Catching Up on 2024 Films [Part 1 of 2]

Even though this blog has been quiet for most of 2024, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching 2024 horror films during my absence. I've been mainly posting quick reviews on my Instagram Stories and Letterboxd throughout the year. So I figured I might as well post those thoughts here before the year is over.

I plan on posting future short reviews for movies monthly [unless I feel the film deserves a longer review] on the blog going forward..

LOVE LIES BLEEDING (2024)

Directed by: Rose Glass 

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone 

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

Review: While flawed, LOVE LIES BLEEDING is a fun time. Very good direction by Rose Glass, solid performances [Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian and Ed Harris are especially great] and has weird moments that make you wonder where the story is headed. If you enjoy crime-thrillers with a tinge of strange supernatural aspects that come out of nowhere, this might be up your alley. One of the better films of 2024 so far.

IMAGINARY (2024)

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow

Starring: DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Betty Buckley, Tom Payne

Score: 1.5 Howls Outta 4 (4 out of 10)

Plot: When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Review: Probably one of the more forgettable horror films of 2024, IMAGINARY [another Blumhouse production that has disappointed me this year] is a waste of potential and probably a waste of one’s time. Despite a title that promises more inventive things, IMAGINARY has to be one of the most generic, lackluster and non-scary PG horror films I’ve seen all year. It has no shame in showing its influences on its sleeve, taking elements from better movies such as CHILD’S PLAY, THE SHINING and HELLRAISER II, making you wish you were spending time rewatching those films instead. DeWanda Wise is a very good actress and deserves better material than this, as I’m surprised that her back wasn’t in pain carrying this movie all by herself. I felt so badly for Betty Buckley in this as well, as the script just embarrasses her during the final act. Not much imagination in this one.

IMMACULATE (2024)

Directed by: Michael Mohan

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Alvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: An American nun embarks on a new journey when she joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, her warm welcome quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

Review: When I watched trailers for this and considering I had just watched Sydney Sweeney in MADAME WEB, I wasn’t expecting much out of this movie. But lo and behold, the first of many horror films this year tackling religion that ended up being a gnarly Nunspoloitation flick! In 2024 on the big screen, mind you! Sweeney isn’t the best actress, but she does some quality work here as a young nun who quickly becomes involved in the evil schemes of the convent she’s staying at. Mohan’s imagery is also pretty striking and memorable, with some memorable horror moments I wasn’t expecting in the film’s second half. The ending, in particular, is one of my favorite endings of 2024. I’m sure it’s still being debated about, considering our current social climate over childbirth. Definitely one of my favorite horror films of 2024 and worth a look if you’re a fan of Sydney Sweeney playing against type. 

ARCADIAN (2024)

Directed by: Benjamin Brewer

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Sadie Soverall 

Score: 2.5 Howls Outta 4 (6 out of 10)

Plot: In the near future, on a decimated Earth, Paul and his twin sons face terror at night when ferocious creatures awaken. When Paul is nearly killed, the boys come up with a plan for survival, using everything their father taught them to keep him alive.

Review: A pretty okay dystopian flick that’s a mix of A QUIET PLACE, CHILDREN OF MEN and PITCH BLACK. While Nicolas Cage is top billing, he’s hardly in the movie as much as one would think, focusing more on the younger cast and how their characters deal with their bleak reality. While the younger actors do carry the story and emotional beats well enough, ARCADIAN could have used more Cage to really sell the absurdity of the entire situation. The creature designs are interesting enough to look at, even if they don’t always look great. But considering the low budget, I was still pretty impressed. And Benjamin Brewer does provide some tense moments through his visuals. Worth checking out on Shudder if you have time to spare.

ABIGAIL (2024)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett 

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, William Catlett, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: A group of criminals kidnap a teenage ballet dancer, the daughter of a notorious gang leader, in order to obtain a ransom of $50 million, but over time, they discover that she is not just an ordinary girl. After the kidnappers begin to diminish, one by one, they discover, to their increasing horror, that they are locked inside with no normal little girl. 

Review: Radio Silence direct a really fun vampire flick that won’t reinvent the wheel. But with a super solid cast [especially Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens and a dynamic Alisha Weir as the title character], cool gore, nice special effects, and some tense and really funny moments, ABIGAIL is one of the better horror films of 2024. I wish this had done better at the box office to show those SCREAM producers what they messed up, but this will definitely be a cult hit for years to come.

