A lot of times horror movie fans don’t listen to critics, and that makes sense because a lot of the time critics are wrong. But there is still that confirmation bias we hope to get once we see a movie we really liked and hope our favorite critic likes it too. 2024 brought us many of those moments, making it one of the most prolific years in decades where professional critics and fans agreed.
This was the year of the indie. Gold stars were handed out to low-budget films, maybe more than any time in film history. Film festivals were a treasure trove of such content this year and streaming services such as Shudder snatched up the rights to these movies to give them a place to live all as a part of your subscription cost. Thankfully those that got a theatrical release had a short window between cinema to streaming, and that made it easier for post-pandemic shut-ins to experience hyped-up indies for themselves, sometimes while the movie was still in theaters.
Love it or hate it, Rotten Tomatoes is a watering hole where arm-chair critics and professionals can express how they feel about a film, with those opinions garnering an average in the form of labels called “fresh” or “rotten.”
Below we have taken the highest-rated horror movies from 2024 that are certified fresh according to the site. It’s a mixed bag. Everything from over-the-top possession films to cursed objects to arachnophobia, this year gave us not only a wide variety but just plain ol’ good horror movies.
If you would like to see where the films below can be seen check out JustWatch and they can point you in the right direction.
Late Night With the Devil: 97%
Critics Consensus: Delightfully dark, Late Night with the Devil proves possession horror isn’t played out — and serves as an outstanding showcase for David Dastmalchian.
Oddity: 96%
Critics Consensus: An elegant and spooky ghost story punctuated with clever jolts, Oddity hews to the fundamentals of fright and achieves shout-inducing results.
Sleep: 96%
Critics Consensus: Elegantly executed, Sleep builds prosperously upon a familiar premise and delivers rousing chills.
Red Rooms: 96%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by Juliette Gariépy’s superb portrayal of self-destructive obsession, Red Rooms is a haunting and timely trip down a particularly morbid rabbit hole.
Infested: 96%
Critics Consensus: A chillingly effective creature feature with more on its mind than simple creepy-crawlies, Infested draws viewers into its web with stylish efficiency.
Strange Darling: 95%
Critics Consensus: JT Mollner delivers a thrillingly unexpected and electric ride with two breakout performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner in Strange Darling.
New Life: 94%
Critics Consensus: Breathing New Life to the genre, this excellently acted brooding horror thriller marks a propitious debut for John Rosman.
The Substance: 91%
Critics Consensus: Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore’s finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat.
Stop Motion: 91%
Critics Consensus: Stopmotion takes the conflict between art and artist to chilling, visually thrilling extremes, distinguished by director Robert Morgan’s excellent effects work.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person: 90%
Critics Consensus: While not as innovative as its title, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person offers a dark-ish comedic take on a teen love story between misfits that renders a strangely sweet bite.
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