Crime, Sin, and Salvation by Kathy Stuart as well as criminal trial records for Agnes Catherina Schickin (Württemberg, Germany, 1704) as well as Eva Lizlfellnerin (Puchheim, Austria, 1761-62).

The Substance

A satirical body horror film produced, written, and directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance was released on May 19, 2024. The cast of the film includes Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, Margaret Qualley as Sue, Dennis Quaid as Harvey, Gore Abrams as Oliver, Hugo Diego Garcia as Diego, and Phillip Schurer as Mr. Scream.

The plot features a fading celebrity who uses a black-market drug that create a younger version of herself; however, it brings a horror side effect. Along with several accolades, The Substance earned a 7.9 rating on IMDb, 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and 78 percent on Metacritic.

The Deliverance

An American supernatural horror film, The Deliverance is directed and written by David Coggeshall, and Elijah Bynum. It stars Andra Day as Ebony Jackson, an alcoholic mother of a Pennsylvania family whose children allegedly became demonically possessed, Glenn Close as Alberta Jackson, Ebony’s religious mother, Anthony B. Jenkins as Andre Jackson, Ebony’s youngest son, Caleb McLaughlin as Nathaniel “Nate” Jackson, Ebony’s eldest son, Demi Singleton as Shante Jackson, Ebony’s daughter, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Reverend Bernice James.

Released on August 16, 2024, the film began streaming on Netflix on August 30. The film received a rating of 5.1/10 on IMDb, 35 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and 39 percent on Metacritic.

The First Omen

A 2024 American supernatural horror film, directed by Araksha Stevenson, the film stars Nell Tiger Free as Margaret, an American sent to Rome to work at an orphanage before taking the veil, and Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan, a priest who warns Margaret of a conspiracy within the church, Sônia Braga as Sister Silva, the Abbess of Vizzardeli Orphanage in Rome, Tawfeek Barhom as Father Gabriel, a member of the Catholic clergy working at the orphanage, Maria Caballero as Luz, Margaret’s roommate at Vizzardeli, Charles Dance as Father Harris, a priest.

Cuckoo

A horror film written and directed by Tilman Singer, the horror film, Cuckoo cast is Nell Tiger Free as Margaret, an American sent to Rome to work at an orphanage before taking the veil, Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan, a priest who warns Margaret of a conspiracy within the church Sônia Braga as Sister Silva, the Abbess of Vizzardeli Orphanage in Rome, Maria Caballero as Luz, Margaret’s roommate at Vizzardeli, and Charles Dance as Father Harris, a priest.

The film, Cuckoo, had its world premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and London’s Raindance Film Festival.

Salem’s Lot

An American supernatural horror film, Salem’s Lot, is written and directed by Garry Dauberman and casts Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears], Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton, Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody, John Benjamin Hickey as Father Callahan, Bill Camp as Matthew Burke.

The plot centers on a writer who returns to a hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration and discovers the presence of a vampire.

The film receives an IMDb rating of 5.8/10, 48 percent Rotten Tomatoes, and 5/10 IGN.

Speak No Evil

An American psychological horror thriller film, the film is written and directed by James Watkins. A remake of the 2022 Danish Dutch film of the same name, the film stars James McAvoy as Paddy, Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton, Scoot McNairy as Ben Dalton, Aisling Franciosi as Ciara, Alix West Lefler as Agnes Dalton, Dan Hough as Ant, and Kris Hitchen as Mike.

The film premiered at the DGA Theater in New York City on September 24, 2024.

The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed 458 million worldwide against a budget of $15 million.

Strange Darling

An American thriller film, written and directed, starring Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr. Premiered at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, and was given a limited theatrical release on October 1, 2024. The film starred Willa Fitzgerald as the Lady, Kyle Gallner as the Demon, Barbara Hershey as Genevieve, Ed Begley Jr. as Frederick, Andrew Segal as Steve, Madisen Beaty as Gale, and Bianca Santos as Tanya.

On the review aggregator, the film received Rotten Tomatoes 95 percent of 136 critics positive reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.

Longlegs 

An American horror-thriller film, Longlegs, written and directed by Osgood Perkins, stars Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent assigned to the Longlegs case, Lauren Acala as young Lee, Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, an elusive serial killer whose real name is Dale Kobble, Michelle Choi-Lee as Agent Browning, one of Lee’s superiors.

Released On July 12, 2024, the series received critical acclaim and grossed $108.9 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film to release this year.

Final Words 

Centuries before, in 2010, cinematic horror ran out of steam. The horror, generally, in particular, fell out of savor for years. However, with a brief change in 2024, all of the above are worth catching, along with some of the goosebumps worthy to make your nights spooky.

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