If you have been around for a bit, you know that I’m a really big horror fan, and every year during October, I marathon “Spooktober” movies for the month. Some are classics I love that I rewatch, many are horror movies I’ve never seen, some are just random. I often go all out and start early (started in mid-September to fit more) and mostly just watch horror flicks until Halloween. Here are all the horror or thriller films I saw this year (watches and re-watches both) in order from best to worst - ranked.

Warning: the vast majority of these are NOT family friendly, which probably goes without saying given the genre. Without further ado, here is my Spooktober 2024:

#1 - The Sixth Sense (dir. M. Night Shyamalan, 1999) - REWATCH

Score - 5/5

I’ve seen this movie probably a dozen times, and it never loses its punch. Still M. Night’s best work, and atmospheric in a super effective and unique way. There’s nothing better than showing this film to someone who has never seen it or had it spoiled. Spoiler alert: did you know that guy in the bad hairpiece was actually Bruce Willis the entire time??

#2 - Vertigo (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)

Score - 4.5/5

Ok, there are going to be a few flicks I include that aren’t horror, just thrillers or generally dark movies. So I can include Hitchcock if I want, get over it. I’ve still only seen a few of old Alfie’s movies, but this one takes the cake as my favorite so far. Beautifully shot and pretty much perfect in every way. Adding it to my “movies where Jimmy Stewart jumps in water to save someone” list.

#3 - The ‘Burbs (dir. Joe Dante, 1989) - REWATCH

Score - 4.5/5

Joe Dante is my second favorite director for a reason. He scratches an itch for me I can’t get scratched anywhere else. This movie is absurd and stupid and a total blast. Second or third time watching this one for me. Another thing this movie has going for it is its deeply rooted prejudice against Eastern Europeans. One of the many things it has in common with Rocky IV.

#4 - Coraline (dir. Henry Selick, 2009) - REWATCH

Score - 4.5/5

Another rewatch. Coraline is bizarre. But great! The book is great too - I love Neil Gaiman, and this is a perfectly crafted fairy tale.

#5 - Rear Window (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) - REWATCH

Score - 4.5/5

Speaking of old Alfie, I rewatched this masterpiece as well. One of a kind. Just watch it. And be grateful I didn’t use the title of this one to make a butt-related joke. It’s right there, folks. It would be too easy.

#6 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (dir. Guillermo del Toro, 2008) - REWATCH

Score - 4.5/5

The first Hellboy is one of my all-time favorite films. The second one eluded me for a long time - although, I did see it in theaters at 12 years old, which is why this is a “rewatch.” But I remembered almost nothing from this movie, and so finally got around to watching it again - and it’s as good as everyone says. Plus it has a Barry Manilow song, so, yeah. It takes everything great about the original and builds on it. A perfect big budget popcorn summer blockbuster sequel. Take notes, Michael Bay.

#7 - Late Night with the Devil (dir. Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes, 2024)

Score 4/5

Such a clever and unique take on a “found footage” horror movie. The atmosphere, set design, and character work is incredible. One of my favorite movies of 2024 for sure. Also a good little warning tale about the dangers of joining a demon sex cult to make it in Hollywood. Which is a bigger problem than you might think.

#8 - Longlegs (dir. Osgood Perkins, 2024)

Score - 4/5

Slightly overhyped, but still fantastic. Great use of Nicolas Cage by the way. This movie and Nic Cage are both scary, which is good, since they are supposed to be.

#9 - The Invisible Man (dir. Leigh Whannell, 2020) - REWATCH

Score - 4/5

Seen this one quite a few times now, because it was one of those sleeper hits that was exactly what it should have been and nothing more. This is a perfect little thriller/horror that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Or at least if it did, I couldn’t see it. HA.

#10 - Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-Ho, 2019) - REWATCH

Score - 4/5

Hadn’t seen this since 2019, and it was better on a rewatch. What a weird movie. Obviously the social commentary is a central part of this film’s DNA, but it’s executed so well that it works on multiple levels. No pun intended.

#11 - The Lost Boys (dir. Joel Schumacher, 1987)

Score - 4/5

Sexy shirtless steroid saxophone rock star steals the show. I couldn’t focus on anything else after that scene. Need more of him.

