(This article is part of our Best of 2024 series.)
This was a great year for movies, but particularly for horror. I saw a lot of great stuff this year, but to be honest, choosing this list wasn’t too hard. While I saw a lot of movies that I enjoyed or even loved, these were the ones that stuck with me. I included each of these because I walked away with a sense of “woah that was amazing.” I picked the ones that I’ve certainly been the most annoying about to each of my friends, and hopefully, I can pass on at least some of my hype.
Oddity
I saw this one on streaming after a friend recommended it, and I’m so glad he did because this one flew completely under my radar. Sure, it gets a little muddy in the middle, but there’s so much this movie does well. What will certainly stick with me more than anything though is the creepy wooden doll. I hate it! Every time it was in a scene I found myself gripping my armrest waiting for the damn thing to move. I also just love a horror movie with solid set-ups and equally solid pay-offs, and this movie definitely delivers.
If you want to know more about it (and don’t mind some shameless self-promotion), you can read my full review here.
Late Night with the Devil
I’m glad I caught this one in theaters. The idea of a found-footage movie isn’t exactly original, but Late Night with the Devil makes it feel new and fresh. It’s also just shot incredibly well, making you really invested in the story even though it’s clear from the get-go everything is going to go wrong. David Dastmalchian is great, and it was fun to see him in a leading role really showing his acting strengths. Also, the use of practical effects (and puppets) is damn impressive. It’s worth checking out.
Juror #2
This one snuck up on me out of nowhere, but I’m thankful to the folks on the SAW team for alerting me to its existence. I will truly never forgive Warner Bros. for throwing this movie out to die, especially since I’d argue it’s one of Clint Eastwood’s best directorial works. It’s genuinely moving and tackles a topic that deserves to be explored more. Nicholas Hoult is at his absolute best here, and Toni Collette once again showed that she’s the GOAT. I’ve been recommending this one left and right since I saw it, and it will almost certainly become a cult classic.
More shameless self-promotion, but I also wrote a full review of this one.
Dune: Part Two
As a lover of the book, this film took my breath away. So many scenes from the book were depicted in all their majesty and the changes they made still kept with the spirit of the story. There are few stories that better show the rise of a charismatic leader, and Denis Villeneuve again shows us his love and care for the source material. The cast showed up once again with powerhouse performances, particularly from Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson. The ending left me hungry for more, and I’m eagerly awaiting the adaptation of Dune: Messiah in the coming years.
The Substance
It’s no secret that the team here at SAW loves this movie, and I am no exception. From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew I was going to love this movie. It’s bonkers in the best way. While you could compare it to other body horror films (like Cronenberg’s The Fly), nothing is quite like this. Demi Moore is a legend, and this is her best performance of all time. I was looking forward to seeing Margaret Qualley in this too after her solid performance in Death Stranding, and she’s also on her A game. It’s not going to be for everyone, but if this works for you, you’re going to love it. Side note: the grossest part of the movie is definitely the shrimp scene. The sounds! It’s disgusting!
What are your thoughts on the movies that made my top five? Share them down below!