We can't believe that in just a few weeks, 2024 will be over, and we'll be starting a new year. Since we're in the last stretch of 2024, we thought now would be the perfect time to talk about some of the best horror content released this year. More specifically, we'll be talking about some of the most truly memorable PG-13 horror movies that came out.
These types of films prove that you don’t always need excessive gore to enjoy a good scare. Instead, these movies use other elements such as suspense, psychological tension, eerie atmospheres, and supernatural elements to create a sense of fear and excitement.
In this article, we're going to be ranking the top four best PG-13 horror films of this year, with No. 1 being our most favorite release in the ranking.
4. Trap
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Night Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Hayley Mills
What I love about Trap is that despite its simple plot, you're constantly guessing throughout the film because there are so many twists and turns. This constant sense of suspense makes every moment feel uncertain and thrilling and keeps you on edge. Josh Hartnett also delivers a strong performance that elevates the film.
Most people know Cooper to be a family man who works as a firefighter. But he's concealing a murderous alter ego that only his victims know. He's a local serial killer known as "The Butcher." One day, he decides to attend a concert with his teenage daughter, not knowing that the concert is really a setup to take him down. Now, he must find a way to escape without being captured by the police.
3. Lisa Frankenstein
Cast: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, Carla Gugino, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest
In my opinion, Lisa Frankenstein is a great horror movie because not only does it offer a fresh take on the Frankenstein legend, but it also offers a good mix of horror and comedy, keeping the tone light yet thrilling. The performances from the cast also make the film both entertaining and engaging.
It's the year 1989, and high school outcast Lisa is still reeling from her late mother's brutal death by an axe murderer two years prior. However, everything changes when she encounters a Victorian-era corpse brought back to life. She develops a bond with the creature that turns romantic and then sets out on a journey to find him body parts.
2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Arthur Conti
Like many other fans, I was ecstatic about the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and I was not let down. This was a solid sequel to the 1988 horror-comedy classic, and I'm still amazed at how the movie's creative team was able to capture the same vibe as the first film, especially since it's been over 30 years. Although not confirmed, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a Beetlejuice 3 eventually happens.
Taking place more than three decades after the events of the original Beetlejuice film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice follows Lydia Deetz, the once goth teen turned successful paranormal talk show host. Although many years have passed since she last encountered the mischievous bio-exorcist Beetlejuice, she's still not quite over everything.
After she discovers a loved one has passed, she heads back home with her estranged daughter, Astrid, to attend the funeral. But what should've been a quick trip turns into something else entirely when the portal to the afterlife is accidentally opened.
1. A Quiet Place: Day One
Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, Alex Wolff
I thought the first two movies in the A Quiet Place film series were pretty great, but A Quiet Place: Day One was even better. From the compelling characters to the impressive visuals and action-packed sequences, this movie deserves all the recognition and praise. Thankfully, there's still one more movie in the film series left to come out.
In the first two films, A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, we were just thrown into the chaos without knowing how everything came to be. We had no idea how the blind extraterrestrial creatures landed on Earth. In A Quiet Place: Day One, which serves as a prequel to both films, we're taken back to the early days of the alien invasion.
The story is set in New York City, where we meet Sam, a woman battling a terminal illness who has lost hope and resigned herself to the inevitability of death. But her view on life changes when alien creatures suddenly fall from the sky and begin hunting humans. She, along with the rest of the city, must do everything they can to survive against these alien creatures that are highly sensitive to sound.