Halloween is days away, meaning that it is time to find a horror film to keep you company on the spookiest night of the year. 2024 has been a particularly great year for women-led horror movies, with several titles showing that the genre is the perfect vehicle to discuss anything from unattainable beauty standards to mental health struggles.
Contrary to what many people think, horror isn’t just about the jump scares. It is also an opportunity to tap into the terrifying aspects of our society and allow viewers to reflect on issues that we often overlook. Lately, directors have been repurposing the thrill to make those gasp-worthy moments feel like they have a deeper meaning.
If you are searching for something to watch this Halloween that isn’t another story about a possessed doll or a blood-sucking vampire, this list has got you covered with some of the most attention-grabbing horror movies of the year; led by talented, modern-day scream queens.
The Substance
One of the buzziest films of the year, The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a Hollywood star no longer at her prime. In an attempt to stay at the top, she injects a substance that allows her to live vicariously through another version of herself, that happens to be young and beautiful. Elisabeth and Sue (Margaret Qualley), her alternate body, swap places every seven days to maintain the balance. That is until one of them decides to bend the rules, leading to dire consequences.
Watch The Substance in theatres or on MUBI starting October 31.
Time Cut
If you think Back to the Future, but in a slasher format, you get Time Cut. Outer Banks’ Madison Bailey stars in this Netflix original as Lucy, a teenager who is accidentally transported to 2003, the same year that her older sister Summer (Ginny & Georgia’s Antonia Gentry) was murdered. Met with the opportunity to prevent her sibling’s death, the protagonist takes her chances to stop history from repeating itself.
Watch Time Cut on Netflix starting October 30.
Smile 2
After Smile’s success, director Parker Finn came up with a sequel that furthered the original through the eyes of a pop star. The follow-up centers on Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star who begins to witness some unexplainable events ahead of her world tour. Working against the clock to make sense of the terrifying visions she’s having, Skye must dive into the past to regain control of her life. Throughout the film, the character battles the pressures of fame and the horrors in her midst.
Watch Smile 2 in theatres.
Your Monster
This romance/horror title is a perfect fit for those who aren’t fond of jump scares. It offers a twist on Beauty and the Beast, focusing on an actress post-breakup who finds solace in the company of a literal monster. After getting dumped by a long-term boyfriend, Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) returns to her childhood home heartbroken and unable to see past her misery. As she encounters a monster hidden in her closet, this beastly creature helps her regain confidence and find a second chance at love.
Watch Your Monster in theatres.
Immaculate
Sydney Sweeney has been booked and busy since her breakthrough in Euphoria. Earlier this year, she finally starred in this horror film, which has been years in the making. In Immaculate, Sweeney plays Cecilia, a devout nun who relocates to a convent in Italy’s countryside. Determined to dedicate her life to practicing her faith, the main character soon comes to realize that the place of worship harbours some dark secrets. Upon noticing that the convent isn’t as safe as she thought, Cecilia looks for a way out, especially once she’s revealed to be miraculously pregnant.
Watch Immaculate on Prime Video.
A Quiet Place: Day One
The A Quiet Place franchise is unique in the sense that its films have barely any dialogue, due to the monsters at the centre of the story. After all, the creatures that haunt the population are blind but have hypersensitive hearing, meaning everyone must keep silent to remain alive. This prequel told through the lens of Samira (Lupita Nyong’o), a woman battling cancer, shows the before and after of the monster invasion in New York City. Although the main character has already come to terms with death, her greatest wish is to eat pizza from a beloved local restaurant one last time before the creatures catch up to her.
Watch A Quiet Place: Day One on Paramount +.
Lisa Frankenstein
Similar to Your Monster, Lisa Frankenstein is also a genre-bending horror film. Directed by Zelda Williams, the project is set in the late ‘80s and follows Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton), a teenager struggling to move past her mother’s death. While visiting the cemetery, the protagonist accidentally brings a centuries-long corpse back to life. As Lisa bonds with The Creature, they go on a twisted journey to finding love and happiness.
Watch Lisa Frankenstein on Prime Video.