And that’s a wrap on another year! As 2024 comes to an end it’s time for our little tradition here at Ohh Deer of announcing the comprehensive list of the 25 best films of 2024.
We are on a roll at the moment with the quality of films released improving year on year. Although we have yet to reach the lofty heights of 2017 when we first started compiling the end-of-year lists, this is the strongest year for the big screen since then.
With the writer's strike in 2023 affecting several releases, two of this year's top 5 were moved into 2024 from their originally scheduled release dates the previous year. It was another strong year for horror, with horror films dominating the early part of the year - culminating in the release of Alien Romulus which has become one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time. Marvel made a spirited comeback from their barren batch with Deadpool and Wolverine, but it was Inside Out 2 that Disney will look back on as their crowing achievement of 2024 as the film became part of the One Billion Club. Animation was the real winner this year. Of the top 5 grossing films, 3 of them were animated (Inside Out 2, Despicable Me 4 and Moana 2). Gladiator 2 and Wicked attempted their own Barbenhimer box office phenomenon in the form of Glicked - an awful name - but it’s safe to say they didn’t live up to their predecessor's hype. It was after all a rather one-sided affair.
Sadly there was no Ohh Deer trip to the BFI film festival this year, for the first time since we started attending back in 2019 all of the tickets had already sold by the time I got out of the waiting room. Although sad, the increase in demand shows that the country's appetite for films is as strong as ever, which in the age of TikTok and YouTube shorts is a major relief. Thankfully I have had a chance to catch all of the films post-film festival and it’s safe to say 2024 has been another fantastic year for independent cinema.
Anyway, that’s enough of an introduction from me, let’s get into this year's 25 best films.
Honourable Mention, Alien: Romulus - (Director: Fede Álvarez)
The latest film in the drastically expanding Alien universe, Alien: Romulus takes place between the 1979 original and its James Cameron sequel Aliens. When a young team of scavengers in deep space hatch a plan to escape their dead-end lives for a better future they inadvertently awaken one of the most iconic cinematic monsters of all time. The results? A cat and mouse game of survival as the rag-tag crew attempts to escape the derelict space station that will surely become their grave.
Romulus was my most anticipated film of 2024, so you are probably wondering why it has only found its way into this year's list via the honourable mentions section. Although my overriding feelings towards the film upon leaving the cinema were positive, it’s safe to say that on reflection my opinion has grown progressively more negative. The cinematography, direction, acting, and production design are all magnificent. But the story is simply not of the same quality. 1979’s Alien sets out very clear rules for how the Xenomorph and its embryo operate, this is something that all of the modern-day films have abandoned - all for the simple reason of the writers not being able to construct a narrative that works with the limitations - and I’m fed up with it. I also have to say the call back to “Get away from her you bitch” was one of the worst regurgitations of classic lines I have ever heard.
25) The First Omen - (Director: Arkasha Stevenson)
Fresh off the back of directing the weird and wonderful Brand New Cherry Flavor limited series, Director Arkasha Stevenson has breathed new life into the Omen franchise. When Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) a young American woman is set to Rome to start her life of servitude to the church she soon discovers a haunting conspiracy festering within the upper echelons of the catholic church, intending to facilitate the birth of evil incarnate.
Stevenson has delivered a deliciously stylish debut with The First Omen. Her film includes some of the most striking imagery of the year, with the crowning achievement being a haunting one-take of Margaret losing control - in what is a classy homage to 1981’s Possession. It’s very easy to make a bad prequel, which is one of the reasons The First Omen is so impressive. Nell Tiger Free also deserves all the plaudits, she is breathtaking in her first leading role and along with Apple TV’s servant is proving she is destined for a career in horror.
24) Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person - (Director: Ariane Louise-Seize)
The first film on this year's list from the blossoming world of Quebec cinema, HVSCSP (Which I’m going to call it for short) is about Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a young vampire dealing with a serious moral conundrum. Killing humans just isn't her thing. But after she's cut off from her parent's blood supply she has a simple choice. Learn to kill, or prepare to die. After meeting Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard) a troubled teenager with suicide on his mind, she thinks she may have found her solution.
