Despite the best of intentions, I managed to go the entirety of 2024 without penning a single review (apart from my much-beloved capsule reviews on Letterboxd). As I said exactly 366 days ago, maybe this will be the year I'm finally able to fit this hobby back into my life.
Nevertheless, I was still fortunate enough to be able to watch a number of wonderful films in 2024, so I thought it was at least worth memorialising my favourites on my site, for old time's sake. Only films with a theatrical or streaming release in Australia between January 1 and December 31, 2024 (as far as I could tell — Australia's release schedule is weird) were eligible.
And only four of them are horror movies, if you can believe it.
Honourable Mention: Speak No Evil
10) Longlegs
My most anticipated film of the year. Osgood Perkins first came to my attention with his hypnotic slow-burn I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House and his 2024 serial killer horror was, again, unlike any film I've ever seen. We follow Maika Monroe's FBI agent Lee Harker as she tracks down Nicolas Cage's enigmatic and completely unhinged Longlegs in a film that feels more and more like a waking nightmare with every dread-soaked scene.
9) The First Omen
On paper, an unasked-for prequel of a much beloved horror franchise has no business being on a Top 10 list, but Arkasha Stevenson's The First Omen was probably the biggest surprise of the year. Terrifying and unflinching in its brutality, it's not an easy watch, but it's one on a (thankfully) growing list of films which prove that the words 'prequel' and 'sequel' don't have to mean 'bad.' Gripping stuff, anchored by an astounding performance from Nell Tiger Free.
8) Alien: Romulus
Please see the penultimate sentence from the entry above. Not all Alien instalments have been successful, but Fede Álvarez's entry is. With enough obligatory nods to those before it, but also its own fresh observation of the lore, Romulus is equal parts exciting, nerve-shredding and a genuinely fun way to spend 2 hours of your life. Cheering guaranteed.
7) Dune: Part Two
Even if you can't get on board with some of Dune's impenetrable lore and admittedly challenging runtimes, there's no question that both of Denis Villeneuve's epic offerings are a veritable feast for the senses. In Part Two, he somehow manages to make an even more striking work of art in a film that feels almost spiritual in its scale and more dramatic than its predecessor.
6) Nowhere
This Spanish survival thriller from Albert Pintó is an exhausting but ultimately rewarding and moving film. A pregnant woman, Mia (Anna Castillo), finds herself trapped in a shipping container after attempting to flee a totalitarian regime. While the limits of the human body and spirit are certainly tested (and probably exceeded in all honesty), it remains an affecting exploration of tenacity and the will to survive long enough to see the other side of injustice.
5) Ferrari
If I know anything about cars (and I don't), I can comfortably say this is the best film ever made about cars. Amidst enough other relevant backstory and historical context for the ignoramuses like me, the film documents Ferrari's tumultuous 1957 in the face of bankruptcy, and a hugely risky potential lifeline. Stellar performances from Penélope Cruz and Adam Driver and the most sickening car accident I've seen committed to film.
4) Smile 2
Here's the other horror film. The most impressive achievement of Parker Finn (and there are many) is that he managed to create a horror sequel that is better than the first film, which was already excellent. If you don't watch many scary movies, let me tell you — that is basically unheard of. Bigger scale, bigger scares, and a genuinely moving emotional punch. Smile 2 is the best horror movie of the year.
3) Juror #2
Second only to the staggering moral atrocity committed in Clint Eastwood's latest masterpiece, the next most egregious crime connected to Juror #2 is that it wasn't given a theatrical release in Australia. If you're a fan of tense legal dramas and sophisticated, nuanced performances from Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette, watch this immediately.
2) Red Rooms (Les chambres rouges)
Pascal Plante's French-Canadian crime thriller is like if Black Mirror decided to do a deep-dive on our fixation with true crime podcasts. Kelly-Anne's (Juliette Gariépy) daily courtroom visits for the high-profile trial of a serial killer who streamed his gruesome murders on the dark web (don't worry, you don't see them) start to bleed into her reality as she becomes obsessed with obtaining a missing piece of evidence. Intoxicating, unnerving and shocking.
1) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
This one's not even close. George Miller perfects the prequel formula with an unparalleled vision that cements itself as a masterclass in action sequences and cinematography (which is saying something, since he already did that with Fury Road back in 2015). Exciting beyond belief, and easily the best time I had at the movies this year. Sensational stuff.
Let's be honest — Sharp Four Reviews might NOT be back in 2025, but you just never know. Thanks for reading anyway!
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