Filmmakers and critics reveal the BEST horror films of the summer season

The summer movie season is upon us and horror films dominate the release schedule.

It’s already been a strong year for horror films: Night Swim defied its poor reviews to make millions at the box office, while Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney’s nunsploitation splatterfest, impressed fans of the genre.

There were also a number of indie horror hits this year, including the low-budget slasher “In A Violent Nature” and the supernatural “Late Night with the Devil.”

DailyMail.com spoke to critics from JoBlo.com and filmmaker Robbie Banfitch to find out their picks for this year’s scariest summer movies.

Cuckoo (August 9)

Described as an “intense and original thriller” by JoBlo.com horror critic Tyler Nichols, “Cuckoo” has become one of the most highly anticipated films of the season thanks to a stunning promotional campaign.

“Cuckoo,” starring Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer, is about 17-year-old Gretchen (played by Schafer), who reluctantly moves to live with her father in the idyllic German Alps.

She is soon plagued by strange noises and visions, and it is not long before she discovers a shocking secret related to her family.

“It seems the best way to go into it is to know as little as possible. Just know that Hunter Shafer looks absolutely phenomenal in the lead role,” Nichols said.

Alien: Romulus (August 16)

The Alien franchise returns for the first time since 2017’s polarizing Alien: Covenant with the chilling Alien: Romulus.

Directed by Fede Álvarez (“Don’t Breathe”), the seventh installment in the series takes place between the first two films and is about a group of young space colonists who face off against a deadly xenomorph while raiding an abandoned space station.

“Alvarez has promised a mix of Alien and Aliens with his new entry, and it appears to be the franchise’s first true return to its roots in decades,” Nichols said.

“Hopefully the Prometheus movies can be erased from memory and Alien: Romulus can help make space scary again.”

Fear (August 30)

Following the blockbuster success of M3GAN, Blumhouse Productions is releasing another AI thriller, Afraid.

“Afraid,” starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston, is about a family terrorized by a self-esteem-boosting smart home device.

“The idea of ​​AI in the home is a frightening prospect,” Nichols said.

“It will certainly be as thought-provoking as it is compelling. Let’s hope it doesn’t go the M3GAN route.”

MaXXXine (July 3)

Probably the hottest horror film of the season is “MaXXXine” with Mia Goth in the role of 1980s porn star Maxine Minx.

MaXXXine is the third installment in director Ti West’s X-film series, which began with “X,” set in 1979, and was followed by “Pearl,” set in 1918.

According to Cody Hamman, horror news editor of JoBlo.com, “Pearl” “should have earned Goth an Oscar nomination.”

“MaXXXine takes us back to the ’80s; the Night Stalker is terrorizing Los Angeles, Goth is surrounded by an incredible supporting cast and expectations are high among horror fans,” he said.

Longlegs (July 12)

The only horror film this season that can match the hype surrounding MaXXXine is Longlegs, which captured the zeitgeist thanks to a great marketing campaign and a show-stopping performance by Nicholas Cage.

“The marketing for this Osgood Perkins film was so fascinatingly bizarre and cryptic that we are now curious to see if the film can even live up to its claim,” said Hamman.

“Longlegs looks promising. It Follows heroine Maika Monroe plays an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer played by Nicolas Cage – who has been described as a ‘possessed Geppetto’!”

Critics have already named Longlegs the scariest film of 2024, and it currently has an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Trap (2 August)

Not to be outdone by the snappier “MaXXXine” and “Longlegs,” M. Night Shyamalan’s serial killer thriller “Trap” is being touted as a possible comeback for the unreliable director.

“M. Night Shyamalan has his ups and downs, but this thriller is brilliantly constructed,” Hamman explained.

“Josh Hartnett plays a father who takes his young daughter to a concert and discovers that the police have set a trap for a serial killer at the venue,” he continued.

“The problem is, Hartnett is the serial killer!”

With Hartnett’s secret identity intentionally revealed in the trailer, fans are already wondering if Trap will feature another of Shyamalan’s signature twists towards the end of the film.

The Front Room (September 6)

One film that is considered the surprise hit of the season is “The Front Room” from A24.

Starring R&B singer Brandy, The Front Room follows newly pregnant Belinda as she faces a mother-in-law from hell – who is not only an angry racist, but may also be possessed by the Holy Spirit.

“The horror crowd is beyond excited to see Brandy return to the big screen, especially in such a big A24 format,” said Robbie Banfitch, the man behind the 2022 indie horror sensation “The Outwaters.”

“We’ve been craving this since ‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.’ If she’s not part of this reboot, we’re going to revolt,” he added.

Horror in the High Desert 3: Firewatch (TBA)

One of the lesser-known horror films making waves this summer is Horror in the High Desert 3: Firewatch.

“Firewatch” is the latest installment in director Dutch Marich’s found footage series about missing persons cases in the American desert.

Although the films have not yet reached a wide audience, they have developed a cult following among horror fans in recent years.

“Dutch Marich’s High Desert films are the rare found footage/mockumentaries that feel truly authentic,” said Banfitch.

“Part three is my favorite so far and the lead actor Marco Antonio Parra is heartbreaking. The film is emotional, scary and thrilling.”

Strange Darling (September 22)

Banfitch also chose the stylish cat-and-mouse thriller “Strange Darling,” calling it “great and unique.”

Strange Darling has been blowing away critics over the past few months, garnering an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The unconventional film is about a one-night stand that leads to a hunt for a serial killer, but features numerous twists that contradict genre conventions.

Banfitch is currently working on his next film, The Tinsman Road. His short story Summer Night is also available in Bury Your Gays: An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror, in bookstores now.