Movies
Luis’ Top 5 Horror Movies of 2024
At this point, it feels a bit trite doing retrospectives on the year at the beginning of my articles. What can I say? 2024 was a long year packed with chaos and horror. I am glad 2025 is going to be…well, it’s not going to be 2024; at least we can say that!
Having time to mull over my thoughts on the films I saw last year, I had difficulty paring down my best from the multitude of films I saw. I originally thought this list was going to have Terrifier 3 on it because of the sheer hype and the theatergoing experience of it all; I was proven wrong just through the process of reflection. I thought I would mention quite a few more films that I saw at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, but I only really found myself captivated by one, which turned out to be an all-time great. And the one film I put off watching turned out to be my favorite film of the year by far.
All in all, it’s been a year of surprises, and every single film on this list reflects that in one way or another for me. So, whether you’ve seen them or not, here are the ones that I think deserve some accolades.
The Top 5 Best Horror Films of 2024
HONORABLE MENTION: ALIEN: ROMULUS
Close enough to being one of my favorites of the year that it should get some mention. I did describe Alien: Romulus as an almost perfect sequel after all, and barring some of the fanfare and a few cheap-feeling moments, Fede Alvarez engineers a machine of a film about as effective as the xenomorph. As a sequel, I have to quote our android friend Ash from the original film: I admire its purity.
Romulus illuminates the harrowing scope of Weyland-Yutani’s cold and unfeeling corporate evil in a new and effective way. There’s a humanity and terror here that’s been rare to the series at large, and I’m glad to see it nails that darker and more horror-oriented tone I would hope from the lauded Evil Dead director. It’s a crowd-pleaser first, certainly, but a really great film overall.
5. GRAFTED
What’s it about? A girl’s attempts to revive her father’s dangerous skin grafting experiments intersect with her desire to assimilate into the New Zealand community she immigrates to– with disastrous effects.
Why is it so good? When I reviewed Grafted in October, I said it was one of the best coming-of-age horror films of all time, and I stand by that. Joyena Sun and Jess Hong give performances you’d expect to only really see from seasoned vets. Playing opposite of each other, the disharmony between their characters drives many of the movie’s themes like the difficulties of cultural assimilation and the awkward nature of navigating young adulthood.
Where it leads them is downright captivating, as it demonstrates their emotional acting skills amidst the skin-crawling body horror that ties them together, and an even more skin crawling villain. This elevates an already clever script, that lands somewhere between Re-Animator and Jennifer’s Body in the most fun ways. Despite sharing quite a few similarities to another entry on this list, Grafted has its own distinct flavor of both black comedy and tragedy made light. Its ending hits like a train even when you’re aware it can’t go anywhere but to hell in a handbasket, and for that final shot, it will stick with you for a long while. Here’s to its release on Shudder soon!
4. ABIGAIL
What’s it about? A gang of criminals attempt to hold a millionaire’s daughter hostage, only to find themselves on the receiving end of a vampire ballerina beatdown. Pools of dead bodies and geysers of blood ensue.
Why is it so good? I am paraphrasing Brendan Fraser here, but Radio Silence are not underdogs; they’re champions who are overlooked. They rarely disappoint because they know how to make an incredibly fun, incredibly well-rounded movie whether they’re directing or producing; even their light work in more flawed films like Scream is made highly rewatchable because of the personal touch they have on the cinematography. In particular, I think their strong suit is how good they are at directing actors and getting just the right performance out of them.
Abigail does just that, and it is in my humble opinion, the best of their offerings thus far because of it. It takes an inventive approach to reimagining the 1936 film Dracula’s Daughter, boldly, I would add given we’re in an era where a lot of directors have had hit-or-miss attempts to revitalize the Universal monster’s source material. Abigail does an impressive job executing this with an ensemble cast of great actors whose chemistry never falters.
Everybody here, but especially horror royalty Melissa Barrera and Kathryn Newton have their charisma overclocked. And they’re using it to deliver witty dialogue that never overstays its welcome thanks to what I consider perfect pacing. The special effects on offer aren’t anything to scoff at either, and all in all, you can’t miss this one if you’re looking for a fun mix between crime film, comedy, and action horror.
3. ODDITY
What’s it about? A blind psychic who sells supernatural oddities visits the house where her twin sister was murdered in an attempt to catch her killer. Her assistant in the process? An odd and off-putting wooden man.