Louise-Seize’s film is a delightful little dark comedy that is a shining example of the importance of independent cinema. A dark take on your standard coming-of-age comedy, there is little new ground trodden here. But the film is a little bundle of joy and has created a great platform for its young cast to showcase their impressive acting chops. Some moments will make you laugh out loud and others will pull on your heart strings. An all-round joyful experience.
23) The Apprentice - (Director: Ali Abbasi)
In the year Donald Trump returned to the highest office in the land, in no small part due to the success of the deafening social media election campaign orchestrated by his new lackey Elon Musk, you could be forgiven for forgetting that Ali Abbasi released a film chronicling the meteoric rise of Americas modern-day political juggernaut. Taken under the wing of embattled New York attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) The Donald (Sebastian Stan) starts to mutate into a caricature of his new guardian as he slowly becomes the man everyone knows him as today.
Sebastian Stan is fantastic here, he plays Donald Trump perfectly - by focusing on his mannerisms and personality - he steers clear of falling into the realms of parody and instead perfectly embodies the cruel persona of Trump. Jeremy Strong is also at his absolute best here, in what feels like a prequel to Succession. I would recommend everyone watching this film, not least because of the backlash it has faced since being released (a disaster at the box office followed by the shunning of Stan for taking on the role) but also because it’s an important insight into how manufactured Trump is, nothing is real…it’s all an act.
22) Trap - (Director: M. Night Shyamalan)
The latest film from the iconic director - who has thankfully found his footing again in recent years - is a contained thriller set at the pop concert of the biggest pop star on the planet, Lady Raven (Saleka). But this isn’t like your normal pop concert. It’s a trap (hence the name) to catch a prolific serial killer, The Butcher. Our two protagonists Cooper (Josh Hartnett) and Riley (Ariel Donoghue) about to walk into more than they bargained for.
Trap is a difficult film to talk about without giving away any spoilers, but what I am safe to say is that it represents a high point in the renaissance of Shyamalan’s career. Hartnett - who is also enjoying a revival of his own career - is great in the role of Cooper and enjoys some of the most memorable line deliveries of the year, it’s clear to see that the entire cast and crew had a great time working on the film.
21) Society of the Snow - (Director: J. A. Bayona)
Based on the True Story, Society of the Snow is the re-telling of the horrific 1972 plane crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which was carrying the Uruguayan Rugby team over the Andes. After 29 of the passengers survived the initial crash they were stranded in one of the harshest environments on the planet, with no help, no food and limited shelter they must band together to survive.
Bayona’s film is not for the faint of heart, this is a horrific viewing experience, but an extraordinary one at the same time. It’s an incredible testament to our inherent will to survive and how people can keep going even in the most hopeless of circumstances. The story has captured the zeitgeist in ways that very few survival stories have. The production team have done a fantastic job in capturing the brutality of the terrain, you can feel the cold through the screen, the blistering winds hit you while watching the film. Make sure to have your heating on when you sit down to watch Society of the Snow.
20) The Iron Claw - (Director: Sean Burkin)
At 19 we have another true story…and sadly another tragic one that is sure to be a tearjerker. The Iron Claw is the story of the Von Erich brothers, part of one of competitive wrestling's most iconic family dynasties. The brothers guided by their domineering father are hit by tragedy and triumph as they aim to become the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Zac Efron although critically acclaimed was a major snub at this year's Academy Awards, and after watching his performance as eldest brother Kevin Von Erich it’s safe to see why so many were upset by his glaring omission. It’s Efron’s best work to date and shows that the form teenage heartthrob has a future in more dramatic roles. This is an extremely sad film, and in fact, the director even omitted some aspects of the real-life story - as well as one of the brothers - because he believed if he had included all of the family's many tragedies the film would fall victim to being inaccessible.
