MONTH IN REVIEW: NOVEMBER 2024

October was a veritable feast for horror fans—a high-quality, all-you-can-eat buffet of frights. Unlike those lukewarm, greasy spreads, this one delivered on flavour and variety. November, in contrast, was considerably leaner, more akin to a supermarket meal deal: a sandwich, crisps, and a can of coke for a fiver—not much to get excited about.

While Heretic officially debuted in October, our review wasn’t published until early November, so it finds its place in this month’s roundup. Luckily, it’s a standout—just as well, given the sparse competition. A24 has had a solid, though less remarkable, year with releases like MaXXXine, I Saw the TV Glow, and The Front Room. However, Heretic is a return to form. For much of its runtime, it features Hugh Grant’s character mansplaining theology to a pair of young Mormon missionaries. While that premise might not sound thrilling, the stellar performances from the central trio and the ominous atmosphere elevate it to a must-watch for fans of brooding, atmospheric horror.

The month also brought a few other noteworthy releases. British horror-comedy Member’s Club was an unexpected delight. The plot follows a group of past-their-prime male strippers drawn to a remote village for what seems like a lucrative gig but quickly turns sinister. While it’s rough around the edges, its humour and charm make it one of the best British horror-comedies in years. Another UK offering, Black Cab, premiered on Shudder, featuring Nick Frost as a menacing cab driver with sinister intentions for his passengers. Although the film maintains a tense atmosphere for much of its runtime, its conclusion feels slightly underwhelming.

Shudder also debuted Out Come the Wolves on November 29. While our full review is forthcoming, it’s safe to say that despite a rushed third act, it’s worth a watch. The premise—a hunting trip gone wrong involving three people, a remote cabin, and ravenous wolves—is straightforward but effective. Finally, we caught up with Oddity, another Shudder release, which turned out to be the perfect companion for a cold winter’s night.

Looking ahead, December doesn’t promise a lavish spread either. Still, there’s a bit more substance to look forward to—a modest upgrade, perhaps, to a falafel wrap and coffee at Costa.

On December 5, Subservience lands on Netflix. Initially released on Apple TV, its wider availability should attract a larger audience. The film, part of the recent wave of AI-focused horrors, follows a struggling father who purchases a “domestic SIM” to help with household tasks. It doesn’t hurt that the robot, played by Megan Fox, is stunning; it’s the dangerous tendencies that are problematic. On December 6, Werewolves becomes available to rent or buy on VOD. This one looks like it could be a lot of fun. If your idea of fun is Frank Grillo facing off against loads of bloodthirsty werewolves that is!

Kraven the Hunter hits cinemas on December 13. While not strictly a genre film, its darker, violent tone earns it a mention. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ariana DeBose leading the cast, it’s worth keeping an eye on. Meanwhile, Disney+ will stream the sixth and final season of What We Do in the Shadows on December 17—a bittersweet farewell to a consistently brilliant series. Fingers crossed we get some news on a possible new series of spin-off series Wellington Paranormal, a personal fave of mine. Additionally, Paramount+ premieres Dexter: Original Sin on December 13, a prequel exploring Dexter’s origins with Patrick Gibson stepping into the iconic role.

There are some other releases worth mentioning. None of these are ‘new’ releases as such but still worth alerting you to. M Night Shyamalan’s (rather uneven) Knock at the Cabin hits Netflix on the 14th, whilst the hugely impressive A Quiet Place: Day One lands on Prime on New Year’s Eve. Physical media collectors can look forward to Beetlejuice, Terrifier 3, and Never Let Go arriving on DVD.

In industry news, From has been renewed for a fourth season, and Cape Fear will be reimagined as a 10-part series on Apple TV, with Javier Bardem starring as Max Cady and Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese producing. Bardem’s knack for villainy makes him an exciting choice for the role. On the sequel front, there’s disappointing news for Dog Soldiers fans—no follow-up is in the works. However, sequels to Netflix’s absurd shark flick Under Paris and New Zealand killer sheep movie Black Sheep are underway, the latter coming nearly 20 years after the original. Additionally, Idle Hands will be remade by Finn Wolfhard and Jason Reitman—a bold choice, but enough time has passed for a fresh take.

We tragically lost a horror icon too, with news that Tony Todd had passed away at the age of 69 on November 6th. Best known for his performance as Candyman in the 1992 film of the same name, Todd was prolific within the horror genre as a whole – starring in films such as Final Destination (2000) and Hatchet (2006). Perhaps none of his roles were as renowned as his turn as Candyman, but he was nevertheless a giant within the industry and a much loved one at that.

Trailer wise, there wasn’t much to shout about – unless you want to keep rewatching the beautiful preview of Robert Eggers upcoming take on Nosferatu. Mudbrick looks quite interesting though. We don’t get many folk horrors set in Eastern Europe and the trailer looks as dark and oppressive as you’d hope.

As December approaches, it’s time to indulge in festive horrors—Black Christmas, Gremlins, Krampus, and Christmas Evil are staples here. As the year draws to a close, we’ll be compiling our “best of” lists and previewing 2025’s most anticipated releases. Until then, enjoy the season, and don’t forget to treat yourself to some scares!