2024 has been a fairly weak year for movies overall, from the AI scandal in Late Night With The Devil to the horrible promotion of It Ends With Us. In the eyes of most people, the bad has outweighed the good in regards to the film industry. However, let’s take a look at some of the good movies released in 2024. The work of filmmakers should never be overlooked in favor of focusing on the negative. 

Longlegs

MPAA Rating: R

Longlegs follows FBI Agent Lee Harker as she tries to solve a cold case involving enigmatic serial killer Longlegs, discovering his crimes may have ties to the occult. A quick and horrifying watch, Longlegs will haunt you from the first ten seconds until the end. The audience will have no idea what is happening for the majority of the runtime, leading to further engagement in the story. The innovative performance from scream queen Makia Monroe carries most of the story as she discovers her own terrifying connections to the case. The viewer cannot ignore the masterful performance of Nicholas Cage, whose background in unhinged roles aids in the effectiveness in the portrayal of the mentally disturbed serial killer. Overall, Longlegs is a film that will stick with the viewer long after they finish it.  

Maxxine

*Warning: this film contains sequences of flashing lights

MPAA Rating: R

In this conclusion to a fantastic horror trilogy, the audience returns to final girl Maxine Minx as she gets cast in her break-out role. Meanwhile, a killer is on the loose and as bodies start to fall around her Maxine realizes she needs to stop the killer before she becomes the next victim. While not as strong as predecessors X and Pearl, Maxxine manages to conclude the trilogy in a satisfactory way that pays tribute to 80s slashers. The movie includes themes of obsession, fame, and guilt, all carried by Mia Goth, who gives a stellar final performance as Maxine. Goth’s commitment to the extreme and devoted mentality of the character makes her a star that needs to be watched. Overall, Maxxine is a fun conclusion to a masterful trilogy.

Lisa Frankenstein

MPAA: PG-13

For fans of Heathers, Lisa Frankenstein is a necessary watch. In 1989, the audience is introduced to teen outcast Lisa Swallows, a girl struggling with the death of her mother as well as her father’s sudden marriage to her stepmother. One night, she accidentally brings a corpse back to life. Not long after this strange occurrence, Lisa and the unnamed corpse begin a spree of murders to obtain body parts to bring the corpse back to life. This zany premise makes for a funny, enjoyable, and at times ridiculous homage to the 80s with its bright colors and over-the-top fashion. Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse are a dynamic pair on screen with Sprouse’s physical performance balancing Newton’s uncontrollable personality. Sitting at 1 hour 41 minutes, Lisa Frankenstein is an enjoyable watch to get into the halloween spirit.

Challengers

MPAA Rating: R

All fans of tennis, love triangles, and The Summer I Turned Pretty should watch Challengers. With her husband Art on a losing streak, former tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan signs him up as a wildcard for a Challenger event, a top-tier tennis tournament, where they learn that Art will be playing against his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend Patrick. The film follows a non-linear structure, bouncing back and forth between thirteen years ago and the present tennis match, where the audience sees how the three characters have weaved in and out of each other’s lives. Immaculately entertaining, the impeccable script will make the viewer either scream at the TV screen or wonder why grown adults in their thirties are acting like teenagers. The visual style is eye-catching. In fact, director Luca Guadagnino intentionally shot the film like a tennis match to further carry the game into the film. Overall, Challengers is a smart and compelling watch that will keep the viewer hooked until the very end

I Saw The TV Glow

MPAA Rating: PG-13

 Don’t want to miss a work from a promising new director, this film is essential viewing. I Saw The TV Glow follows teenagers Owen and Maddy as they become obsessed with a TV show known as The Pink Opaque. One day, the show is mysteriously canceled, leading to both teens questioning their reality. Nostalgic and sometimes uncomfortable, I Saw The TV Glow explores identity and more specifically how it connects to the media a person consumes when they are young, which, by extension, reminds the audience that there is still time to live in a way that is most authentic. Besides having an intelligent screenplay, the film is visually dazzling, focusing on the late 1990s and early 2000s. The titular show is reminiscent of classic 90s horror shows such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Goosebumps, and Are You Afraid Of The Dark. Additionally, it must be mentioned that the soundtrack is incredible. Director Jane Schoenbrun commissioned their favorite artists to create music for the film. These artists include the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Sloppy Jane, and Caroline Polachek, leading to a soundtrack that feels cemented in the 90s and early 2000s despite not being made during that time period. Overall, I Saw The Tv Glow will appeal to one’s nostalgia for the 90s and early 2000s, while allowing thought and introspection in regards to identity.