Why is it so good? 2024’s most inventive offering is an intimate and stylish piece of occult horror and murder mystery, offered up to us on a silver platter by Horror Press’s favorite streaming platform to cover, Shudder. This Irish feature has ripped through more film festivals than I can count, and it’s with good reason. It’s a deeply atmospheric movie that denies you gratuity and camp for a serious horror-thriller told in the style of a ghost story. Our guide through the cold, haunted household is actress Carolyn Bracken, who plays the medium Darcy; she has an air of untold supernatural knowledge about her that made me, and plenty of others, fall in love with the character and the mystery immediately.
Oddity also brings a new horror history icon into frame with The Wooden Man (if you haven’t seen him, don’t Google him, just press play and wait for him to show up). Director Damian McCarthy mentioned that the idea and the eventual image of the titular oddity were the foundation on which the rest of the film was built. And a strong image it is, as this nightmare-inducing sculpt has an uncomfortable amount of life coursing through it when it isn’t even moving because of its expert build. It’s just one of the many pieces that come together to make a truly tense and extremely enjoyable supernatural horror film.
2. SMILE 2
What’s it about? A pop star struggling to recover from a car accident ends up being the next victim of a demonic entity that stalks and tortures her, warping her perception of reality as it smiles all the way.
Why is it so good? The more I think about Parker Finn’s second installment in the Smile franchise (what I hope will sooner than later be a trilogy), the more I’ve started to believe that it might just have my favorite opening sequence in all of horror. Smile 2 took its predecessor, one of the films that underwhelmed me the most the year it came out, and made me a genuine lover of the series over the course of a couple of hours. It gave me a deeper appreciation of how the concept of The Entity can be taken in new and bold directions even when it hits the same beats in how it terrorizes people.
The film wheels and deals in both raw human sorrow and some of the most skillful dark comedy I’ve seen in a horror film ever. I can’t remember a single weak performance from anyone in the cast, least of all the now-legendary Naomi Scott, who makes for a downright unforgettable scream queen. And wherever the Smile movies go from here, whether it’s seeing the Entity’s effects on a massive scale or another intimate character study of a tortured person, it is an automatic yes from me.
1. THE SUBSTANCE
What’s it about? As an older actress finds herself forgotten by Hollywood and scorned by movie and television execs for aging, she turns to weird science to get a younger version of herself back. What results is her splitting into two separate people sharing one muddied consciousness, with both soon fighting for dominance.
Why is it so good? There’s one succinct phrase that scorched into my brain during my reflection on how great this movie is: The Substance is heartbreaking, and it will make you have a blast as it shatters your heart in front of you. It is weaved in moments that feel like a sensory nightmare that you just can’t look away from. It’s penned in subtle dialogue and subtler acting choices that make the main characters feel real in an unreal setting. The closest thing that has scratched my brain in this manner is Under the Skin, which is one of my top ten science fiction films of all time. And likewise, The Substance has become a solid, top 10 spot holder in my favorite horror films of all time.
Its vibrant, borderline art pop color palette is a fun departure from the much more grave and much more burnt aesthetic of director Coralie Fargeat‘s first film, Revenge. It has the camp of a Hennenlotter movie, the body horror and existential dread of a Cronenberg film, and the high-impact editing and sound design that would give Gaspar Noe a run for his money. And while I would compare the effects to another SFX maven’s work, Pierre Olivier Persin’s designs here carry the kind of magnum opus quality that earns you a name as an industry legend, so it feels silly to do so. They’re that good.
With a gonzo ending, surreal visuals, and an enchanting social horror story of a woman torn in two by the industry that mindlessly gnashes her in its teeth, The Substance really does have everything—and it really does have to be seen to be believed.
Movies
Our 10 Favorite Short Films From Final Girls Berlin Film Festival (2025)
Short films are one of my favorite parts of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival. Festival directors Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf always knock it out of the park with their short film block groupings and which films they pick for screening. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by the blocks. While I can’t write about every single one, I wanted to take the time to highlight my top 10 favorite short films of their 10th Annual festival.
Due to the substance and quality of each short film, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the list to 10. It should be noted that with the exception of the films listed in the first and second spot, they aren’t in any specific order. (Because I couldn’t pick between two specific shorts, we’ll throw the 11th spot in here too!)
Short films are one of my favorite parts of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival. Festival directors Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf always knock it out of the park with their short film block groupings and which films they pick for screening. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by the blocks. While I can’t write about every single one, I wanted to take the time to highlight my top 10 favorite short films of their 10th Annual festival.
