Nicolas Cage and Sydney Sweeney added new layers to the horror genre this year with their amazing films Longlegs and Immaculate. In addition to those two, the year has been great for the genre as it offered various inventive narratives that spooked audiences and most of them also did good business at the box office.
Late Night With the Devil, Cuckoo, Abigail, and recently Alien: Romulus, were other films that also made a mark this year with their twisted and narratively creative approach to horror. However, the film that exceeded most people’s expectations was Damian Mc Carthy’s Oddity. Fans are blown away by the bold and audacious storytelling of the film that sent chills down their spine.
In A Year Blessed With Great Horror Offerings, Fans Are Most Impressed By Oddity
2024 has been a seminal year for the horror genre and Nicolas Cage’ Longlegs became one of the most impressive commercial hits for the genre. Sydney Sweeney‘s Immaculate, and The First Omen, also provided a modern revival of the nunsploitation sub-genre with their similar yet effective narrative.
Cage’s terrifying performance as a perverse serial killer and Sweeney‘s complex portrayal of a nun who is faced with a horrifying secret impressed. Both actors gave one of their best performances in their films this year. While there have been other horror gems that spooked audiences this year, none managed to creep them out as much as Damian Mc Carthy’s Oddity.
The film, which is a mix of a murder mystery and supernatural elements, chronicles the efforts of a woman, who is desperate to find out more about the circumstances of her twin sister’s murder. On X, fans are raving about the film’s audaciousness and how nerve-wracking it was to watch the shocking revelations in the film. Here are some of the reactions,
The film has left quite an impact on fans with its visceral storytelling which didn’t pull any punches. Filmmakers continue to push boundaries with the genre and this year proves that audiences like seeing inventive horror films that go bonkers with their execution. Oddity did just that and is sure to become a cult classic in the future.
Nicolas Cage Loves How The Horror Genre Brings A Certain Level of Surrealism And Non-Conformity
Nicolas Cage starred as a violent and depraved serial killer in Oz Perkins’ Longlegs. His performance may arguably be his most terrifying one and the actor was fully committed to making the titular character mysterious and unsettling. In an interview with the Associated Press, Cage pointed out that the horror genre evokes a surreal quality when done well.
The actor further stated that the genre allows actors to move out of the conventional or expected tropes and gives them the freedom to experiment with their performances. He said,
I have always maintained that horror, when done well, is genuinely surreal. It’s dream logic. It doesn’t have to rely on physics or reality. It can allow actors to express themselves in other ways besides that which is considered the arbiter of great acting.
The Silence of the Lambs-inspired film was enjoyed by fans who appreciated its creepy atmosphere and performances. Longlegs was a big hit in theatres, grossing $101 million with less than a $10 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). It became the highest-grossing independent film of the year as well as for Neon domestically.
Fans can watch/rent Oddity on Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.
