The summer movie season is upon us and horror films are dominating the release schedule.
It’s already been a strong year for frightening flicks, with Night Swim defying its bad reviews to rake in millions at the box office, while Sydney Sweeney‘s nunsploitation splatterfest Immaculate impressed genre loyalists.
There’s also been a number of indie horror hits this year, including the low budget slasher In A Violent Nature and the supernatural Late Night with the Devil.
DailyMail.com spoke to critics from JoBlo.com and filmmaker Robbie Banfitch to get their picks for this year’s scariest summer movies.
Cuckoo (August 9)
Described as an ‘intense and original thriller’ by JoBlo.com’s horror critic Tyler Nichols, Cuckoo has emerged as one of the season’s most anticipated films thanks to a killer ad campaign.
Starring Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer, Cuckoo follows 17-year-old Gretchen (played by Schafer), who reluctantly goes to live with her father in the idyllic German Alps.
She’s soon haunted by strange noises and visions, and it doesn’t take long before she discovers a shocking secret involving her family.
‘Going into this knowing as little as possible seems to be the way to go. All you need to know is that Hunter Shafer looks absolutely phenomenal as the lead,’ said Nichols.
Alien: Romulus (August 16)
The Alien franchise is back for the first time since 2017’s polarizing Alien: Covenant with the chilling Alien: Romulus.
Directed by Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe), the seventh instalment in the franchise is set between the first two films and follows a group of young space colonists who face off against a deadly xenomorph while scavenging an abandoned space station.
‘Alvarez has promised part-Alien/part-Aliens with his new entry and it seems to be the franchise’s first true return to its roots in decades,’ said Nichols.
‘Hopefully the Prometheus films can be wiped from memory and Alien: Romulus can help to make space scary again.’
Afraid (August 30)
Following the blockbuster success of M3GAN, Blumhouse Productions are rolling out another AI thriller with Afraid.
Starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston, Afraid follows a family who are terrorized by a smart home device that develops self-awareness.
‘The idea of AI in the household is a scary prospect,’ said Nichols.
‘This is sure to be as thought-provoking as it is haunting. Here’s hoping it takes less of the M3GAN route.’
MaXXXine (July 3)
Arguably the hottest horror movie of the season is MaXXXine, which stars Mia Goth as 1980s porn star Maxine Minx.
MaXXXine is the third entry in director Ti West’s X film series, which started with the 1979-set X and was followed by the 1918-set Pearl.
According to JoBlo.com’s horror news writer Cody Hamman, Pearl ‘should have earned Goth an Oscar nomination.’
‘MaXXXine takes us into the ’80s; the Night Stalker is terrorizing Los Angeles, Goth is surrounded by an incredible supporting cast, and horror fan expectations are high,’ he said.
Longlegs (July 12)
The only horror film this season to rival MaXXXine’s hype is Longlegs, which has captured the zeitgeist thanks to an amazing marketing campaign and a buzzworthy performance from Nicholas Cage.
‘The marketing for this Osgood Perkins film has been so intriguingly bizarre and cryptic, at this point we’re eager to see if the movie can even live up to it,’ said Hamman.
‘Longlegs looks promising, with It Follows heroine Maika Monroe playing an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer played by Nicolas Cage – who has been described as a “possessed Geppetto”!’
Critics have already dubbed Longlegs the scariest film of 2024, and it current boasts an impressive 100 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Trap (August 2)
Not to be outdone by the splashier MaXXXine and Longlegs, M. Night Shyamalan’s serial killer thriller Trap is being touted as a potential comeback for the spotty director.
‘M. Night Shyamalan has hits and misses, but this thriller has a great set-up,’ Hamman explained.
‘Josh Hartnett plays a father who takes his young daughter to a concert, only to discover that police have set a trap for a serial killer at the venue,’ he continued.
‘Problem is, Hartnett is the serial killer!’
With Hartnett’s secret identity intentionally revealed in the trailer, fans are already wondering if Trap will feature another one of Shyamalan’s trademark twists towards the end of the film.
The Front Room (September 6)
One flick tipped to be a surprise hit of the season is A24’s The Front Room.
Starring R&B singer Brandy, The Front Room follows the newly-pregnant Belinda as she faces off against a mother-in-law from hell – who is not only a raging racist, but may also be possessed by The Holy Spirit.
‘The horror gays are beyond excited to see Brandy’s return to the big-screen, especially in such a big, A24 way,’ said Robbie Banfitch, who was behind 2022’s indie horror sensation The Outwaters.
‘We’ve been craving it since I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. For what it’s worth, if she’s not a part of that reboot we will revolt,’ he added.
Horror in the High Desert 3: Firewatch (TBA)
One of the lesser-known horror films earning buzz this summer is Horror in the High Desert 3: Firewatch.
Firewatch is the latest entry in director Dutch Marich’s found-footage series about missing persons cases in the American desert.
While the films have yet to hit a mainstream audience, they’ve developed a cult following among horror enthusiasts in recent years.
‘Dutch Marich’s High Desert films are the ever-rare found footage/mockumentaries that feel genuinely authentic,’ Banfitch said.
‘Part three is my favorite so far, and the lead, Marco Antonio Parra, is heartbreaking. The film is emotional, eerie and suspenseful.’
Strange Darling (August 23)
Banfitch also selected the stylish cat-and-mouse thriller Strange Darling, calling it ‘superb and unique.’
Strange Darling has been blowing critics away in recent months, earning an impressive 100 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The unconventional film follows a one night stand that spirals into a serial killer chase, but features plenty of twists and turns that defy genre conventions.
Banfitch is currently working on his next film Tinsman Road. His short story Summer Night is also available in Bury Your Gays: An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror, which is out at booksellers now.