TAROT (2024)

Directed By: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Starring: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika, Jacob Batalon, Humberly Gonzalez, Wolfgang Novogratz, Larsen Thompson, Olwen Fouere

Score: 1.5 Howls Outta 4 (4 out of 10)

Plot: When a group of friends recklessly violate the sacred rule of Tarot readings, they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death.

Review: I drew the Fool card in my last Tarot reading, which would explain why I watched this soulless, cliched, generic, not-scary horror movie. TAROT does have some visually stylish moments and the actors aren’t terrible, as they’re doing what they can with an awful and boring script. A good horror flick is not in the cards with this one.

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 (2024)

Directed By: Renny Harlin

Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, Emma Horvath, Richard Brake

Score: 0.5 Howls Outta 4 (2 out of 10)

Plot: After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motives.

Review: I really hope someone tells these killers that Tamara is home so we can end this series. THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 gave me nothing. Nada. Zilch. The victims are stupid and have no agency. The killers aren’t scary or threatening in the slightest. There’s a lack of tension that was present in the previous films. If it wasn’t for the okay acting and decent looking picture, this installment would be a total dud. At least MADAME WEB made me laugh at how awful it was. This movie just made me angry, to the point where I wanted to walk out of the theater.

Can’t you tell I’m excited for CHAPTER 2??

THE WATCHERS (2024)

Directed By: Ishana Night Shyamalan

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouere, Oliver Finnegan, Alistair Brammer, John Lynch

Score: 2 Howls Outta 4 (5 out of 10)

Plot: A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night. 

Review: Ishana Night Shyamalan’s feature film debut is a mixed bag. Shyamalan’s visuals and presentation are the best things about THE WATCHERS, as it has atmosphere and some decent tension at times. The movie looks really nice too. The actors [in particular Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell and Olwen Fouere] do fine with what they’re given. Unfortunately, the narrative starts off interesting and just deflates through too much exposition and predictable twists I figured out right away. Still, I’m willing to see Shyamalan direct another film that has a better script attached.

MAXXXINE (2024)

Directed By: Ti West

Starring: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon, Simon Prast

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)

Plot: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

Review: MAXXXINE is the weakest of Ti West's X trilogy, but it's still a good time. Mia Goth is great as usual [with Kevin Bacon and Giancarlo Esposito behind her]. Loved the 80s aesthetic and soundtrack. Strong Brian de Palma vibes here. Too bad that final act is sloppy and silly as hell. Also, the mystery didn't work for me [figured it out pretty much right away]. Curious to see what Ti West does next though.

Lunar Cycle - December 2023

Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.

Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki

Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Minami Hamabe, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuki Yamada, Saki Nakatani 

Genre: Horror/Drama/Science Fiction/Action

Running Time: 125 Minutes

Score: 4 Howls Outta 4 (10 out of 10)

PLOT: In postwar Japan, a new terror rises. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?

REVIEW:

GODZILLA MINUS ONE may be the surprise film of 2023 for me. I had never planned to watch this new installment of Toho’s iconic monster in theaters, but friends kept mentioning it and decided to watch it on opening night on a whim. While I expected awesome monster action and cities getting destroyed by a giant lizard, I didn’t expect an actual human story that not only is emotional, but made me forget that I was watching a GODZILLA movie at times.

The entire cast, especially Ryunosuke Kamiki as former kamikaze pilot Koichi, is incredible in MINUS ONE. Kamiki, in particular, juggles a lot of emotional beats as a soldier who struggles with deserting his country at the end of World War II. Things get worse when Godzilla shows up and murders a bunch of mechanics on an island Koichi lands on, guilt building when he had a chance to save them all but is too scared to confront the monster face-to-face. We watch Kamiki play Koichi as a man struggling with PTSD - distancing himself from a woman he meets [who also has a child she’s taking care of due to the death of the child’s parents during the war] and feeling like a ghost in a devastated post-war Japan. When Godzilla shows back up and sees the damage the creature causes in front of him multiple times, he knows he has to confront his literal monster even if he has to off himself to do it.

