Best Horror of 2024
Greetings, everyone.
For those who haven’t been here before, my name is Robert J Gannon. I am a weird fiction author, media critic, mixed media artist, and educator. I’ve been running Sketching Details, a media criticism site focused on horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, since 2004. We take genre seriously here and give it the credit it deserves.
As a little treat, let’s break down some of the best horror released in 2024.
The Substance
Writer/Director Coralie Fargeat’s body horror triumph is still sweeping the world and potentially on its way to Oscar gold, likely in Makeup & Hairstyling and potentially in Best Actress for Demi Moore. The tragic, deeply satirical story of Elizabeth Sparkle, a former Hollywood It Girl forced out of the business due to her age, using an experimental drug compound to reinvent her career as Sue is incredible. It’s as smart as it is bloody, and the gooey finale used 20000 gallons of fake blood.
The Substance is streaming on Mubi.
I Saw the TV Glow
Writer/Director Jane Schoenbrun redefines queer horror in the greatest horror as metaphor for coming out story ever told. Owen becomes obsessed with teenage horror/drama The Pink Opaque, a monster of the week show, but he’s told it’s “a girl show” and isn’t allowed to watch by his parents. Enter Maddie, an older girl, who invites Owen to watch The Pink Opaque at her house, leading to an unexpected bond over a TV show. The Pink Opaque is a fluffy little teen drama for most people; not Owen and Maddie. It’s a matter of life and death to them.
I Saw the TV Glow is streaming on Max and Hulu.
Late Night with the Devil
Come for the never-before-seen interview of a demon on broadcast TV; stay for the masterful performance of David Dastmalchian as TV host Jack Delroy. In this lost media horror film, Jack decides to interview a teenager who believes she is possessed by a demon on live TV. It…does not go well.
Late Night with the Devil is streaming on Shudder.
Abigail
You like camp with your horror? You like silly and gory in equal measure? Try Abigail. This over the top vampire story about an unwitting band of criminals kidnapping ballerina Abigail from her rich family is a wild ride. Abigail, played marvelously by Matilda-star Alisha Weir, is an instant icon in the world of horror monsters. The ensemble cast of criminals led by our scream queen Melissa Barrera (star of the Scream reboot and Scream VI) commit to the bit and fill the screen with tons of laughs.
Abigail is streaming on Prime.
Nosferatu
Robert Eggers adapted and directed Nosferatu. Of course it’s amazing. It’s not quite what I expected, but it is beautiful, haunting, and filled with memorable moments. Lily-Rose Depp is perfectly shattered as the entranced newlywed Ellen Hutter, torn between her love for her new husband Thomas (Nicholas Hault embracing those horror chops from R) and the mysterious Count Orlock (Bill Skarsgård giving one of the best horror villain performances of all time).
Nosferatu is streaming on Peacock.
Lisa Frankenstein
I love a good girl power horror. Lisa Frankenstein, from Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Zelda Williams, follows Lisa (Katherine Newton, who exploded this year with the one-two punch of Lisa Frankenstein and Abigail) falling in love with an accidentally reanimated corpse. No, I will not explain further. Watch it.
Lisa Frankenstein is streaming on Prime.
Your Monster
Speaking of, “No, I will not explain further,” Your Monster also came out this year. Starring scream queen Melissa Barrera, Your Monster is the story of Laura. Laura’s life is falling apart even before she finds out she actually does have a monster living in her closet. A monster that might be interested in something more than just scares. Perhaps, love? Watch it. Trust me.
Your Monster is streaming on Max.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
With a title like that, it goes without saying that you should protect yourself and only watch the film if you’re in a safe place to confront heavy psychological content. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is a breathtaking coming-of-age horror film from writer/director Ariane Louis-Seize and co-writer Christine Doyon. Sasha is a young vampire unwilling to kill a victim to drink blood. When her supplies run low, she comes up with a plan, which you can imagine from the title. This is a beautiful, thought-provoking horror film that has to be seen to be believed.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is streaming on Mubi and Shudder.
I have to cut myself off at some point. I keep going “oh and this one…oh and this one…oh and this one.” I didn’t even get to touch on games, books, or TV. We’re in a horror renaissance right now and I couldn’t be happier.
