If you’re someone who starts celebrating Halloween on September 1st like me, you probably know what it’s like to reach your limit on rewatching your favorite scary movies – even if they are all A24 masterpieces. If you can recite Toni Collette’s “I am your mother!” speech perfectly from Hereditary, then it might be time to explore some other spooky films from the A24 archives. Luckily, A24 has a plethora of twisted and haunting stories that will leave a lasting impression and easily become new Halloween staples. With their massive horror hits like Midsommar, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Pearl, and the recently released Talk to Me, A24 clearly knows what it’s doing. However, amidst all the buzz around these big titles, you may have missed out on some underrated A24 horror movies. But fear not! I have witnessed every terrifying one of them (thanks to my college bestie, Lexie), and I’m here to recommend some alternatives to your favorite A24 films. So, without further ado, here are some underrated A24 horror movies to check out this Halloween instead of just rewatching Midsommar for the hundredth time.
If you loved Hereditary (2018), consider The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2017).
If you were captivated by Ari Aster’s Hereditary, a supernatural tale about loss, grief, and a sinister presence haunting a family, then The Blackcoat’s Daughter is a film you should watch. Spanning across three separate timelines, this movie follows two young students who are left behind at their isolated private Catholic boarding school during winter break. They are haunted by trauma, grief, and possibly something supernatural. Starring Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, and Lucy Boynton, this haunting story will leave you wanting more. You can stream both The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Hereditary on Max.
If you loved Midsommar (2019), consider Climax (2019).
If you enjoyed the unnerving score, as well as the creepy yet celebratory atmosphere that quickly turns into pure terror in Ari Aster’s Midsommar, then you’ll definitely appreciate Gaspar Noé’s beautifully gory film, Climax. Starring Sofia Boutella (known for her role in Atomic Blonde), this 2019 film follows a teen dance troupe as they lock themselves in an empty school building on a cold winter evening for an all-night rehearsal that gradually turns into a nightmarish descent. The dancers soon discover that their party punch has been spiked with LSD, and chaos ensues. Climax offers an intensity that you can’t look away from and features plenty of flawed but talented characters that will leave you horrified. You can rent Climax through Prime Video or watch it for free with a trial of the Cinemax add-on.
And if you’re in the mood to rewatch Florence Pugh’s journey with a Swedish cult, you can also rent Midsommar on Prime Video.
If you loved Pearl (2022), consider Saint Maud (2019).
I know, I know – Pearl is phenomenal! No judgment if you want to rewatch it. However, if you’re looking to explore another unhinged leading lady from A24, then Saint Maud is the film for you. This psychological thriller from first-time director Rose Glass tells the story of a troubled religious young woman who works as a private home hospice nurse. When assigned to care for a terminally ill atheist with a hedonistic past, the nurse believes she has been called to save her patient’s soul at any cost. Saint Maud stars Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle. You can stream Saint Maud for free on Prime Video.
And if you do want to rewatch Mia Goth’s captivating performance in Pearl, you can stream it on Paramount+.
If you loved X (2022), consider Green Room (2016).
If you were enthralled by the intense violence in X, where a group of aspiring adult filmmakers fight for their lives against deadly senior citizens on a rural farm, then Green Room is a movie you should definitely check out. Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, this 2016 horror film follows a punk band who witness a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead gathering after playing a show at a venue located in a remote area. Cornered in the green room, surrounded by bloodthirsty skinheads, the band must fight to escape. Green Room stars Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, and Patrick Stewart. You can stream Green Room on Max, but keep in mind that it will be leaving HBO’s streaming platform on November 30th.
If you want to revisit X, you can stream the steamy slasher on Paramount+.
If you loved Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), consider Life After Beth (2014).
If you found yourself both giggling and jumping out of your seat while watching the campy comedy-horror movie Bodies Bodies Bodies, then you might just enjoy Life After Beth. Starring Aubrey Plaza as the charmingly undead Beth and Dane DeHaan as her bewildered boyfriend Zach, this film tells the story of Zach’s attempts to stay connected with Beth’s parents after her unexpected death due to a snakebite. Little does he know, they’re keeping their resurrected daughter a secret from him. The scariest thing in Life After Beth is the rom-com-level chemistry between Beth and Zach, and it’s a clear product of our zombie-obsessed mid-2010s. But if you’re looking for something spooky-adjacent to watch this Halloween season, this dark zombie comedy will satisfy your cravings. Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, and John C. Reilly also star in Life After Beth, which is now streaming on Max.
And if you want to watch the hot and hilariously doomed rich kids (played by Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson) romp around a mansion in the middle of a hurricane before meeting their comically timed ends, you can stream Bodies Bodies Bodies on Paramount+.
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