Top 9 Most Scary Horror Movies of 2024 You Shouldn't Miss

Horror movies in 2024 are tagged as richly frightening, considering some supernatural thrillers and psychological horror that may make you question reality. Both fans of supernatural scares and gut-wrenching slashers have something in the crop of films this year to get their hearts racing. Here's a closer look at the top 5 scariest horror movies of 2024.

1. Heretic (rating 7.2)

The Heretic is the kind of psychological horror you should love if you like this genre. This chilling tale follows two young missionaries sent to a remote village, where their faith is tested after knocking on the wrong door. What starts to be a simple assignment turns into a nightmare as they are caught up in a terrifying web of supernatural forces. The film will keep you on the edge of your seat with Hugh Grant playing a role unlike his, and I need to mention the focus of the movie religious horror.

Heretic takes things to the mind of its characters where the idea of fear is interwoven with suspense, raising many questions about the nature of evil. The slow burn and eerie atmosphere of building it up make it one of the most standout horror films this year​

2. Night Swim (rating 4.7)

Supernatural horror somehow develops the capacity to strum up our most intrinsic phobias sensitively. Such a rule does not have any exceptions, and Night Swim certainly helps illustrate that to us. The retired baseball player finds himself going through routine life in a house with a therapeutic pool after retirement when he encounters vengeful spirits dwelling in the pool. This mystery unravels in a most terrifying quest as he and his partner Kerry Condon seek the end of that dreadful mystery.

This film relies on the most basic fear of humans-drowning-and that water is associated with both life and death, so it's more than a suspenseful and haunting experience. With such filmography that delivers some truly breath-taking visuals along with a story that gradually intensifies, Night Swim becomes a must-watch for fans of supernatural thrillers​

3. MadS (rating 6.5)

In MadS, a young fellow discovers terrifying results of experimenting with a new experimental drug. What at first attempts to improve his life gradually deteriorates into nightmares as the drug starts to take over his mind, casting him into and eventually sinking him into increasingly dreadful and violent situations. An intense horror thriller, it is a psychological horror with some graphic imagery that shocks and unnerves at every turn.

The movie goes into themes of addiction, loss of control, and the dangers of experimental science, all covered inside a frenetic pacing anxiety-ridden narrative. MadS affords an experience unequivocally horrific to those who can withstand its ferocity.

4. In a Violent Nature (rating 5.6)

For all slashers out there, In a Violent Nature brings it home. This coming-of-age film is found deep in the woods, revealing the fate of a group of hikers at the hands of an undead serial killer. What makes it special is the growing tension engendered within the main movie and a rebellion against traditional genre expectations. In this context, the ominous natural background enhances the feeling of fear because these characters are not only forced to encounter their fears regarding the unknown but even the intransigent landscape that surrounds them.

In the movie, In a Violent Nature, that idea- "nature as killer," is used quite effectively well with its atmospheric tension and a pacing that keeps viewers on edge. If you are looking for a film that combines psychological terror with grisly slasher elements, this is one to watch​

5. The First Omen (rating 6.5)

A prequel to The Omen film franchise, The First Omen, goes back to the very beginning of the most infamous Antichrist in the world and follows how it all began. From the deepest parts of the Vatican up to the highest point, a young novitiate gets caught up in the intrigue of Damien's rising stronghold and experiences a series of increasingly disturbing events.

With an old '70s feel and creepy religious imagery, The First Omen draws from the fear of biblical prophesying and the evil that hides within the church. The dark ambiance of the movie, combined with sensational performances and a plot that only builds in terms of tension, has The First Omen as one of the scariest films of the year​​

6. Strange Darling (rating 7.1)

Directed by J.T. Mollner, Strange Darling is an indie horror that takes genre conventions upside down. There is a case of a couple in twisted psychological games, who realize they are hunted by a serial killer. The reason it is different is because of the non-linear approach to the writing, which is meant to create disorientation for the viewer. As the film moves through different timelines and perspectives, it creates paranoia and suspense, keeping one held on the edge, right until the climax. The movie also explores the dimensions of power, manipulation, and the gray areas between desire and violence. Bringing this gritty, tension-filled thriller to life are Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. Already tagged as a daring experiment in horror, Alien: Romulus is set to take audiences on an emotional ride.

7. Alien: Romulus (rating 7.2)

Alien: Romulus has enough to come in and rekindle that fear and suspense, which since Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, has been one of the hallmarks of the Alien franchise. Led by Fede Álvarez this new continuation, will stretch the mythology further down while maintaining the roots. It is the tale of some survivors who become stranded on an unhelpful planet with the erstwhile alien creatures on the prowl, hunting them. The chills of seclusion coupled with Álvarez's talent for grim, visceral horror makes Alien: Romulus one of the most awaited films of the year. The movie promises to go back to the claustrophobic fear of the early Alien movies, where survival is a fight against both the environment and the deadly creatures lurking in the shadows.​

8. Late Night with the Devil (2023 rating 7.2)

If you are a fan of horror movies like The Exorcist or The Omen, Late Night with the Devil should go straight onto your watchlist. The movie seems to be based on a unique concept: it is set in a parody of the format of a 1970s talk show, but an interview is interrupted by a young girl possessed by the Devil, broadcast live on Halloween night. Therefore, it's a film infused with the current excitement for authentic historical TV culture that achieves this sharp-edged effect from the supernatural horror movie. Overall, the film milks '70s nostalgia quite fully to unnerve in a sense that would echo the social tensions and fears of the day. Standout performance by David Dastmalchian as the charismatic host-turned-slightly-barking mad through the course of the movie gives this ride into television's darker side quite haunting.

9. Handling the Undead (rating 5.4)

Handling the Undead gives a lesser-known take on the zombie genre, digging deeper into the emotional and philosophical implications of the undead rising. The movie is in Oslo, where the dead all of a sudden rise, and the rest of the loved ones are left to cope with their deep feelings of grief and loss but also morality. This Norwegian horror goes beyond surviving in an apocalyptic world to the emotional journeys of those who were left behind. With such a combination of supernatural horror and deeply human themes, Handling the Undead promises to be a zombie film that does things differently - it offers a thought-provoking, questioning take on the horror genre, seeking to explore what it takes to truly come back from the dead​

Conclusion

2024 is going to be a pretty hard and threatening year of thrills that will keep audiences quite curious from start to finish. Be it any kind of psychological thriller, supernatural horror, or the old traditional slasher, one might find a film from this list. Whether it is the disturbing religious terror in Heretic or the water-logged dread of Night Swim, films set here seem to guarantee an edge-of-the-seat time in readiness to face one's greatest fears.

In case supernatural horror, psychological thrillers, and creature features happen to be your cup of tea, here's what's waiting in line for something to lie awake over at night in 2024. Partly represented in innovative storytelling, horrifying visuals, and deep emotional resonance, audiences can look forward to a year full of scares beyond the traditional horror fare.