The Scream Queen

2024 was truly a year that kept us screaming from start until finish, so here are my top 5 favourite screams of the year:

* Warning: Spoilers ahead

5. Longlegs

Certainly one of the most discussed horror movies of the year, Longlegs’ indie roots blossomed due to a seriously successful marketing campaign from Neon. Directed by horror icon Anthony Perkins’ son Oz, this psychological thriller had all the ingredients to become the next Silence of the Lambs. Featuring a terrifying opening scene which haunted me throughout the entire runtime, Longlegs was off to a promising start. However, when the film entered its third act, things began to fall apart and an overcomplicated plot with not many answers started to overshadow the perfect mystery the film had been working towards. Upon a second viewing, I was left with more questions which turned into plot holes and hence the movie slipped further down my list. Despite this however, there is no denying the cultural impact Longlegs had, and seeing it in a packed cinema proved that horror still has legs to be a big commercial hit.

4. Abigail

The most fun horror movie released in 2024, Abigail twirls her way onto this list at number 4. The perfect blend of horror and comedy, this vampire romp spins a new take on everyone’s favourite blood-sucking creatures; instead of having Dracula as the villain, the group of criminals in this film must take on his sadistic daughter instead. From the directing duo Radio Silence, Abigail was always going to be a good time, upheld by a stellar cast and a truly unhinged performance from the great Dan Stevens (check out other 2024 release Cuckoo for another deranged performance from him). Although still a lot of fun, the first half of the movie plays as a mystery as to how the team are being picked off one by one, even though the trailers showed us who, or should I say what, Abigail really was. I wish I’d been able to watch Abigail without knowing anything about it, but despite this minor gripe, it was still one of my favourite horror gems from 2024.

3. Smile 2

2024 was the year of the concert movie; the Era’s Tour has had an undeniable hold on pop culture, including horror movies, as Taylor Swift continues her world domination. An honourable mention is well-deserved here for M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap, where popstar Lady Raven (played by Shyamalan’s own daughter) sets up a whole concert to catch Josh Hartnett’s psychotic serial killer, the Butcher. Trap is a great Shyamalanian venture, but unfortunately it had some strong competition in the form of a sequel that would make you grin from ear to ear. Smile 2 is a follow up to 2022’s highly successful Smile, with director Parker Finn upping the ante to a fever pitch following Skye Riley on her comeback tour. Similar to the first film, Smile 2’s horror is rooted in the trauma of our protagonist, as she recovers from drug and alcohol abuse resulting in a car crash and the death of her boyfriend. Although jump scares can be an eye-roll inducing trope for many horror fans, the Smile movies have perfected them; one involving her troop of dancers is particularly effective. Skye Riley’s pop persona feels real, and the movie feels like not only an exploration on trauma, but on the pressures of fame itself. From the moment I heard about the plot of this film, I knew how it would end, but I would not have wanted it to end any other way. Going out in gloriously gory style, Parker Finn wants us to know that with every new film, Smile‘s audience will get bigger and bigger, until like Taylor Swift herself, it takes over the world.

2. Alien Romulus

45 years ago Ridley Scott’s seminal space horror Alien was released claiming that ‘in space, no one can hear you scream.’ But in 2024, a new reboot into the franchise made sure that everyone could hear you scream; Alien Romulus. Taking place in between Alien and Aliens, Romulus was placed in a term now becoming synonymous with horror franchises – the requel. A blend of sequel and remake, Romulus featured a whole new cast of characters while still continuing on from the original storyline. It’s hard taking on a horror franchise, particularly one as well revered as Alien, but director Fede Álvarez has such a clear love for the original that Romulus became the best entry into the franchise since Aliens (in my opinion, of course). Although there was some controversy surrounding the use of Ian Holm’s likeness being recreated for a new Synthetic called Ash, it was done respectfully with some truly impressive robotic special effects. Romulus itself was a masterclass in practical effects, with almost every set being real and little CGI being used for the aliens themselves; they really felt terrifying as they were tangible. A genuinely fantastic cast of young talents, with a particularly moving performance from David Jonsson as empathetic synth Andy, make you truly care about the characters. The stakes feel high, and that monstrous reveal in the final sequence is one that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

I had the pleasure of seeing Romulus at the Midnight Madness premier during the Edinburgh International Film Festival at the Cameo, and even got to meet a Xenomorph; a true horror icon and one of the best screenings I’ve ever attended.

1. The Substance

As the Substance itself states; ‘YOU ARE ONE’. In this case, it is number one on my top horror films of 2024, and indeed of all the films I watched in 2024 in general. An over-the-top, stylised, dark body horror comedy which also conveyed true sadness; The Substance is a revelation in horror which will be considered one of the best for a long time. Directed by Coralie Fargeat (please check out her other movie Revenge if you enjoyed this one), The Substance follows Demi Moore as aging star Elizabeth Sparkle, who wishes to become younger so she can continue her TV career, and feel important again. This she takes the titular Substance, and the younger, better looking version (Margaret Qualley) of herself crawls out from within her. However, both Elizabeth and Sue (her counterpart) must remember that they are one and they have to respect the balance. Of course, we know they won’t but its never quite obvious what will happen if they don’t; until the reveal of Elizabeth’s old witchy finger. When Sue takes more time from Elizabeth, she ages Elizabeth, and unfortunately there is no turning back. The Substance tells the age old tale of being careful what you wish for but with a feminist spin; it’s not so easy to live by that warning when you’re existence is one dominated by patriarchal values. The Substance is such an interesting take on our beauty obsessed society, and is especially relevant considering the rise in cosmetic procedures and products, such as Ozempic. It only feels right to take place in Hollywood, where ageism for women is rife, but it is a story that will resonate with any woman who watches it. We all know what it feels like to want to be someone else; to want to be someone better. But The Substance reminds us that the grass isn’t always greener and we shouldn’t take what we’ve got for granted. When Sue takes the one-use only Substance again, she doesn’t transform into a better version of herself, but rather Monstro Elisasue. This tragic Frankenstein-like creature poses a question to us; how far are we willing to go and what will the consequences be. When Monstro Elisasue accidentally burned her last strand of hair off with a curling iron, people in the cinema laughed. Yet, I felt almost compelled to cry; it’s a feeling I’ve gone through as a woman and even though it’s a small moment, it is one that left a real lasting impression. This small review does not do The Substance justice; it is a must watch if you haven’t already. Demi Moore gives a truly inspired performance as Elizabeth Sparkle, which is one of a lifetime. It will be an injustice if she is not the one to lift that Academy Award this March.