The story is so well-written, well-paced and gives so many character arcs to multiple characters that we actually care about their encounters with Godzilla, hoping they find a way to stop the monster. Godzilla, playing a role closer to his original incarnation from 1954, is a complete villain here, destroying everything in its path and coming across as entirely unstoppable. This is a Godzilla who doesn’t care who or what it is destroying, as long as he gets to unleash its devastation as many times as possible.

Director Takashi Yamazaki takes a $15 million budget and makes MINUS ONE look better than most Hollywood blockbusters have looked in the last few years. And these films have budgets that are ten to fifteen times as much as MINUS ONE. Yamazaki lets the human story simmer and plays it all seriously, letting things build up towards the film’s exciting final act while twists and turns happen when you least expect it. The action sequences are thrilling and look phenomenal for the film’s budget. Godzilla, in particular, looks awesome - especially when he’s building up that atomic heat ray that destroys whatever is in its path. The pacing is so damn good and I loved the homage to JAWS anytime Godzilla swam underneath ships that were searching for it. The use of the original GODZILLA theme also made me giddy and was used at appropriate times. I hear Yamazaki wants to direct a STAR WARS film and I would be down to see what he does with that property with a much larger budget.

Seriously, GODZILLA MINUS ONE is not only one of the best installments in this multi-decade franchise, but it may just be the best installment of them all. It clicks in every way and checks every box that I would ever want in a GODZILLA film. I’m super happy word-of-mouth on social media has helped the film continue its success in America because this movie deserves it. One of the best films of 2023.

Directed By: Rhys Frake-Waterfield 

Starring: Craig David Dowsett, Chris Cordell, Amber Doig-Thorne, Nikolai Leon, Maria Taylor, Natasha Rose Mills, Danielle Ronald

Genre: Horror/Slasher 

Running Time: 84 Minutes

Score: 0.5 Howls Outta 4 (2 out of 10)

PLOT: Christopher Robin is headed off to college and he has abandoned his old friends, Pooh and Piglet, which then leads to the duo embracing their inner monsters. 

REVIEW:

So apparently while Disney owns the rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters when it comes to their own franchise within the studio, the original Winnie-the-Pooh book from 1926 had its rights go to public domain for the first time in decades. This allowed filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield the opportunity to write, direct, produce and edit a slasher film called WINNIE-THE-POOH: BLOOD & HONEY, starring these classic characters to the surprise and anger of many. And I totally understand the fan reaction to this because I’m surprised I watched this in one entire sitting and I’m angry I wasted 80 minutes of my life giving this a shot.

I mean, the concept for this movie is actually quite good. Christopher Robin befriends the Winnie-the-Pooh characters throughout his young life, leading to the characters to be emotionally attached to their human friend. But once he grows old enough for college and decides to leave them for a higher education and pursue his adult life without them, the characters grow bitter and resentful enough to want revenge on Robin and other humans who enter 100 Acre Woods. That sounds like a cool horror movie!

Too bad this only works for the first ten minutes of the movie, leaving 74 minutes of Pooh and Piglet stalking bland and annoying female characters who do the most dumb things I’ve seen characters do in a horror film in a very long time. It almost borders on misogynistic, as Pooh and Piglet have no issues targeting young women for slaughter but aren’t as brutal on the male characters that show up. It doesn’t help that these female characters are way too ignorant or lack any common sense for any audience to care about them in any sort of meaningful way other than to watch classic characters eliminate them. I mean, sure you can talk to hostages for five straight minutes in Pooh’s lair. It would be smarter to free them and have them explain things once you’re safe enough from danger, but what do I know right? 

Other than a cool idea, an amusing pre-credits sequence and decent gore sequences, WINNIE-THE-POOH: BLOOD & HONEY has nothing else to offer. The direction isn’t all that impressive. The acting is not good. The costumes look alright I guess, but doesn’t save the film from being terrible. I’m sure some will laugh at how stupid and bad this film is [especially if you’re under the influence of certain substances]. But I think most will just be frustrated by the end of this film, wishing death on everyone on screen. This honestly may be the worst film I’ve watched that was released in 2023. I’m actually sad this is getting a sequel because that means I’ll probably have to watch it for a review. And I thought Eeyore had a depressing life.

Directed By: Tyler MacIntyre

Starring: Jane Widdop, Joel McHale, Justin Long, Jess McLeod, Katharine Isabelle

Genre: Horror/Thriller/Comedy/Slasher

Running Time: 87 Minutes

Score: 2 Howls Outta 4 (5 out of 10)

PLOT: Winnie’s life is less than wonderful one year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. When she wishes she was never born, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe. With the murderous maniac now back, she must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and get back to her own reality.

