Every year I embark on quest to watch as many horror films as time will allow in the month of October. The number of films have fluctuated over the years (mostly in a downward trend) as my son and daughter have been born. These films don’t necessarily have to be released in the current year I’m watching in them, but often times they are. I’m not a cinephile or professional film reviewer and often have a higher threshold for critiquing films. Horror films can often be subjective and don’t fit in the normal subgenre such as slashers and paranormal. One of the scariest films I ever watched was the movie Gravity with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. I had never been so frightened in my life and my chest felt heavy until the credits started to roll. So if there is a film you don’t deem as “scary” on this list, remember it could be for someone else. I didn’t do one of these last year, but for reference, in 2023 I watched:
Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – 6/10
Scream 6 (2023) – 7/10
No One Will Save You (2023) – 7/10
Nope (2022) – 8/10
M3GAN (2023) – 8/10
Evil Dead Rise (2023) – 8/10
The Blackening (2023) – 9/10
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) – 9/10
Without further adieu, here is what I thought about my 2024 crop of films…
12. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) – 3/10
Where to even begin. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should is certainly a lesson that can be applied here. This is what can happen when a popular intellectual property (IP) enters the public domain. It’s why Disney will fight and pay their way for as long as they can before one of their IPs reach it. Horror doesn’t need to be high concept to be good, but it should have some thought and heart. Blood and Honey is just devoid of any of this and actually made me sad watching it. None of anything makes any sense in the film other than to shock you as to what Winnie the Pooh and Piglet will do next in their murderous plot against humanity. If you don’t want to watch and want a cliff notes version that doesn’t spoil anything outside the first two minutes of the film: Christopher Robin abandons these half-human, half-animal creatures to go to college. With their source of food gone, the 100 Acre Wood critters decide to eat Eeyore to survive. This drives them mad and develop a hatred of humans. Yep.
11. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (2024) – 3/10
Is this really better, or does this just have better production values? Who knows!!! This entry gives our friends from the 100 Acre Woods an even creepier backstory/lore and all the while upping the kills and gore. This film doesn’t limit the action to just Pooh and Piglet this time and adds a creepy version of Tigger and haunting portrayal of Owl. Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Gopher are still nowhere to be found (though we are getting a second sequel, so there is still a chance!). None of this movie makes any sense and falls into some even lazier tropes than I’m used to watching. They even had to recast Christopher Robin (who the actor is somehow worse).
10. Fire Island (2023) – 4/10
A slasher film on the infamous Fire Island off the coast of Long island? That is the premise that initially sold me and I also love to support LGBTQ+ representation in film. It starts off strong with the timeframe during the height of the COVID pandemic. You’d think with that subtext going they could make a more convincing commentary, but in the end it falls flat. The acting from the five main leads are all strong and the set-up gives plenty of entertainment. It is a shame that it couldn’t quite stick the landing in my opinion.
9. Maxxxine (2024) – 6/10
The closing film of the “X’ Trilogy, of which “X” and “Pearl” proceeded it. Sadly, this is the worst of the trilogy. Maxxxine suffers a bit from being a bit too over-the-top, though maybe that was intentional with its 80’s slasher vibes. Mia Goth is amazing as always and carries the film. It is the story that lacks. The villain reveal isn’t surprising at all if you have seen “X”. The kills are great and I actually did like the the ending overall as it felt like a proper closing for Maxine.
8. Thanksgiving (2023) – 7.5/10
They don’t make slashers like they used, where it is a fun whodunit as well. Eli Roth does Eli Roth things and is quite sadistic, but there is enough camp here that it all works. I do think this is Roth’s best film and amazing that it got its beginning as a fake trailer during Tarantino’s Grindhouse double-feature. It isn’t fine-film, but pretty good for horror.
7. Abigail (2024) – 8/10
This is easily the best vampire flick that has come out in years. The trailer gives much of the premise away, so I’m not exactly spoiling this for you. During a heist, a little girl is kidnapped for ransom as the kidnappers await their reward from her supposedly rich father. While in this secluded and suddenly inescapable mansion they soon discover that this little girl is a vampire and she is not happy. There are more twists and turns as the film goes on with backstories for Abigail and her captors. The kills are fun and the performances ham it up (but not too much). Its the setting and premise that really sets this one apart from recent vampire films that made it most appealing/enjoyable for me.
6. The Watchers (2024) – 8/10
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter made a horror film and its quite good! Ironically, I don’t think M. Night has made a film this good in a long time. The movie is just shrouded in mystery for about 3/4 of it until all the curtains get pulled back and you get a better picture of who these “Watchers” are and what they are doing to our main characters. Dakota Fanning is solid in the lead, but I feel like she is almost too good for this role and a little miscast. The ambiance in this are just creepy and gives some “Signs” vibes with a little Guillermo del Toro thrown in. This even has a fun twist in the end! Like father, like daughter am I right?
5. Talk To Me (2023) – 8/10
This one got recommended to me quite often and I can see why now. The is an Australian film that really delves into emotional grief and trauma in an interesting way. The “kids” in this movie have obtained an embalmed arm that has the power to show those holding the hand a ghost from the spirit realm. Of course things go awry in a situation and sets in motion a journey for the main character that she does not expect. This could be a tough watch for someone who has recently experienced loss of a loved one.
4. Pearl (2022) – 8.5/10
The middle film in the “X” trilogy and the one that might be my favorite. The cinematography is incredible, giving it a throwback look of a 30’s film. You get to see the origins of Pearl from the first film and boy is it a story worth telling. Mia Goth is excellent, as always. She embodies the character just as quickly as she had with Maxine and older Pearl in “X”. This is definitely an ode to filmmaking in general and appeals to those cinephiles in its style and creativity.
3. I Saw The TV Glow (2024) – 8.5/10
Going into the film I was told this is just a film that sticks with you well after you watch it. They were absolutely right. While this might not be traditional horror, it emotional/psychological effects certainly quality for me. The allegory, while it might not be apparent in the beginning, shows through in the end to really close the loop. It is a deeply moving film almost “Lynchian” in its telling, all the while tackling heavy themes of identity. You follow two kids who quickly become connected through a very “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”-eque show and the trauma they deal with and carry. One is too afraid to express that, the other does and feels victimized. By the end it will have you either sobbing and/or thinking of your own self and who you are.
2. A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) – 9/10
It is rare that a prequel to an established series of films can outshine them so easily. You connect through the two main characters, played brilliantly by Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn. It is a deeply emotional film as you see the start of the alien pandemic you see in the first and second film. The tension is gripping and the action/effects are top notch. I was honestly amazed how well-directed (Michael Sarnoski) this was for a second-time feature filmmaker. It makes me want to watch his first film “Pig” now.
1. Late Night with the Devil (2024)
This should be nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, but it won’t because it is a horror movie. I totally dug the look and feel of the film as late-night TV is fascinating to me. In this you follow a once prominent late-night talk show host as he tries to resurrect his show before it is cancelled. He brings on a number of guests on a special Halloween episode. I won’t spoil, but things quickly go awry and you begin questioning what might or might not be real. David Dastmalchian gives an award winning performance as Jack Delroy in which he can finally shine as a lead actor. Jack has had recent tragedy and a history that might all be connected. This is a must-watch horror film for all those who appreciate the genre.
