I watched roughly 60 horror movies this year and these were my Top 10 favorites.

Let’s start with the Honorable Mentions…

Chime (Japan)

Kyoshi Kurosawa, who wrote and directed one of my favorite Japanese horror films, Kairo, delivers an equally unnerving tale here about an auditory virus that compels those infected to carry out violent acts.  It’s a terrific set-up that, at a run time of a little over an hour, is not fully explored.  Instead, we are left with what feels like an unfinished macabre masterpiece.

Sleep (South Korea)

Jason Yu’s directorial debut (based on his own original script) is suspenseful, well-paced story about a woman struggling to address her husband’s spooky late-night sleepwalking who begins to suspect the somnambulism may be supernatural in origin.  Great build-up and some memorable scenes (including the wife laying out her theory of ghostly possession via a powerpoint presentation), but the ending feels too pat.  Also, had to dock this movie marks for killing off not one, but two dogs.

Milk & Serial

Purportedly made for $800 and then uploaded to youtube for free where it has garnered, at last check, 1.4 million views, Curry Baker’s found footage horror film punches well above its weight class in its exploration of online prank culture.  There are a few instances that stretch credulity but at about an hour long, it was a quick and entertaining watch.

Rita (Gautemala)

Wow.  This is a tough one to rank, both for its troubling subject matter and out-there execution of the bizarre world it crafts, yet the fact that its more fantasy than horror places it just outside of the Top 10.  The titular character, Rita, is a 13-year-old transferred to a prison run by witches and demons, its inmates a mix of angels and supernatural beings.  The fact that writer-director Jayro Bustamante found inspiration from true events made this one a sad, at times difficult, but ultimately rewarding watch.

And now, on to the Top 10…

10  Infested (France)

Basically a French version of Arachnophobia minus the goofy comedy but with an undercurrent of subtle humor that never undermines the horror.  A Parisian tenement is infested with killer spiders when one of the residents makes an ill-advised purchase from a backroom exotic animal dealer.  If Jaws made you afraid of the water, this movie will make you think twice about putting on your shoes without checking inside first.

9  The First Omen (United States)

I’m usually not a big fan of prequels, but this turned out to be a worthy companion to the classic original.  Delightfully sinister, it delivers the carnage and ecclesiastical conspiracy in equal measure.

8  Exhuman (South Korea)

A modern-day shaman and her team attempt to save a cursed newborn from a vengeful spirit.  While not all that scary and far too long at 2+ hours, it’s a compelling supernatural tale with some great characters and suspenseful storytelling.

7  Double Blind (Ireland)

I would consider this a worst case scenario for clinical trials.  A group of volunteers testing a new drug exhibit a lethal side effect: if they fall asleep, they die.  As the facility goes under lockdown, the group struggles to stay awake as paranoia grows.  A terrific set-up that pays off nicely in the form of a suspenseful and engrossing narrative.  I was initially put off by what I felt were plot holes in the ending but, after giving it some thought, I was able to address said plot holes to my satisfaction and so, this movie finds itself into my top 10.

6  Longlegs (United States)

An investigation into a string of murder-suicides leads an FBI agent to an occult conspiracy, and a deranged individual known as Longlegs. The narrative pieces don’t fully come together in a heavily telegraphed ending that fails to deliver in either surprising or satisfying fashion but, boy oh boy, does Nic Cage deliver one unnervingly weird performance as the titular character. That alone is worth your time.

5  MadS (France)

A one-take descent into grisly, visceral madness that sees a teenager pick up a seemingly injured stranger on the way to a party.  This one never lets up on its frenzied pace.  A wild, wild ride.

4  Alien: Romulus (United States)

A group of young scavengers board a derelict and doomed space station only to discover…they are not alone.  Boy, if you thought the Alien franchise had run out of steam, check out this latest installment which I think is the third best in the series (After Alien and Aliens).  Visually stunning.  If the Production Designer doesn’t get an Oscar nomination, I’ll be outraged.

3  Late Night with the Devil (United States)

A late night host’s live broadcast on Halloween of 1977 takes a terrifying turn. Loved the 70’s aesthetic and the movie’s first two acts, but Late Night with the Devil’s final act falls short, fumbling a nonsensical hypnosis sequence and tacking on a conspiracy angle that was done much better in The Conspiracy (2012).  Still, this one really stands out amongst the 2024 offerings.

2  Strange Darling (United States)

A deadly cat-and-mouse game ensues following a midnight stand.  Even though I guessed the twist early on, it in no way lessened my enjoyment of this dark and twisted non-linear narrative.  I’m not going to spoil it for you, so go check it out.

1  Oddity (Ireland)

Writer-Director Damian Mc Carthy’s first feature, Caveat, made my Horror Marathon Top 10 a few years back and his second feature, Oddity, proves an equally diabolical descent into Irish horror.   A woman seeks to avenger her sister’s murder through supernatural means.  Calculated and creepy in its slow burn suspense-filled unfurling.

So, what were your favorite horror movies of 2024?