19) The Holdovers - (Director: Alexander Payne)
The best Christmas film of 2024, The Holdovers follows the events of a remote private school's winter holdover period as a handful of students are forced to stay at the school over the Christmas period with their reclusive English teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti).
Firstly I have to have a little rant about the ridiculousness of the British release schedule. I first saw The Holdovers at the London Film Festival last October, and with it being a Christmas film after all, assumed it would be released later that year to tie in with the Christmas season…but no. The film's U.K. release date was at the end of January this year. Ridiculous! Anyway, the film was worth the wait and would have been a pleasant surprise to all the viewers who discovered it on streaming over the Christmas period this year. Writer David Hemingson has penned a smart and funny script, newcomer Dominic Sessa is fantastic as troublemaker Angus and it’s Payne’s best film since the 90’s so kudos all around to those involved.
18) Sing Sing - (Director: Greg Kwedar)
Imprisoned in the grueling maximum security American prison Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, talented playwright Divine G (Colman Domingo) finds solace in the prison system's Rehabilitation Through the Arts program as he and his fellow inmates attempt to hold onto their humanity within a system that only seems to try to corrupt them.
A powerful, emotional film, Sing Sing provides an important lens into the difficult lives of prisoners in the American justice system. With a powerful message that humanity is absolute and that art can be a form of liberation even when you find yourself trapped in a broken system. Domingo is brilliant and is nailed on to pick up an Oscar nomination for his turn as Divine G. The film also features performances from several ex-cons who found their rehabilitation through the arts and the very program showcased in the film.
17) Conclave - (Director: Edward Berger)
The Pope is dead! His succession is in disarray and it’s up to Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) to ensure the process of picking the Catholic Churches most powerful leader doesn’t fail. After being sequestered he discovers that behind the sudden death, there may be a conspiracy that could rock the very fabric of the world's largest religion.
Who would have thought that a political drama set in the Vatican could be so thrilling? Berger’s tale of the inner workings of the political powerhouse is enthralling in every essence of the word. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini are the highlights of a mouthwatering cast that will keep you guessing from the opening salvo. Conclave also features potentially the sassiest vape hit in cinematic history, well worth the price of admission alone.
16) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - (Director: George Miller)
A prequel to Miller's 2015 masterpiece, this latest edition to the Mad Max universe tells the story of a young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) as she is ripped from her luscious life in the Green Place and frustrated into the unadulterated madness of the wasteland. Taken into the hands of the warlord Dementus she must fight to survive as she attempts to find a way home.
Furiosa does lack the magic of its predecessor Fury Road. And I think a big part of this is because Miller decided to rely heavily on CGI for his follow-up picture. However, this was due to constraints forced upon him by the studio due to the delays on the mainly practical first film, so it’s hard to be overly critical of the auteur for this. Nevertheless, despite this, the film is still a brilliant and welcome addition to the franchise. Anya Taylor-Joy is magnetic in the role and a worthy successor to Charlize Theron. The action sequences are electric and the world-building is staggering - after all isn’t that what we all want from a MadMax film?
15) Strange Darling - (Director: JT Mollner)
A one-night stand turns into a cat-and-mouse game between a serial killer and the latest victim of an endless murder spree. Split into 6 chapters not everything is as it seems as the story starts to unravel as the killer's true intentions come to light.
A true indie hit Strange Darling will have been under the radar for most cinema-goers during its very short theatrical release. Now available on streaming and purchase this film should be at the top of every thriller lover's watchlist. Willa Fitzgerald is enigmatic in the leading role and has made her case to be an iconic final girl of the 20s. Just be warned the first 10 minutes of the film would lead you to believe this is an extremely pretentious piece of work. But I can assure you that it’s well worth the ride.
14) Wicked - (Director: Jon M. Chu)
The musical event of the year, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the world-famous stage play/1995 novel Wicked is the story of two contrasting sorceresses, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), who despite an early feud become unlikely friends while studying at Shiz University. A prequel to the iconic Wizard of Oz, Wicked explores how Elphaba was driven to become the Wicked Witch of the West, after years of being ostracised for her green skin.
