A24 has built quite a reputation for itself in the horror world. It is known for producing horror movies that are less about jump scares and gore and more about building dread, unsettling ideas, and disturbing images. These movies stayed with audiences for days after they left the theaters. The successful studio has released everything from folk horror to psychological nightmares. They are known for taking risks that traditional horror movies won’t touch. These are some of the scariest A24 horror films.
1. Hereditary (2018)
When people talk about terrifying A24 movies, Hereditary is usually one of the first titles mentioned. The story follows a family struggling with their mental health after a devastating loss. But what begins as a seemingly normal response to grief slowly turns into something darker. Director Ari Aster creates a constant feeling of entrapment and helplessness, as the family realizes they may have little control over what is happening. The movie is full of disturbing imagery and one very graphic and shocking scene. Its unexpected moments, some of which are heartbreaking, have made it one of the best horror movies of the century.
2. The Witch (2015)
Set in 1630s New England, The Witch follows a family whose lives begin falling apart after their baby disappears near a remote forest. The movie stays far away from traditional scares, building tension through paranoia, religious anxiety, and the feeling that something evil is watching. The slow burn makes the final few scenes especially effective. The movie’s take on witches is truly haunting in a way never seen in film before.
3. Talk to Me (2022)
Talk to Me takes a simple supernatural idea (teenagers using a game to contact spirits) and turns it into a brutal experience. The movie depicts possession while mixing in grief, addiction, and peer pressure. Its scariest scenes are intense and unpredictable. What makes the story most disturbing are the emotional stakes. The unique concept made it one of A24’s biggest horror successes.
4. Midsommar (2019)
This is a breakup movie disguised as a horror film. Midsommar follows a group of friends who go to a remote Swedish community to attend a festival, but the events become increasingly disturbing. Unlike most horror movies, most of the scares happen in bright daylight instead of darkness. Ari Aster creates a feeling of dread by showing strange rituals, emotional manipulation, and eventual entrapment. The colorful festival makes the frightening events more shocking.
5. The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is a strange psychological horror movie. The premise is two lighthouse keepers slowly losing their minds while working on a remote island. Filmmakers chose black-and-white cinematography and used the claustrophobic setting to create an eerie atmosphere. It is unlike anything else seen in horror. As the isolation continues, reality fades into madness. This movie is like watching a nightmare slowly play out.
6. Saint Maud (2019)
Saint Maud is a psychological horror film about a lonely hospice nurse who is obsessed with saving the soul of one dying patient. The movie has heavy themes of faith, obsession, and mental instability. The atmosphere is uncomfortable to say the least. The horror comes from being stuck inside the main character’s unstable mind. The final scene is known as one of the most shocking endings in the horror world.
7. X (2022)
Ti West’s X is equal parts slasher horror and an homage to 1970s exploitation films. A group of young filmmakers go to a rural farmhouse to make an adult film. They find out that their elderly hosts have a horrifying secret. The movie gives plenty of classic slasher moments, with lots of creative kills. Its old-school style makes it especially fun to watch.
8. Men (2022)
Alex Garland’s Men is one of A24’s strangest movies ever. When a woman retreats to the quiet English countryside to recover from a traumatic event, she begins having bizarre encounters. The most haunting part is that she isn’t sure if what she’s experiencing is reality or some sort of nightmare hallucination. The movie uses surreal images, body horror, and symbolism to explore past trauma and fear. The peaceful countryside gradually becomes a place where the main character feels completely trapped. Its final scenes are particularly bizarre and difficult to shake. Whether viewers love it or hate it, most agree that it leaves a lasting impression.