REVIEW:
A horror take on the 1946 Frank Capra holiday classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE [with some elements of 1983’s A CHRISTMAS STORY implemented], I was expecting a scary version of a familiar story. Considering it was written by a co-writer of 2020’s FREAKY and riding the wave of time-traveling horror films like 2017’s HAPPY DEATH DAY and 2023’s TOTALLY KILLER, it should have been mostly a slam dunk. Unfortunately, IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE is just a mediocre slasher film that has a really cool concept but doesn’t bother to execute it to its fullest potential.

The first act is the best part of this film, as it gets into the plot right away and reveals things that will be important once the time changes for the rest of the film. And while seeing a different timeline is cool at times in IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE, not enough time is given to really flesh out the major changes that the Final Girl Winnie has to deal with in order to get her back to her original timeline. While relationships are different and the mystery of the killer gets a bit more complex, things just happen because they need to in order for the story to move forward towards its conclusion. There’s no real tension, suspense or drama that’s brought out from these changes, making one wonder why even bother using this concept to begin with. The final act also feels way too convenient and easy for the main characters to achieve that Hollywood ending, which is a shame.

While some shots are cool looking, mainly due to lighting and framing, Tyler MacIntyre and his team didn’t really wow me with their visual presentation. It does what it needs to do to get from Point A to Point B. The actors are probably the highlight here, especially Justin Long as this greedy narcissistic Mayor and Joel McHale playing a serious role that actually works for the most part. It’s also nice to see Katharine Isabelle doing her thing, while Jane Widdop does what she can with the material. I would like to see her in a better project.

I really wanted this to be an annual holiday tradition, but I honestly can’t see myself willingly watching this again unless it was to show friends or for a podcast for whatever reason. While it’s definitely better to just stick with IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, there’s nothing wrong with more holiday horror. So if you’re curious, check it out. I just hope you don’t wish that you were watching a better film like I did.

Directed By: Jenn Wexler

Starring: Georgia Acken, Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Chloe Levine, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Madison Baines 

Genre: Horror/Thriller/Supernatural/Demons

Running Time: 99 Minutes

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)

PLOT: Christmas break, 1971. Samantha and Clara, two students who are staying behind for the holidays at their boarding school, must survive the night after the arrival of uninvited visitors.

REVIEW:

Did any of you watch this year’s THE HOLDOVERS and wish it had a more horror slant involving a group of serial killers murdering people in order to summon a demon during the holidays? Well if you did, THE SACRIFICE GAME is definitely your jam. 

I didn’t know what to expect out of this, even though the trailer was intriguing. But a lot of this film worked for me, both visually and narratively. Jenn Wexler was smart in using a 70s vibe, a time where Satanic Panic was at its peak. It added an old school horror feel to THE SACRIFICE GAME that added a bit of atmosphere to film that mainly takes place indoors the entire time. I also thought the horror elements were used sparingly well, with the special effects looking very good. The final act isn’t shy about showing blood and gore, which was a nice change of pace from the more quiet and talky first two acts. 

The story is also pretty simple, as a group of people are going from home to home killing people to collect blood in order to summon a demon that’s trapped inside of a boarding school. It plays straightforward for the first half of the film, until the twists begin that make the movie a lot of fun to watch. It’s tough to discuss the last half without spoiling stuff, but I like how misunderstandings and not doing enough research can get some really stupid and greedy people in trouble.

The acting is hit-and-miss, with some actors really hamming it up with some interesting line readings that amused me more than get me invested in their character arcs. Mena Massoud, the live-action star of 2019’s ALADDIN, really twirls that proverbial mustache as the film’s lead villain, chewing up scenery any chance he gets. It works in some instances and it’s really distracting during others. But at least Massoud is having fun. I thought the two younger actresses, Georgia Acken and Madison Baines, were very good - especially Acken since she’s given more to do. Gus Kenworthy doesn’t get a whole lot to do, but he’s a recognizable name that will interest some viewers. 

While the holidays are over, I still recommend this one if you have Shudder. I think it has enough interesting twists and good enough acting to earn a recommendation for anyone looking for a recent Christmas horror flick.