We are obsessed with horror, and we know you are too. After months of nominations, polling and voting, we’ve narrowed down the fan favorite horror films from this past year. We are thrilled to announce the winners of our third annual Best Of Horror survey for 2024.
Best Makeup or Costumes: Nosferatu
Finalists: Nosferatu, The Substance, Maxxxine, Immaculate
From Victorian era garb to neon 80s eyeliner, makeup and costumes are such an important element to immerse the audience in the world of the story.
Best Special Effects: The Substance
Finalists: The Substance, Nosferatu, Infested
Dripping blood, gaunt Vampires of legend, and so much more. Practical and special effects can make or break horror gore.
Best Slasher Film: Maxxxine
Finalists: Maxxxine, Strange Darling, In A Violent Nature
From Norman Bates to Michael Myers, the bar is high for slasher villains. This year’s crop of slasher films played with the definition of the subgenre in a truly fun way.
Best Twist or Ending: Strange Darling
Finalists: Furiosa, Immaculate, Strange Darling, Nosferatu
Ever since The Sixth Sense, we’ve become obsessed with a horror twist ending.
Best Campy Horror: Abigail
Finalists: Abigail, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Trap, The Substance
Horror movies that make us laugh, or play with combining genres can bring something super unique to the table.
Best Thought Provoking Horror: I Saw The TV Glow
Finalists: I Saw The TV Glow, Heretic, The Substance, Nightbitch
Horror that scares us and causes us to self-reflect? Yes please.
Best Jump Scare: Longlegs
Finalists: Longlegs, Smile 2, The First Omen
Horror is known for its jump scares, and whether you think they are an artistic achievement or a cheap thrill, we can’t ignore how impactful they can be on the audience.
Best Final Girl: Alien: Romulus
Finalists: Alien: Romulus, Heretic, Immaculate, Maxxxine
Women that survive the horrors of a slasher, against all odds, deserve their own category.
Best Horror Score: Nosferatu
Finalists: Red Rooms, Immaculate, Nosferatu
A haunting score carries the emotions of the audience through the movie.
Best Horror Comedy: The Substance
Finalists: The Substance, Lisa Frankenstien, Abigail, Nightbitch
Films that actually make the audience laugh out loud, while feeling terrified, are some of the hardest films to pull off.
Best Indie Horror Film: Longlegs
Finalists: Longlegs, Red Rooms, Strange Darling, Heretic
Films that can pull off a riveting story and stunning cinematography without massive budgets or studio connections deserve their own category. And to be fair, of course some of these finalists are from connected filmmakers and actors. But there is still something raw about an indie horror movie.
Best Science Fiction Film: Furiosa
Finalists: It’s What's Inside, Furiosa, Alien: Romulus
Science Fiction is the sister genre of Horror.
Best Thriller: Strange Darling
Finalists: Strange Darling, Immaculate, Cuckoo, You’ll Never Find Me, Never Let Go, Hold Your Breath, The Devil’s Bath
Hitchcock made thriller and mystery films some of the most beloved in cinema history, these films from 2024 honor the integrity of the genre.
Best Horror TV Show: Creep Tapes
Finalists: Creep Tapes, Nightmares and Daydreams
Transforming horror into a longer-form story can be an extra challenge. Keeping tension taught for longer, across a series or season is a feat.
Best Horror Franchise Continuation: Smile 2
Finalists: Smile 2, The First Omen, V/H/S Beyond
Horror sequels can be iconically terrible. But when they work, you’ve captured lightning in a bottle.
Overall Best Horror Film: The Substance
Finalists: The Substance, Nosferatu, Smile 2, Immaculate, Heretic, Longlegs
And finally, here are the absolute best horror films from 2024, according to you.
Thank you to everyone who voted. We strive to make the Lunatics Project a community project. Especially as we head into potentially even more volatile times, horror has been proven to help with escapism during times of strife. Couple that with community, and we think it is a recipe for self expression and shared joy.
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