Clocking in at a bladder-breaking 160 minutes, and only covering half of the story you might think Wicked might be a bit of a drag. But the 160-minute run time flies by, as the story jumps from incredible musical set piece to incredible musical set piece. The production design and songs are out-of-this-world entertaining. I’ve been reliably informed by our Wicked Ohh Deer super fans that the best songs all feature in the first part of the story so I'm intrigued to see how the creative team keep the sequel fresh. Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are brilliant in the leading roles, it’s refreshing to watch a musical where both of the major stars are not just competent, but also talented singers.
13) The Sweet East - (Director: Sean Price Williams)
High-school senior Lillian (Talia Ryder) wanders off on a school trip and quickly finds herself on a wild ride across Americana. From a terrorist boot camp to robbing a group of Nazis and becoming a film star Lillian certainly gets more than she bargained for as she works her way across the country jumping from hilariously over-the-top situation to hilariously over-the-top situation.
Talia Ryder is a revelation in the role and is undoubtedly already one of the most exciting new acting talents around. Simon Rex of Scary Movie fame pops up as one of the aforementioned Nazis and is brilliant in the role, his career resurgence has been a delight so far. The Sweet East doesn’t take itself seriously and is interested in one thing only, pure entertainment. And that’s why it’s one of the best films this year. It’s a crying shame the film didn’t get a proper cinematic release. However, you can find it available to rent and buy in the UK.
12) A Different Man - (Director: Aaron Schimberg)
Aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan) is living within himself, cursed by an incurable disease he hates the way he looks and feels like an outcast in society. Then one day he discovers clinical trials of a new medication that promises to cure him of his disfigurements. Soon his appearance is drastically changed, leaving him to feel like a different man. However, his dream soon turns into a nightmare when he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with his former lover Ingrid (Renate Reinsve).
What a year Sebastian Stan is having! From all the current and former MCU stars he is taking one of the most interesting career paths post the hights of the MCU. A Different Man represents his best work to date, he’s a marvel in the leading role, taking on two very different personas while perfectly weaving them into the same character. The script is ingenious by Schimberg. It’s heartfelt, funny, endearing and also disturbing. You will be left feeling a smorgasbord of emotions at the end of it. One of the most unique films we have had in years.
11) Civil War - (Director: Alex Garland)
Set in the modern day, Civil War sees America in chaos. The president (Nick Offerman) has gone rogue and pronounced himself a dictator. California and Texas have seceded from the union and are raging war against the states loyal to the president. Meanwhile, a group of war photographers travel the country dedicating themselves to reporting on the biggest story in American history.
You could call this the second film of the year based around Donald Trump. Nick Offerman’s president is clearly inspired by the soon-to-be incumbent, and the events of the film currently feel closer to coming true than they ever have before in modern times. Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny’s characters bring brilliant chemistry to the film, they quickly blossom into a makeshift mother-daughter relationship, as Dunst’s Lee shows Jessie the trials and tribulations of being a photojournalist covering wars around the world. Civil War’s final 20 minutes are some of the most gripping cinema of the year, it’s sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.
10) Hit Man - (Director: Richard Linklater)
Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) isn’t your average school professor, in his free time he moonlights with the Louisiana city police force to help them identify criminals attempting to hire hitmen. But after a colleague is suspended Gary is forced to take up the role of the fake hit man…and quickly discovers that maybe this was his true calling in life. However, after he falls for one of his clients a deadly chain reaction is started that can only one way…murder!
Glen Powell is seemingly being groomed by Tom Cruise to be cinema's next big screen star. And on this evidence Cruise might be onto something. Powell is brilliant as the mild-mannered professor turned hitman, as he tests out various different getups to illicit a confession from his targets. The film is smart, quick-witted and surprisingly funny. But the real selling point is the sizzling chemistry between Powell and co-star Adria Arjona. The pair are brilliant together. Hit Man might be the greatest example of how a good hair cut can completely change a person.
