As 2024 comes to an end I want to take a look back at the best movies of the year. This year was a surprisingly good year for horror, there were plenty of hits like Longlegs, The Substance, and Smile 2. These movies gained a wide audience and an immense amount of praise.
Other movies from the year got the cold shoulder or were completely forgotten. This is a list of my top 5 horror movies that deserve more recognition (seriously please watch them).
Lisa Frankenstein
Lisa Frankenstein released to theaters February 7 just in time for Valentine's Day. The movie was marketed as a horror/comedy/romance. Unfortunately, Lisa Frankenstein flopped at the box office and was overlooked until it went to streaming. Now Lisa Frankenstein is slowly growing a cult following for its dark humor and unusual love story.
Lisa Frankenstein follows Lisa (Kathryn Newton) who is considered an outcast and a downright weirdo. She visits one grave frequently because of the handsome statue and wishes he was still alive. Eventually her wish comes true but he is missing a few vital pieces. Lisa and the Creature (Cole Sprouse) embark on a murder spree stealing body parts all while falling in love.
Lisa Frankenstein is written by Diablo Cody who also wrote Jennifer's Body. According to Cody, Lisa Frankenstein exists within the same universe as Jennifers Body, which accounts for the dark humor and campy themes. I adore both Jennifers Body and Lisa Frankenstein for the ridiculous nature of them, I can't recommend these movies enough because they deserve so much better.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Your Monster
Your Monster is similar to Lisa Frankenstein because of the atypical romance but also in the fact that very few people have seen this movie. Your Monster released just a few months ago.
Laura (Melissa Barrera) is going through a lot, she's been diagnosed with cancer and her boyfriend just dumped her. Not to mention she has a monster in her closet that wants her to move out. Laura's dream is to be on broadway and play the part her ex-boyfriend wrote for her. In preparation for the play, Monster (Tommy Dewey) begins to see Laura in a different light and is willing to help her get the role but also gain her self confidence.
Your Monster is another creature feature that is considered a horror/comedy/romance. This movie is campy and silly, but in a way that is so entertaining you can't help but smile. The movie is full of heart warming romance but also doesn't shy away from being gory and totally shocking (especially at the end).
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video $5.99
Stopmotion
Stopmotion is a Shudder original that had a world premier back in 2023 but got a theatrical release on February 23, 2024. Stopmotion eventually started streaming on Shudder in March where it started to gain some more attention.
Ella is determined to finish her mother's stop motion film after she falls ill, but Ella really wants to make something of her own. After meeting a little girl Ella scraps the project and begins to create the little girls story. As the little girl explains her story she requests that the claymation looks more real achieving this by using raw meat and dead animals. Ella continues with the sinister project until she can't discern reality from her creation.
Stopmotion is one of the most creative movies I've seen this year. The use of claymation in the movie is so unique and disturbing all at once. The claymation dolls are so creepy and pairing that with the sound design makes for a spine chilling watch. Stopmotion accomplishes gore and body horror in a way I haven't seen before.
Where to watch: Shudder
Exhuma
Exhuma is a South Korean horror film that is another Shudder original. Exhuma is pretty highly rated with 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and decent reviews from the audience. However, the movie is still mostly unrecognized and is deserving of its flowers.
Exhuma is told in six chapters and follows a paranormal team that exhumes graves after families complain of being haunted. The team recieves an offer they can't refuse when a man asks them to dig up his grandfather in fear for his newborn son. The team reluctantly ignore bad omens as they dig him up and eventually reveal it's a double internment. They remove the second casket from the site but quickly realize this is not one made for a human. The team try to rid themselves of the coffin but the evil is stronger than they know.
Exhuma came as a total surprise to me, the story held my attention the entire time and made me empathize with each of the characters. The eerie atmosphere haunts the entire plot of the movie and you can't help the feeling that the grave should have never been tampered with. Exhuma is a great paranormal story that has you captivated from the moment it starts.
Where to watch: Shudder
Strange Darling
Strange Darling had a theatrical release on August 23, the box office run was very short and didn't match the budget despite great reviews. Strange Darling is a horror/thriller that is best going into absolutely blind so I will keep it brief.
Strange Darling is a nonlinear story told in six chapters and an epilogue. The Lady (Willa Fitzgerald) and The Demon (Kyle Gallner) engage in a one night stand but the night takes a turn for the worst. The Lady and The Demon engage in a cat and mouse game that has deadly consequences.
Strange Darling may just be my favorite on this list for a multitude of reasons. The story keeps you on your toes and guessing what exactly happened during the one night stand. The characters are never given names and are eventually big clues to the whole mystery. Strange Darling is shot on 35mm film which is stated before the movie starts (a bit pretentious but it works). The cinematography is beautiful and captivating so I can't help but applaud. Again, please go into this movie blind!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video $5.99