MONTH IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 2024

It's not always easy to keep track of the world of horror day-to-day. So here's a round up of what's happened last month and a glimpse of what we can expect in the coming weeks...

New Year’s Eve is upon us, and Christmas already feels like a distant memory, even though decorations still adorn many homes. For most, it’s been a month of eating too much, opening presents and watching our favourite Christmas films. Horror and Christmas have always shared an unlikely yet oddly fitting partnership. The long, dark nights and supernatural themes of the festive season lend themselves well to ghost stories, and this year we’ve indulged in a variety of Christmas-themed horror movies. Black Christmas (1974) remains our all-time favourite, though Gremlins is a close second. Modern entries like Better Watch Out and Krampus have also become annual traditions for many. Yet, as the season winds down, the idea of watching holiday films already feels “off,” and the end of the year brings a natural time for reflection (see our “best of” article) and anticipation for the year ahead (look out for our 2025 preview tomorrow!). But first, here’s a quick roundup of December’s highlights and a glimpse at what January has in store.

December saw a lull in major releases, which was disappointing. Our only review was Out Come the Wolves - a decent watch but hardly essential. If you find yourself with 90 spare minutes and a craving for an animal-attack thriller, it’s worth a casual viewing. January, however, offers several more enticing options.

The BBC’s new Ghost Story for Christmas, Woman of Stone, aired on Christmas Eve and was quite enjoyable. While these modern instalments don’t quite match the 1970s originals, this E. Nesbit adaptation was nicely executed. Over at the box office, A24’s Heretic performed admirably, grossing $45 million globally on a modest $10 million budget. Not bad for a film which is 70% Hugh Grant discussing religion with a couple of mormon missionaries. It’s really good but I could understand the set up not having mainstream appeal!

Thankfully, January promises a stronger lineup. Nosferatu, Robert Eggers’ much-anticipated reimagining, debuts on New Year’s Day, bringing his trademark visual flair and atmospheric storytelling. Early critic reviews have been generally positive. On January 17, Leigh Whannell’s The Wolfman follows. Whannell’s success with The Invisible Man (2020) suggests he’s well-equipped to modernise another classic, and with Julia Garner in a starring role, expectations are high (She was the best thing about the rather so-so Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A that released earlier this year.) Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, releasing January 24, rounds out the month. This first-person supernatural thriller is a departure for the director, best known for films like Ocean’s Eleven and Erin Brockovich, but the premise is intriguing.

Away from the cinema there are a few other releases to watch out for. Action packed werewolf flick Werewolves (starring Frank Grillo) finally looks to be getting a VOD release in mid-Jan and period folk horror The Damned, set at a remote Icelandic fishing outpost will be released on the 3rd. We’ve not seen the former but the latter is well worth a watch - a full review will be coming shortly for that. On Shudder, New Zealand body horror-comedy Grafted is released on the 24th whilst Dark Match, a film about a small-time wresting company that accepts a gig in backwoods America only to find the place is run by a mysterious cult is released on the 31st.

On TV, The Rig returns to Prime on January 2. While its first season received mixed reviews, we found its blend of eco- and body-horror engaging. Disney+ follows with a revamped Goosebumps series on January 10, featuring new cast members David Schwimmer and Ana Ortiz.

In terms of horror news, we had confirmation from David Harbour that a second Violent Night film was in pre-production, which is good news. Although it’s not strictly horror and feels like some kind of mash up of Die Hard 2 and Home Alone, the supernatural elements and bloodletting mean that it still has some appeal to us genre fans. Courteney Cox is returning as the irrepressible Gale Weathers in Scream VII. It’s a franchise that many thought was dead in the water after stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Director Chris Landon left but Spyglass have acted quickly to get their house in order, hiring original writer Kevin Williamson to helm the project. We won’t be seeing Scream VII next year however as it is due for a February 2026 release. Meanwhile, Jennifer Love Hewitt is returning for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer, set for July 2025. Lastly, the Anaconda remake starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd has been slated for release next Christmas - because what’s Christmas without a giant snake eh?

Filming for Stranger Things’ fifth and final season has wrapped. It’s astonishing to think the series debuted in 2016; though its charm has waned slightly, its cultural impact endures. When it returns in 2025, the once-teen cast will look decidedly grown-up. Elsewhere, Eli Roth’s slasher hit Thanksgiving is getting a sequel, with filming set to begin early next year. His straightforward approach to the genre has resonated with audiences weary of meta-heavy offerings.

Speaking of remakes, Austin Butler takes on the role of Patrick Bateman in a new American Psycho adaptation. While Butler’s casting is intriguing, matching Christian Bale’s iconic performance will be a tall order. Whether the remake can surpass the 2000 classic remains to be seen.

Lastly, we mourn the loss of Olivia Hussey, celebrated for her role in Romeo and Juliet and remembered fondly by horror fans for her performances in Black Christmas (1974) and Stephen King’s IT (1990).

December’s trailers offered plenty to anticipate. Shark thriller Into the Deep pits tourists against modern pirates and hungry predators. The darkly comic Bloody Axe Wound explores gender bias in slasher films. Most excitingly, 28 Years Later promises to deliver on its thrilling trailer, reuniting Danny Boyle and Alex Garland for the third instalment in the zombie franchise.

That wraps up a quiet December in an otherwise eventful year. Once again, for our horror highlights of 2024, check out our “best of” list, and stay tuned for our 2025 preview coming tomorrow.

Here’s to a new year filled with even more thrilling horrors!