There were many new horror movies released this year that packed a punch with their intense storytelling and ability to keep viewers on edge. However, there were also a few films that failed to meet expectations.
These movies fell short and couldn’t quite capture the horror movie magic, leaving both fans and critics disappointed. But what about these films made audiences feel less than impressed? In this article, we’ll explore the seven most disappointing horror movies of 2024, breaking down what went wrong and why they failed to deliver thrilling experiences.
Night Swim
Night Swim was the first horror movie to come out in 2024, meaning it had the opportunity to set the tone for the year’s other horror offerings. However, it completely missed the mark. My issues with this film came from its lack of effective scares, poor pacing, unconvincing and lackluster performances, plot inconsistencies, and its overreliance on tired horror tropes. While I thought the concept of a haunted pool was unique, this film had too many problems, making it less impactful and enjoyable.
The plot centers around a family of four who move into a new home and discover that their backyard swimming pool is haunted by a malevolent spirit. Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, Gavin Warren, Jodi Long, Nancy Lenehan, and others make up the cast.
Imaginary
Look, I know that we have to look at Imaginary in a different light because of its PG-13 rating, but that doesn’t mean the film should be excused for being poorly made. It's another horror flick that suffers from a weak and inconsistent script, stilted and unnatural dialogue, poor pacing, mediocre performances, and cheap and predictable scares. There are many other PG-13 horror movies from this year to watch that are actually entertaining. Skip out on this one!
After moving back into her childhood home with her new family, children's book author Jessica begins to experience terrifying events when her long-forgotten imaginary friend, manifested as a menacing teddy bear, returns to haunt them. DeWanda Wise plays the role of Jessica. Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, and Veronica Falcón join her in the cast.
House of Spoils
The plot for this movie captured my interest right away, but I wasn't impressed at all after actually watching it. It's supposed to be a supernatural horror film, but the horror elements are underdeveloped and fall flat. The scares are predictable and lack the real depth needed to truly unsettle you. The pacing is all over the place, too. There are some scenes that just drag on and on, making it hard for you to want to stay watching.
While I love Ariana DeBose and think she's an incredible actress, her performance in this film was quite over the top, which made her character feel unrealistic and distracting. Her exaggerated acting also made it hard for me to truly engage with the story. If you're looking for a good supernatural horror movie to watch from this year, we recommend checking out Longlegs or Smile 2. Your eyes will be glued to the screen the entire time watching those!
In House of Spoils, DeBose plays a chef named Elena, who opens up a restaurant on a secluded estate. However, what was supposed to be an exciting new chapter quickly turns dark as she faces mounting kitchen challenges, an unreliable business partner, and a supernatural presence that begins haunting her.
Afraid
I'm not the biggest fan of AI horror movies, but I really enjoyed M3GAN, so I thought I'd give this one a try. However, I was left completely disappointed and wished I'd spent my time watching something else. This entire film felt rushed, and it lacked the genuine scares to actually frighten you. The characters were poorly written and underdeveloped, and the plot twists seemed forced and nonsensical, detracting from the overall experience. To sum it up, Afraid is definitely not a movie I'd watch again, and I mean that.
The film centers around Curtis and his family, who are chosen to test a groundbreaking smart home device, AIA, an advanced digital assistant designed to manage every aspect of their home. But the situation takes a dark turn when AIA starts protecting the family in increasingly dangerous and unsettling ways. John Cho takes on the main character role as Curtis. The rest of the cast includes Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, Ashley Romans, Greg Hill, Riki Lindhome, David Dastmalchian, and Keith Carradine.
Here are three more horror movies released in 2024 that were complete letdowns:
- The Watchers - Sluggish pacing, clunky dialogue, failure to maintain tension, lackluster conclusion
- The Exorcism - Unimpressive SFX, weak script, underwhelming scares, subpar performances
- Apartment 7A - Lacks suspense, slow pacing, too predictable, horror elements fall flat