9) Poor Things - (Director: Yorgos Lanthimos)
After washing up dead, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is brought back to life by enigmatic scientist Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), but with a twist. She has the mind of a child inside the body of an adult woman. After being seduced by playboy lawyer - and all-around sleazeball - Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) Bella is whisked away on a whirlwind adventure that will see her explore not only herself but society and its prejudices.
Certainly the strangest film of the year, it feels strange to say in the same breath that this is also one of Lanthimos’s most accessible films to date. Not close to The Favourite - which still remains his best - but this is a film that could appeal to a broader audience than his normal works. Emma Stone deservedly picked up a second Oscar for her leading role as Bella Baxter and has steadfastly become Lathimos’s muse. A word of warning this is certainly not a film to watch with your parents, and a final shoutout to Mark Ruffalo who is hilarious as Duncan Wedderburn.
8) Love Lies Bleeding - (Director: Rose Glass)
Rose Glass’s sophomore hit - following up her 2020 film of the year Saint Maud - follows reclusive gym manager Lou (Kirsten Stewart) who falls head over heels for new in-town Jackie (Katy O’Brian). Jackie, a aspiring bodybuilder soon finds herself drawn into the violent world inhabited by Lou and her family as the couple fight to stay on the right side of the law.
It’s safe to say that we are massive fans of Rose Glass here at Ohh Deer. For me personally, Saint Maud remains my most awe-inspiring experience in a cinema since all the way back in 2019 when I first saw it. So it should be no surprise that Glass’s follow-up picture made it into this year's list. What’s refreshing is to see her go in such a different direction. The hallmarks are still there, the horror, and the shocking moments of violence. But this is very much a different direction for a director who has already become one of the most exciting talents in the film space. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
7) Red Rooms - (Director: Pascal Plante)
The second and final film coming out of Quebec this year, Red Rooms focuses on the fictional trial of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos) who after committing some of the most heinous crimes imaginable is put on trial. But drawn to the trial is Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy), who quickly develops an unhealthy fascination with the killer and his victims' families. As her reality and fantasies start to converge she travels a dark path in trying to find the final piece of the puzzle and that will bring the full picture of the case to light.
This is the most disturbing film I watched this year, and not for the gore - this is a very goreless picture - but for the subject matter. Much of what is discussed in the court case is left to our imagination and that is maybe the most horrifying part of the film because nothing is truly as disturbing as the unknown. A brilliant thriller if you like courtroom drams and aren’t opposed to the macabre then this will be a sure-fire hit for you.
6) The Substance - (Director: Coralie Fargeat)
With her fame fading and fired from her long-time recurring TV role former Oscar winner and Hollywood Walk of Fame icon Elisabeth (Demi Moore) decides to use a black market drug called The Substance. The perfect balance of seven days will see her be able to recapture her youth. However, it quickly becomes clear that the drug's very clear instructions aren’t easy to follow when tempted by the appeal of the flashing lights of fame, with disastrous consequences waiting for those who ignore the rules.
If there was ever a film that could live up to the phrase “It has to be seen to be believed” The Substance is that film - and this is the pitch I used to persuade Jamie and Mark to see the film with me…I'm still not sure they are glad I did that). Demi Moore is fantastic in a brave performance as Elisabeth and Margaret Qualley as Sue has shot herself into Oscar contention with her charismatic supporting performance. This is certainly a film that will split opinions…but we are very much on the side of it being a modern-day horror masterpiece.
5) The Zone of Interest - (Director: Jonathan Glazer)
Jonathan Glazer’s first feature film in 11 years. The Zone of Interest is the latest in a long line of films exploring the events of the Holocaust. However, The Zone of Interest takes a very different approach. The film focuses on the lives of commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) outside of the concentration camps and within the confines of their home adjacent to Auschwitz.
