Top Horror Films of 2024
The “X” Trilogy
My Friend Dahmer
The Conjuring
The Conjuring is based on a real-life haunting. In the 1970s, the Perron family moves to a secluded home in Rhode Island, only to experience strange occurrences and supernatural phenomena. The family seeks help from paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who uncover the dark history of the house and a curse that traces back to a witch named Bathsheba.
The Six Demons of Emily Rose
This horror film, based on real events, revolves around the courtroom drama following the tragic story of Emily Rose—a young woman suffering from an unknown affliction. When her family turns to a priest for help, his exorcism rituals lead to her untimely death. In court, lawyer Erin Bruner argues that Emily’s possession was real and that Father Moore’s actions were guided by his religious beliefs. As the case unfolds, Erin herself starts to question the boundary between reality and the supernatural.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
This 1974 American horror film directed by Tobe Hooper was marketed as being inspired by real events, which helped widen its audience. While the character of Leatherface and certain plot elements were loosely inspired by the crimes of Ed Gein, much of the storyline is fictional. The film follows Sally and her wheelchair-bound brother, Franklin, who travel with friends to check on their grandfather’s grave after reports of vandalism. Nearby, they encounter a horrifying family, including the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface, who wears a mask made from human skin.
Terrifier
Directed by Damien Leone, this 2016 horror movie follows two women on Halloween night who encounter Art the Clown, a sadistic killer. After their car breaks down, they seek shelter in an abandoned building, awakening Art’s bloodthirsty pursuits by accident. With no help on its way, the women must rely on inner strength to survive as Art transforms their night into a nightmare.
Get Out
This 2017 horror film by Jordan Peele follows Chris Washington, an Afro-American photographer, as he visits his white girlfriend Rose’s family. Despite Rose’s reassurance that her family holds no racial biases, Chris senses unsettling behaviors. During a family gathering, Chris realizes the seemingly warm welcome conceals a terrifying secret, and his visit becomes a fight for survival.
Us
Directed by Jordan Peele, Us (2019) tells the story of Adelaide and Gabe, who take their children on a beach vacation. Haunted by a childhood trauma, Adelaide’s worst fears come to life when they are confronted by doppelgängers, or “Tethers,” armed and seeking revenge. Now, Adelaide must confront her darkest fears to protect her family.
Mama
This 2013 Spanish-Canadian horror film by Andrés Muschietti follows two young sisters left in a remote cabin in the woods by their father, who later dies under mysterious circumstances. Rescued years later by their uncle, the girls bring with them a sinister presence they call “Mama.” At first thought to be just a girls’ imagination, strange noises and shadows soon reveal that something supernatural has followed them, intent on keeping a watchful eye.
Nightmare on Elm Street
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” is a 1984 American horror film directed by Wes Craven, which was later relaunched in 2010. The story centers on Tina, who begins experiencing horrifying dreams about a sinister man with a glove of sharp blades. What she initially dismisses as just nightmares turns real when she discovers that her best friend Nancy, her boyfriend, and Nancy’s boyfriend are all haunted by the same figure—Freddy Krueger. Years before, Nancy’s mother was involved in burning Freddy alive, and now he’s back from the dead, seeking revenge in their dreams.
Speak No Evil
Released on September 12, 2024, this American psychological thriller directed by James Watkins is a remake of a Danish film from 2022. The plot follows an American family visiting British friends at a luxurious countryside estate. What begins as a fun vacation soon turns into a harrowing experience as the family finds themselves trapped by an unknown enemy. Realizing the danger, they are forced to adapt and fight for survival in what becomes a terrifying psychological thriller.
Salem’s Lot
Based on Stephen King’s novel, Salem’s Lot is a 2024 horror film directed by Gary Dauberman. The story follows writer Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown of Salem’s Lot to find inspiration for his new book. However, he soon notices disturbing changes: deserted streets at night, secretive locals, and a growing list of mysterious deaths and disappearances. As he digs deeper, Ben realizes that vampires have taken over, spreading terror over the town.
Longlegs
This thriller directed by Oz Perkins follows a series of grisly murders in 1990s Oregon, where fathers kill their families before taking their own lives, leaving cryptic notes at the crime scenes. FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), who possesses a gift for clairvoyance, is assigned to the case and must enter the mind of the killer to prevent further deaths, engaging in a psychological duel to solve the mystery.
Alien: Romulus
The seventh installment in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus is set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986) and directed by Fede Álvarez. The story follows Rain Carradine, an android named Andy, and a group of friends trying to escape from Weyland-Yutani’s mining colony. Their plan to steal cryo-capsules from an abandoned station backfires as they encounter a deadly alien infestation. The group must now survive against the terrifying xenomorphs lurking on the station.
Immaculate
Immaculate, directed by Michael Morgan, is a 2024 psychological horror thriller. The story revolves around Cecilia, who, after a life-changing tragedy, finds solace in joining a convent. However, shortly after her arrival, strange and terrifying events unfold, and it’s revealed that she is pregnant, though she has no memory of conceiving. While the sisters initially see her as carrying a miraculous child, it soon becomes clear that something far more sinister is at play.