#12 - The Fall of the House of Usher (dir. Mike Flanagan, 2023)

Score 3.5/5

I love Mike Flanagan. He is the modern master of gothic, atmospheric character-driven horror, and this is the latest miniseries of his I have seen. It was a pastiche/mashup/retelling of various Edgar Allen Poe stories in a modern setting, all woven into one narrative, which was super cool and well done. As usual, the characters are fleshed out and convincing, and the scares usually work well. However, this was my least favorite show of Flanagan’s so far. The characters are even suckier than usual morally, and the show depicts their gross sexual perversion wayyyyy too explicitly. Interesting that the show works as a condemnation of sexual deviancy, which I’m sure Flanagan didn’t intend, but he should have. Still didn’t need to see it. Lots of fast forwarding necessary for this one.

#13 - Smile 2 (dir. Parker Finn, 2024)

Score 3.5/5

Pretty good sequel. Don’t know why everyone in this movie is so happy though. Bad things are happening. Someone ought to tell them.

#14 - Alien: Romulus (dir. Fede Álvarez, 2024)

Score 3.5/5

This could have been great. It has a great and proven young director, and was (mostly) well-acted and well-shot, but decided to indulge in the dumb fan servicey Marvel-ization stuff we see everywhere now. I didn’t need an A.I. deepfake of robot Bilbo from the first movie. It’s creepy and dystopian and weird. Stop it.

#15 - Fright Night (dir. Tom Holland, 1985)

Score 3/5

Vampires.

#16 - Village of the Damned (dir. John Carpenter, 1995)

Score 3/5

You might know John Carpenter is my favorite director. This movie was my least favorite movie I’ve ever seen of his, sadly. Though I still have “Ghosts of Mars” to watch, so things can change. The first act of this movie is actually incredible. Once the goofy Violet Beauregardes show up though, it gets much worse. Not Carpenter's best. Also, Christopher Reeve is far too good for this script. That dude gave it his all, and had to act his heart out saying some truly terrible lines. You know, this movie is probably the worst thing to happen to Christopher Reeve in his lifetime. Certainly there is nothing else quite so tragic or horrific that I'm forgetting.

#17 - Priest (dir. Scott Stewart, 2011)

Score - 3/5

Also vampires. But different. Could have used more backflips.

#18 - The Mist (dir. Frank Darabont, 2007)

Score - 2.5/5

I love Stephen King, but “The Mist” has always been one of his least engaging story ideas for me. “Oh no, spooky fog is spooky.” John Carpenter did that better. And without the tentacles. I read “The Mist” this Summer, and then watched the movie this Fall. Seeing the story on the big screen didn’t change the fact that it’s just not my fav. But the movie version does get points for having the balls to rewrite the ending into the most horrific and terrible thing imaginable just for kicks and giggles.

#19 - Nancy Drew (dir. Andrew Fleming, 2007)

Score - 2.5/5

I remember nothing.

#20 - Black Swan (dir. Darren Aronofsky, 2010)

Score - 2.5/5

Someone really said “What if we made a combination of Whiplash and Birdman but worse and sexually perverted.” Yes I know this movie came before those. I don’t care. Go watch those instead.

#21 - The Game (dir. David Fincher, 1997) - REWATCH

Score - 2/5

“The Game” is a movie that I’ve seen twice, and both times I think “wow, this could have been really great if it didn’t have the stupidest and most ridiculous and cartoonishly silly ending of any movie ever made.” Though I think if I saw this in sixth grade it might have been my favorite movie ever.

#22 - Trap (dir. M. Night Shyamalan, 2024)

Score - 2/5

Classic late-stage Shyamalan. High concept, idiotic execution. I don’t think bro writes second drafts anymore. He just rolls with whatever first comes to mind to race toward his “chilling realization” moment. I love you, M. Do better. As a side note, the only reason this movie exists is for M. Night to promote his daughters terrible Lorde knockoff mixtape and force us all to listen to it uninterrupted. Which I must admit is a baller move. Imagine if J.J. Abrams stuck his pop star daughter into a Star Wars cantina scene and we had to watch her sing for 3 and a half minutes straight? Diabolical.

#23 - Don’t Move (dir. Brian Netto, Adam Schindler, 2024)

Score - 1.5/5

I didn’t move. Except to get up and pee. Which was more entertaining than this “shot on iPhone” looking movie. At least when I pee I feel satisfied afterward.

#24 - The Watchers (dir. Ishana Night Shyamalan, 2024)

Score - 1/5

I don’t even want to talk about this dumb movie. Don’t make me. Please. This is so bad. Embarrassingly bad. Proof that filmmaking talent doesn’t run in the blood. Unless your name is Hank Williams, that is. Love those guys.

That’s a wrap! You can see the list and my other lists on Letterboxd here: Letterboxd List