It is only March, but A24 is already hard at work snatching money from horror fans’ bank accounts. Opus hit theaters on March 14, and the company has already turned their wigs around to prepare for the arrival of Death of a Unicorn this weekend. They also have a slate of non-genre films rolling out this year that will make even the most diehard moviegoer dizzy. However, while watching the company take over theaters near me, I started thinking about all the hits they have given us thus far. What other place would house films like The Humans, I Saw the TV Glow, In Fabric, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer?
This is one of the many reasons why I think it is time for an A24 streaming guide. Buckle up as I highlight five of my favorite horror films from this indie company that marches to the beat of its own drummer. Plus, they’re all available streaming now!
Bodies Bodies Bodies (dir. Halina Reijn)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A group of rich 20-somethings hold a hurricane party at an isolated mansion. However, a simple party game brings a lot of resentment to the surface when people start dying. Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of the funniest horror movies I have seen. This movie was originally on my radar because I saw Amandla Stenberg and Lee Pace in the cast. However, I walked out obsessed with most of the cast and had to begrudgingly admit this was the best use of Pete Davidson. This murder mystery almost-slasher also holds a special place in my heart because the clever dialogue was written by Sarah DeLappe. For purely selfish reasons, I like seeing playwrights with a sick sense of humor excel in horror.
Hereditary (dir. Ari Aster)
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A grieving family discovers that their recently deceased matriarch set a sinister plan in motion for them before she died. I know that Hereditary is practically a free space on any A24 list bingo card. It is the creepy gem that cemented their reputation with genre fans. Plus, it was their first horror movie to shake up the box office. On top of that, it has the Toni Collette performance that would have won her an Oscar in a better timeline. While this is a beloved and respected piece of nightmare fuel, I believe it’s also Ari Aster’s best horror film thus far. I watched all of his upsetting short movies and saw Midsommer on opening weekend because I am a Hereditary stan account. However, nothing has gotten under my skin (in a good way) like his first feature film.
Heretic (dir. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods)
Where You Can Watch: Max
Two Mormons knock on the wrong door and find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. I was not expecting Heretic to hit me so hard, but here we are. Is it another time Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, Companion) reminded us she is serious about being crowned horror royalty? Yes. Did it give us one of the most unhinged performances of Hugh Grant’s long career? Most certainly. This is why this unsettling chamber piece made me rearrange my favorite A24 movies to make some room. I believe my obsession with this film is because of my personal baggage. However, that does not mean it is not also one of the best horror movies we got last year. It just means it hit too close to home for me, as it was chilling all of us to the bone.
Love Lies Bleeding (dir. Rose Glass)
Where You Can Watch: Max
A gym manager falls for a bodybuilder passing through town. However, their romance sets off a domino effect of violence that may mark the end of a prominent local crime family. Love Lies Bleeding is the type of sweet, gory, and unique tale that feels like an A24 movie, even if you didn’t know they are responsible for it. I saw this movie late last year, and I still regret not seeing it on a big screen. This thriller was one of the better cinematic surprises of 2024. I wish Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian had won some awards for their performances. I also hope they team up with Rose Glass again (and soon) because this project was pure cinema.
Talk To Me (dir. Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou)
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A group of teens use an embalmed hand to conjure spirits as a party game. However, their thrills turn into chills when one of them accidentally unleashes a sinister presence. Talk to Me was one of my favorite films of 2023. It was cool, fresh, and mean. I often think of some of the more disturbing moments and wonder if I will ever feel that alive again. After hiding on Kanopy for over a year, the film is finally on Netflix. This film is easily in my top A24 horror movies and one of the reasons I cannot stop giving this company my money. It’s also the reason most of us know Sophie Wilde is destined for stardom. I cannot stress enough how much everyone who missed Talk to Me should catch it now that it’s streaming on one of the usual suspects.
Do you also spend too much time thinking about A24’s horror library? Did Everything Everywhere All At Once change your brain chemistry? Then find me on Bluesky because we might be the same person.
https://ift.tt/5ovlYtF https://ift.tt/FjgQdma
No comments:
Post a Comment