Some of the best horror movies out right now are all about psychological torment. I'd argue that's what most of us are looking for when we watch horror films in general, to be tested and have our worldviews questioned. To feel truly terrified on a psychological level, you really don't need to look any further than A24.
The indie distributor has become well known for their acclaimed horror films, many of which are visually unique and take bold risks not often found in mainstream horror. If being psychologically tested is what you're into, then look no further than these five A24 movies.
The Lighthouse (2019)
Ephraim Winslow has no idea what he's in for when he agrees to a lighthouse keeping job on an isolated island alongside hardened sailor Thomas Wake. The Lighthouse is one of Robert Eggers's best films to date. An 1890s-set film featuring two dynamic performances from stars Rob Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse follows their characters slow descent into madness.
A claustrophobic horror story about two men trapped together under unfortunate circumstances and unable to retain their sanity when their very reality feels like its shifting. It's a fascinating character study featuring some of Eggers's most stylish directing work to date.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Respected cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Murphy (Colin Farrell), finds himself in over his head when he meets a disturbed teenager named Martin (Barry Keoghan) who seems to hold the surgeon responsible for something that happened to him in the past.
Determined to make Dr. Murphy experience the same kind of trauma Martin has been dealing with, he slowly infiltrates his life and eventually forces the doctor to make the worst possible choice. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of Yorgos Lanthimos's most disturbing and suspenseful films by far. I've never felt more tense or on edge than I did while experiencing this harrowing film in theaters.
It Comes at Night (2017)
It Comes at Night might not be for everyone as it's one of those A24 movies that progresses very slowly and it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. If you don't like feeling a little bit left in the dark and movies that end on a rather ambiguous note, then this one might not be for you.
But I found it to be an extremely suspenseful and well done thriller about people trying to survive after a mysterious apocalypse, centering on a family trying to survive under their strict rules when a younger family pleads with them for refuge, forcing them all to reconsider what it means to continue living in such a harsh world.
Climax (2018)
Climax is great for anyone who wants to watch a unique psychological horror movie and one that is really focused on a terrifying yet grounded story. There's not really any supernatural elements here, it's just about a troupe of dancers who undergo a psychedelic meltdown when someone spikes their sangria unbeknownst to them. But unlike many other films and stories that have featured similar tropes, Climax takes things to an elevated and particularly brutal new level.
I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Jane Schoenbrun proved her brilliance with this incredibly well-made and introspective film about two teenagers who find solace in one another thanks to their shared love of an in-universe television show called The Pink Opaque.
A twisted and melancholy film about gender identity, fandom, and friendship, I Saw the TV Glow has one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing film endings of recent memory. But there's also something about the movie that is strangely optimistic and full of hope. It was one of my favorite movies of 2024 and I think it's a great example of psychological horror.