Due to the substance and quality of each short film, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the list to 10. It should be noted that with the exception of the films listed in the first and second spot, they aren’t in any specific order. (Because I couldn’t pick between two specific shorts, we’ll throw the 11th spot in here too!)
My 10 Favorite Shorts From Final Girls Berlin Festival 2025
11. Sugar Rag written by Spencer T. Heath & Jai Love // directed by Jai Love
Block 9: Pop Horror/Carnivalesque
Alfred’s (Carter Dau) parents come home to their expansive manor with a surprise…a baby brother! There’s something off about Alfred’s new brother Remus (Aaron Light), and Alfred can’t quite put his finger on it; maybe it’s the fact that Remus is a 6-foot-something man in a diaper with a baby’s head mask.
Sugar Rag is an insanely out-of-left-field short film that shocks and stings. Never in a million years would I have guessed where it would go next. The surprising idea by Heath and Love to have Remus be an adult male portraying a baby is something I need to see in a feature-length film. While it’s comedic for a good portion, Heath and Love do not let the short go gently into that good night. The climax is genuinely crazy and left me with my mouth agape. It makes sense that it’s on the Crypt TV YouTube channel.
10. Izzy written and directed by Yfke van Berckelaer
Block 1: Hostile Environments
Izzy (Nahéma Ricci) is sick and tired of being caught in the middle of everyone else’s crap. That’s when she decides a pop of color will liven things up.
Izzy is short, sweet, and direct to the point. It has a story to tell and refuses to linger one second longer. There’s something deeper to Izzy than I can pinpoint, but by the time the short was over, it made me want to improve myself and stop sitting idly by while others get what they want out of life.
9. Gaslighter written by Virginia Powers Hendry and Anastasia Washington // directed by Virginia Powers Hendry
Block 3: Het Horror
Anne (Anastasia Washington) gets home after a long day of work only to realize that things are off. The front door isn’t locked, the power is out, and something seems wrong. Anne’s partner, Jeff (Taylor Marr), doesn’t believe her. That’s when the film splits in two and gives us Until Dawn-like points of view. Will Anne stay the night and face the evil in her house? Or will she leave the house like any normal person would?
Gaslighter puts to test the idea of audience reactions. How many times have you watched a horror film and shouted at the screen, “RUN! LEAVE THE HOUSE!” Hendry and Washington play with that idea by putting all the tropes out there and letting Anne make the choices for herself. It’s a fun play on the genre that works well for a short film but might not play as well if it were any longer.
8. Deep Cut written and directed by Michelle Farrah Huang
Block 1: Hostile Environments
Farrah (Michelle Farrah Huang) is on set for a film for the first time in years. She’s seemingly doing a good job, but the film’s director (Keir Gilchrist) doesn’t seem pleased. Farrah becomes friends with another actor named Jessie (Sugar Lyn Beard), and the two head to Farrah’s for a night of drinking. But Jessie seems too big of a fan of Farrah’s previous work and will do anything to ensure their film succeeds.
Deep Cut is meta and fascinating in an incredibly original way. You think you know where it’s going but get crisscrossed by the end. Huang’s story succeeds in its current form but would greatly benefit from a feature-length version. Huang and Gilchrist have great chemistry both when they’re friends and when they’re…not. It’s fairly straightforward visually but doesn’t fail to capture and keep the viewer’s attention.
7. Dark Mommy written by Courtney Eck and James P. Gannon // directed by Courtney Eck
Block 1: Hostile Environments
Ben (Ben Chandler) is a quiet man who spends his nights working as a solo dispatcher for his small town’s 911 call center. What seems like a prank call turns into a night of terror that might be a sign of something bigger to come.
As someone who works in overnight emergency dispatch, this one hit a little hard for me. Being the only person in a four-story building in midtown Manhattan sans a security guard can get slightly overwhelming. That being said, I would kill to dispatch in a town like Ben’s. The whole idea of Dark Mommy (Uranbileg Angarag) is brilliant and the effects by Ravenous Studios on Dark Mommy look stellar. As I’ve said many times throughout this list, so far, Dark Mommy would make a KILLER Malum-esque feature-length film. If you get a chance to see this at a festival, do not miss it.
6. How To Stay Awake written and directed by Vanessa Magic
Block 5: Midnight
Helen (Preeti Torul) will do anything to stay awake because if she falls asleep…the Night Witch (Hannan Younis) comes.
