Since the company was founded in 2012, A24 is famous for putting out awesome horror movies, like Hereditary (2018) and The Blackcoat's Daughter (2017), along with some films from other genres, like Lady Bird (2017) and Mid90s (2018). One thing is for sure: an A24 film is always going to get audiences talking. Much like Blumhouse, A24 puts out some of the most popular and well-known movies. In 2022, A24 made a splash with Ti West's X, which is going to be a trilogy that includes the latest film MAXXINE.
There are some underrated horror movies from A24, and many of these films have underrated horror villains who don't get the same kind of attention as classic ones like Michael Myers and Jason Voorrhes. But there are a few A24 horror movies that can be considered overrated.
Updated on October 20th, 2022, by Aya Tsintziras: A24 continues to be a well-known company that releases movies that get people talking. In 2022, A24 impressed with several releases, including Ti West's X in early 2022 and prequel Pearl, which was released just a few months later in September 2022. Another fantastic A24 film is Bodies Bodies Bodies, which has an all-star cast and tells an entertaining murder mystery story. But while several A24 films are beloved and exciting, there are a few movies that might not deserve the attention that they have gotten.
Midsommar (2019)
Fans of Ari Aster couldn't wait for his follow-up to 2018's Hereditary. Charlie's tick in Hereditary is just one reason why the movie is so haunting and unsettling, but it's possible to say that Midsommar just doesn't capture the same feeling.
The movie centers around Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh), who is dealing with a family trauma, and that makes Midsommar even more disturbing than Aster's previous film, which is definitely saying something. While the setting of a Swedish festival is intriguing, the movie might not be quite as captivating as its premise suggests. What makes Hereditary such a strong horror film is how it doesn't let up for a second, and it forges ahead with its dark plot, shocking audiences while talking about a family's trauma at the same time.
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lighthouse got a lot of hype when it was released in 2019, and while horror fans welcome new ideas and settings, this movie might be too odd for some viewers. Brothers Robert and Max Eggers co-wrote the movie, and Robert directed and produced it.
Robert Pattinson and Willem DeFoe play lighthouse keepers, and while Robert Pattinson is an amazing Batman and talented actor, this is a confusing movie that can be tough to follow. Moviegoers who love an art house type of film will appreciate a lot here, but someone looking for a great story that they can sink into might be left disappointed.
The Witch (2015)
Another film from Robert Eggers,The Witch is an "elevated horror movie" mentioned by Scream (2022)'s Tara, but is the movie really all that unique or exciting? The movie takes place in the 1630s and focuses on a family who live in New England and find a supernatural presence in the forest nearby.
While there are many unique horror movies with ghosts, there are several movies that take place in the past and focus on witchcraft or other paranormal elements, like Fear Street Part 3: 1666. When compared to other similar films, this one doesn't stick out as much, and it doesn't add anything new to the group of movies about creepy woods and witches, and the paranormal.
Dark Places (2015)
Although Dark Places didn't do well at the box office, it's a big fit with fans of author Gillian Flynn, who wrote the novel along with the massively popular Gone Girl. When Libby Day (Charlize Theron) is a child, her mom and sisters are murdered, which would definitely be too much for anyone to deal with. Now she's a grown-up and still haunted by these events, especially since she accused her brother Ben (Corey Stoll) of the murders and explained to the police that he should take the fall for them.
Sometimes a thriller won't have enough plot, and other times, there's almost too much. In the case of Dark Places, the story veers into confusing directions, with a serial killer and too many characters to keep track of. Theron is always strong no matter what role she takes on, but her performance doesn't save the movie. Gone Girl is definitely more interesting, and the 2018 miniseries Sharp Objects, based on another Flynn book, is also worth checking out.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is considered to be an interesting and artistic film, and while the cast is star-studded, with Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell, it could also be seen as an overrated A24 horror movie. Martin Lang (Barry Keoghan) approaches cardiac surgeon Steven Murphy (Farrell) with an impossible choice: because Martin's dad died during surgery, Steven should murder his wife or kids. Otherwise, the whole family will die in horrible ways.
While this movie is totally original and the harsh and disturbing plot is free of horror movie cliches, it might be a bit too intense for some viewers who don't want to watch a husband and father decide which of his family members to murder.
Men (2022)
Alex Garland's horror film Men stars Jessie Buckley as Harper Marlowe, whose husband has died in a dark and upsetting way, and who decides to spend time at a country house in England so she can heal. But instead of being alone with her thoughts so she can work through her grief, Harper keeps seeing strange men who make her feel uncomfortable, from a priest to a bartender to the man who keeps appearing in the house's front yard.
While Men is absolutely well-made and has an artistic feel to it, it doesn't completely come together and can be thought of as an overrated A24 horror film. There are exciting A24 releases in 2022 to look forward to, but Men doesn't have a clear narrative thread and might feel confusing for some horror fans. It's likely that Men will be polarizing and that while some fans will love the ending and think that it's fascinating and different, others will wish that it was wrapped up clearly.
Lamb (2021)
Directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, Lamb was released in 2021 and is about Ingvar (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) and Maria (Noomi Rapace), who live in Iceland. When one of their sheep has a baby who is a human/sheep hybrid, they are shocked and fascinated at the same time. Both characters react to this figure differently, and the question of what to do next consumes them for the rest of the film.
Lamb is fairly highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a 86% rating on the Tomatometer. The movie has gotten positive attention for its acting and the general story. While horror fans like it when a movie is different, with Freddy Krueger's creative kills being praised, Lamb might not appeal to a wide audience because the idea of raising this type of human/animal is a bit strange. It's tough to find a likable character in the movie as well, which is a shame since, given the unique premise, it would help if someone was enjoyable to watch. The characters' decisions might not always make sense to audiences, either, which makes it hard to love this story.
Saint Maud (2019)
Saint Maud stars Morfydd Clark as Katie, a nurse who has her own agenda and starts calling Maud. She begins looking after Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), and since Maud is very religious, she judges Amanda and doesn't like her lifestyle. This sets up the tension that is present throughout the entire film, as Maud is meant to be helping Amanda but seems to have her own ideas about how she wants to approach Amanda's care.
Saint Maud is highly rated, earning a 65% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty good, along with a 93% rating on the Tomatometer. It wasn't one of the highest-grossing A24 horror movies, though, only earning $1,383,868 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. While the movie is loved for its style and performance from Clark, Maud's actions aren't the easiest to agree with, and Saint Maud has a truly terrifying ending that not everyone will like.