Finding a horror film that really and truly scares you can feel like uncovering buried treasure. Horror has no shortage of jump scares and bloody spectacles, but truly chilling movies leave a lasting impression, haunting you long after the credits roll. This year, 2024, has been a standout for horror fans, delivering a diverse film lineup that surprises, terrifies, and sticks with you. These movies perfectly combine entertaining and unsettling, making a masterpiece. They showcase twisted body horror, slow-building dread, and atmospheric despair. This list has something for everyone, whether you love disturbing psychological terror, gruesome gore, or tales that masterfully play on your deepest fears.

These films take creative risks, challenge genre norms, and provide more than enough reason to sleep with the lights on. Without further ado, here are the scariest films of 2024 that deserve your attention.

1. Immaculate

One of the most chilling films of the year, Immaculate sinks its claws into themes of religion and mystery. Starring Sydney Sweeney in a gripping lead performance, the film follows a devout American nun who is relocated to a convent in Italy. Then things take a dark turn when she mysteriously becomes pregnant, and her fellow nuns interpret her condition as a divine miracle. What unfolds is an unnerving story of faith warped into fanaticism and fear.

Immaculate uses its convent setting brilliantly. Shadow-cloaked hallways, ominous chanting, and unsettling rituals create a claustrophobic sense of dread. The film isn’t afraid to get brutally grotesque, with stomach-turning body horror that adds to the unease. This movie excels at blending spiritual horror with gruesome visuals, making it an unforgettably harrowing experience.

2. Azrael

What do you do when sound itself becomes the enemy? Azrael takes this terrifying premise and runs with it, crafting a world where silence is survival. Samara Weaving stars as a young woman surviving in a post-apocalyptic world where a cult of fanatics has banned speech. The punishment for speaking isn’t just social rejection but a gruesome death brought on by horrifying creatures drawn to even the faintest sound.

The near-silent narrative of Azrael is its strongest asset. Without dialogue, the film relies on chilling visuals, eerie sound design, and Weaving’s dynamic performance to maintain tension. Each moment is a nail-biting exercise in suspense, as even a single whisper could bring death.

3. Nosferatu

Robert Eggers puts his signature atmospheric style to work in this reimagining of the 1922 classic Nosferatu. Featuring a haunting performance by Bill Skarsgård as the titular vampire, this version leans into old-school Gothic horror with gloom-filled castles, flickering candlelight, and cobblestone streets straight out of the 17th century.

Eggers allows the story to breathe, slowly pulling you into a world of doom and despair. The movie steadily builds its terror as Nosferatu manipulates his unsuspecting prey, creating an atmosphere so thick with dread it almost feels alive. Rather than cheap thrills, Nosferatu excels at simmering horror, where the unsettling presence of the vampire infects every frame.

4. Smile 2

Sequels often carry baggage, but Smile 2 shatters expectations with a tighter story, bolder scares, and deeper emotional stakes. The infamous grinning demon returns, this time targeting a pop star (played by Naomi Scott) trying to rebuild her life after overcoming major trauma. Sadly for her, the demon has other plans.

What makes Smile 2 truly terrifying is its ability to balance psychological horror with in-your-face scares. The unsettling smiles that creep out from nowhere, paired with innovative camera work, send shivers down your spine. The sequel also digs into themes of guilt and survival, heightening the emotional intensity and making every scare harder.

5. The Substance

Body horror fans, rejoice (and prepare to look away). The Substance tells a disturbing tale about an aging fitness mogul (played by Demi Moore) whose vanity leads her to try an experimental product promising eternal youth. It works, but with a horrifying price. Over time, her body and psyche are consumed by grotesque transformations, including scenes so unnerving you might find yourself covering your eyes.

Director Coralie Fargeat uses the allure of beauty as a jumping-off point for a nightmarish fairy tale. The practical effects here are astounding, with gooey, visceral imagery that assaults the senses. Beneath the shocking visuals lies a thoughtful message about our obsession with perfection at any cost.

6. Exhuma

South Korea continues to dominate the global horror scene with films like Exhuma. This supernatural thriller combines folklore, ritual, and demonology in a spectacularly creepy package. The story revolves around a feng shui master enlisted to relocate a grave, only for things to go horrifically wrong as a demonic presence awakens.

What sets Exhuma apart is its dedication to practical effects and beautifully crafted, cursed objects. The demon at the heart of the story is a grotesque and unforgettable creation, rivaling anything we’ve seen in recent horror for sheer nightmare fuel.

7. Late Night with the Devil

Looking for a smart meta-horror flick? Late Night with the Devil takes you into the live, chaotic setting of a 1970s talk show gone terribly wrong. David Dastmalchian plays the desperate host, hoping a seance segment will save his plummeting TV ratings. Instead, he unknowingly invites a dark force into the studio.

The film blends humor, authenticity, and supernatural scares, replicating the vibe of its era perfectly. What starts as a quirky period piece turns into unpredictable chaos, making every scene increasingly uneasy to watch.

8. Heretic

Hugh Grant stars in this slow-burning psychological horror as a mysterious man who traps two young missionaries in his isolated home. What begins as uncomfortable philosophical sparring rapidly descends into terror as the captives realize the extent of his sinister intentions.

Heretic doesn’t rely on flashy effects or jump scares to frighten. It uses Grant’s haunting performance and a deeply unsettling atmosphere to maintain its menace. The film’s shocking twists and the dreadful interplay between Grant and his captives make it an intense watch.

9. The First Omen

The Omen prequel we didn’t know we needed, The First Omen dives into the dark origins of the Antichrist. Set within the Vatican, the film follows a young nun torn between her faith and the sinister truth surrounding her new assignment.

The First Omen has breathtaking production design and a terrifying blend of conspiracy and religious horror. This film weaves impeccably between spine-chilling dread and outright terror, and the grim atmosphere and standout performances elevate it above typical horror prequels.