I have terrible insomnia, and working overnights probably doesn’t help. Helen’s plight is something I’m all too familiar with (though to a much lesser extent of a Night Witch). Vanessa Magic expertly crafted a story of what it feels like to not feel in control of your body and how powerless it can be. The sound design works wonders for the film, but I could have used a lot less high-pitched ringing–that’s what made me go from loving this short to liking it. Don’t get me wrong, I understand it, but it was too much. Overall, Magic created a visually intriguing piece of horror that gave me two separate nightmares.
5. It Came From Inside! written and directed by Aura Martinez Sandoval and Jackson Rees
Block 7: Queer Horror
It’s Halloween night! Vicky (Gentry Loghry) and her partner Oliver (Luke Harger) are relaxing after a party. An explosion outside piques their interest and changes their lives forever.
If you’re a fan of retro ’80s horror, then It Came From Inside! will be right up your alley. It has the trappings of Raimi, Dekker, and Henenlotter while still keeping an updated visual style. Full of some excellent practicals, this short reads like an open lines call from Coast to Coast with Art Bell. No notes!
4. The Blue Diamond written by Sam Fox and Addison Heimann // directed by Sam Fox
Block 4: Cults
Alison (Desiree Staples) is overseeing the funeral for her cult leader mother, Jacqueline (Barbara Crampton). Alison has stayed away from the cult this long…can she make it through the afterparty?
Cult horror isn’t usually my thing, but I still give them a shot. The Blue Diamond is an incredibly fun take on cults and how they affect those who are closest to the leader. Alison is a well-written character, and Desiree Staples does a fantastic job of portraying her. And I mean, Barbara Crampton is Barbara Crampton! There’s a fun twist that takes this short in a direction most in this subgenre don’t take, and I found it to be generally refreshing. So what are you waiting for? Let’s all go down the blue diamond together!
3. Micro-Short written and directed by Beth Fletcher
Block 5: Midnight
Don’t get between Dani (Hannah Myers) and her microwave.
Micro-Short is an excellent piece of avant-garde madness. Fletcher’s story and direction are expertly lensed by Maddy Talias, who knows HOW to work a camera. For a [very] short film about a woman and a microwave that takes place in a single room, Talias shoots the hell out of this short. I was insanely blown away by the filmmaking in Micro-Short.
2. Last to Leave written and directed by Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Block 5: Midnight
Brunette (Ginger Gonza) and Blonde (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) arrive at a bar right at last call. The women seem slightly off, but the remaining bar patrons are more than happy to have them join for a drink—big mistake.
When I saw Mary Elizabeth Ellis on screen, I jumped off my couch with excitement. I was even more excited when I saw she wrote and directed this. One of my favorite things is when A-list talent steps out of their comfort zones to make shorts/features that are completely different from their main body of work. Not only was I excited to see Ellis, but I was also genuinely surprised by how good this short was. This short plays it close to the chest, but when it’s ready to rip, it rips. I’ll only say this one more time: I really hope Last to Leave gets a feature adaptation. There are great intricacies to Brunette and Blonde, and it would be great to see Ellis expand on them.
1. Bloody Hell written by Lena Albin // directed by Lena Albin and Jayden Rathsam Hua
Block 5: Midnight
Sam (Sophia Morrison) is preparing for a night out with her friend Jacinta (Sophie Teo). But her period is far from her worst trouble tonight.
WOW. Absolutely, wow. Body horror is one of my favorite subgenres. While I find it enjoyable, it’s hard for body horror to make me physically nauseous. I really don’t want to say too much about Bloody Hell because it needs to be seen to be believed, but I want to give my props to Albin, Hua, makeup artists Lara Franzi and Maddison Gray, and SFX coordinator Briana Garbutt. This short film is one bloody hell of a good time.
Happy Festival, Final Girls Berlin! It was a pleasure, as always, and I’m looking forward to next year’s fest!
Movies
The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in March 2025
Shudder has compiled a pretty cool list of horror movies this March. The streamer is really looking out for us and has something for every kind of genre fan. Are you the kind of nerd who wants to watch The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead (2013) back to back? They have you covered. Does the recent release of The Monkey make you want to revisit some Stephen King classics? Then hop in when Christine rolls onto the streamer this month. Do you just want to watch Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) without commercial breaks? Well, Shudder is that girl again. There is plenty to choose from this month, and I am living my best life. I am so pleased to present these five titles I plan on flirting with this month. Here are our top picks for what to watch on Shudder this April 2025!