Although it shies away from the horrors and never depicts any atrocities being carried out The Zone of Interest might be the most disturbing holocaust film to date, for the simple reason that it explores the ways those involved in the genocide treated it as nothing more than a job, or in the part of Hedwig an at times loud distraction from her gardening. It's horrific seeing the Höss sit down and discuss with his men how they could create a new furnace system to increase the rate they can burn the bodies of hundreds of thousands of dead Jews. To know this is truly how it happened, an industrialised killing machine will leave a pit in your stomach. Films like The Zone of Interest will only become more important as the world creeps closer and closer towards the ones from the 1940s.
4) Anora - (Director: Sean Baker)
The brilliant Sean Baker - director of 2017’s best film of the year The Florida Project - returns with his latest picture Anora. A modern-day reminging of Cinderella sees Ani (Mikey Madison) a young sex worker in Brooklyn fall in love with Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn) the son of a Russian oligarch. But once news of their betrothment reaches Russia the parents fly to New York to attempt to bring an end to what they see as their son's insanity.
Anora is very much a tale of two films. The first section is a whirlwind of a romance as we see the relationship between Ani and Ivan blossom into something special. The second is a full-on screwball comedy as a rag-tag team of Ani and Ivan’s minders attempt to track the Russian playboy down as he abscondes across New York. Mikey Madison stuns in the leading role and is a dead cert to pick up next year's leading actress Oscar. Yura Borisoz as fixer Igor is just as brilliant with his comedic timing perfect for the film's second part.
3) Challengers - (Director: Luca Guadagnino)
After a career-ending injury Tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) is forced into the role of coach and turns her husband Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) into a tennis star. But after his career starts to stagnate Tashi looks for a way to re-energise her husband's tennis game and their marriage. Enter a challenger event - a low-level pro tournament that should be a cakewalk for any professional tennis player. However, what should be a sure win and confidence booster is suddenly turned upside down when Tashi turns Art's former best friend…and her former lover, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) is also competing. Prepare for Drama.
I’ve long been a fan of Guadagnino’s films and Challengers as you can tell is no different. The tennis scenes are potentially the best example of re-creating sport on screen in a compelling manor, they are ferocious. The soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is the best of the year and all of the performances are exquisite, truly one of the highlights of the year.
2) All of Us Strangers - (Director: Andrew Haigh)
Living in an empty tower block in London Adam (Andrew Scott) lives a lonely life, one of solitude and regret. But one day a chance encounter with fellow recluse Harry (Paul Mescal) leads to a bubbling romance and changes the direction of his life forever.
Based on the 1987 Japanese novel Haigh’s film is one that will be remembered for years to come. I had the pleasure of watching the film when it was first released in the U.K. last year and it’s safe to say when the credits rolled there was not a single dry house in the 2000+ capacity Royal Festival Hall. This is a powerful and emotional rollercoaster ride of a film. The two leading performances are beautiful and the supporting roles played by Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are wrapped with emotion. Maybe the best exploration of grief I have ever seen put to film, this was very very close to being the number one film this year and on any other given year it would be.
1) Dune: Part Two - (Director: Denis Villeneuve)
Pipping All of Us Strangers at the final mile it’s this year's best film of the year Dune: Part Two. Following on from the first instalment in the epic science fiction Odyssey this second instalment sees Paul (Timothée Chalamet) rage a guerrilla war of attrition against the occupiers of Arakis while seeking his own personal revenge for the slaying of his Father. Teaming up with the Fremen Paul battles with his quest for revenge and the bond he has formed with Chani (Zendaya).
In preparation for writing this year's list, I re-watched Dune: Part Two for a fourth time - the first time not in the cinemas - and I realised what had always been true. This blockbuster of the highest order is undoubtedly the film of the year. This is the Star Wars of our time, an intergalactic masterpiece that will be spoken about for decades to come and held up in the same regard as its predecessors as stalwarts of the genre. Villeneuve is the most exciting director working today and he has already proven with his filmography that there is no challenge he can’t master, since 2010 he has made classic after classic (ignore Enemy) and Dune: Part Two might just be his magnum opus.