Shudder has compiled a pretty cool list of horror movies this March. The streamer is really looking out for us and has something for every kind of genre fan. Are you the kind of nerd who wants to watch The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead (2013) back to back? They have you covered. Does the recent release of The Monkey make you want to revisit some Stephen King classics? Then hop in when Christine rolls onto the streamer this month. Do you just want to watch Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) without commercial breaks? Well, Shudder is that girl again. There is plenty to choose from this month, and I am living my best life. I am so pleased to present these five titles I plan on flirting with this month.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
30 Days Of Night (2007)
An Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month as it is attacked by a vicious vampire gang. This movie made vampires cool again, and we are all forever in its debt. As a basic girl, I ran at this title because I wanted to see what Josh Hartnett was doing. However, I left convinced this might be one of the best vampire movies I had seen in my short lifetime. While I did not have a crush on Melissa George or Danny Huston, they are also pretty fantastic in this bloody film.
You can watch 30 Days Of Night on March 1st.
Silent Hill (2006)
A woman takes her adopted daughter to Silent Hill, hoping to cure her of her illness. However, they are separated after a car crash and must embark on a horrific journey to be reunited. This remains one of the best video game adaptations I have had the joy of seeing in theaters. This makes it special because I played way too many survival horror games as a kid and was disappointed in their big-screen adaptations. I am so excited that Shudder is giving us this unsettling gem this March.
You can watch Silent Hill on March 1st.
Out of the Dark (2014)
Young women working for a phone-sex company become the target of a serial killer. I am on a quest to watch as many 80s slashers as possible, and this is one of the titles I can never catch streaming. So, I am eager to dive into this title the second it lands on Shudder. I am also giddy because Karen Black and Divine are in the cast, so it already feels iconic. Hopefully, it is a little sleazy too, but beggers cannot be choosers. I cannot wait to take this journey and cross this movie off my list.
You can watch Out of the Dark on March 15th.
The Rule Of Jenny Pen (2024)
After suffering a stroke, a judge is sent to a retirement home where another patient uses a puppet to bully his fellow residents. This movie is so weird that I have no choice but to enjoy the ride. Come to see Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow battle it out, but stay because you will be too stunned to do anything else. This is possibly one of the best villains Lithgow has given us, and it is not for lack of trying. I truly think his chaotic Dexter and Ricochet characters would have become a version of this one. If they had met different endings, of course.
You can watch The Rule Of Jenny Pen on March 28th.
Starve Acre (2023)
A family’s picturesque life is thrown for a spin when their son begins to change. This movie has been roaming around since 2023, and I have not been able to get my hands on it. It is set in England in the 1970s and stars Matt Smith (His House, Doctor Who) and Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud). All of these things make me think it might be my new personality. So, Shudder is a saint for finally allowing us to check it out this month. I hope this kid is as creepy as he sounds because I have waited so long to see this film.
You can watch Starve Acre on March 7th.
As usual, Shudder is a horror lover’s best friend. Hope you enjoy these sick, weird, and new titles as much as I think I will this month. Happy Shudder Saturday (and Sunday) to all who partake!
10 of the Most Important Women in Slasher History
[Review] ‘Mother!’ (2017) Is the Greatest Movie of the 21st Century
[REVIEW] SXSW 2025: ‘Drop’ It’s Hard Not to Fall for This One
[REVIEW] SXSW 2025: ‘Ash’ Can You Handle Flying Lotus In Space?
[Review] SXSW 2025: ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ I Was Not Familiar With This Clown’s Game
Bring Billy Zane Into Your Home With Our ‘Demon Knight’ Giveaway!
Unnamed Footage Festival Vol. 8 Has an INCREDIBLE Lineup!
[REVIEW] Demon Knight (1995) Is A Delightful Character Actor and Special Effects Extravaganza
[REVIEW] ‘Ms .45’ (1981) Goes Full Lock, Stock, and One Smoking Barrel
Our 10 Favorite Short Films From Final Girls Berlin Film Festival (2025)
‘The People Under the Stairs’ Review: A Brilliantly Bizarre Undercover Horror Classic
Glen and Glenda: Don Mancini’s Reverence for Queerness in ‘Seed of Chucky’ (2004)
Slappy Was the Blueprint: How the Dummy from Goosebumps Became A Horror Icon
‘Truth or Dare’: Who Did it Best?
Was This Film the Blueprint for Malignant? No, It’s Even Better Than That: A SPOILER-FREE Review of ‘Cherry Falls’
HORROR 101: Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Story of William Afton Explained
This Is What Makes Sue Ann from ‘Ma’ a Terrifying Yet Loveable Horror Villain
Mia from ‘Evil Dead’ – A New Kind of Final Girl
Is ‘Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker’ Too Problematic for 2022?
