10 Best and Most Shocking Horror Moments of 2024 - In My Opinion (Spoilers)

Welcome to Knockout Horror and to our list of the 10 Best and Most Shocking Horror Moments of 2024. The last year is in the bag and what a year it turned out to be. 2024 rivalled 2022 for sheer quality when it comes to the genre we love so much. It was brilliant horror movie after brilliant horror movie.

We have already recapped our list of the 10 Best Horror Movies of 2024 so why don’t we take a closer look at some of the specific horror moments, from 2024, that truly stayed with us? Which scenes stood out? What will we remember when thinking back on this amazing year in horror?

Naturally, this isn’t just scares. We have a nice mix of emotional moments, shocking moments and moments that, simply, resonated for how stylish or fun they were. It goes without saying that there will be spoilers in this list so be warned.

It also goes without saying that this list is my subjective opinion. I am not saying that these are, objectively, the best moments from 2024. They are just the moments I remember the most. Without further ado, let’s take a look.

We are going to start off with a scene that is more shocking than good. With Terrifier 3, director Damien Leone set out to shock. There is no doubt about that in the slightest. Art the Clown is back to his old tricks and hot on the hunt for Sienna and nobody will stand in his way. This is horror as written by a 15 year old boy trying to gross out his friends. It’s childish, silly, over the top, and, often, way beyond farcical.

The most farcical scene of all, however, is probably the one that will stick with you for just how vile and horrendous it really is. It’s, also, completely redundant and unnecessary; placed in the movie purely for shock value and nothing else.

A pair of construction workers stumble upon Art and Victoria inside of an abandoned building. This, obviously, results in the pair murdering the workers. As Art brutalises one of the two, Victoria watches on. In her excitement she… entertains herself… with a large shard of glass. Nothing surprises me much in horror but this scene will stay with me for just how grotesque and pointless it is.

Could it be argued that Roger Eggers’ end of the year horror epic Nosferatu doesn’t quite live up to expectations? Sure, it most definitely could. The pacing is a bit off and the screenplay leaves plenty to be desired. With that being said, it is still a fantastic movie with plenty of shocking moments.

Serving as a remake to the 1922 silent movie classic. Nosferatu sees the fiendish Count Orlok seducing a young woman and causing unspeakable horror in his pursuit of her.

The most shocking horror moment here, and the scene that will stay with me, is one involving Count Orlok’s minion Herr Knock. Knock suffers from delusions that compel him to do some truly disgusting things. Namely consuming live beings.

I am typically very against scenes of animal violence in horror. It’s overdone to a ridiculous degree and demonstrates a lack of creativity on the part of the filmmaker. Especially when it comes to garnering cheap scares. But the scene of Herr Knock biting the head off a still living pigeon is particularly shocking. The cut is incredibly well done making the scene all the more affecting and impactful. I am glad to say no animals were harmed during this scene.

A Quiet Place: Day One disappointed a few viewers. Many expected it to spend a bit more time elaborating on the origin of the alien creatures. Others wanted more action and a bit more backstory to explain just what happened. What we actually got was a rather moving story about a woman with terminal cancer attempting to survive in a world overrun by murderous creatures.

In one of the more unexpected turns of the 2024 horror season. A Quiet Place: Day One manages a number of poignant moments filled with emotion and sadness. Whereas I am tempted to place Sam and and Eric’s trip to the jazz club here. It is Sam’s selfless sacrifice to save Eric, and her cat Frodo, that stands out.

As Sam walks through the abandoned streets, iPod in hand, listening to Nina Simone’s Feeling Good before unplugging the earphones to bring on her fate. It’s hard not to be touched by one of 2024’s most unexpectedly poignant scenes.

Abigail was a bit of a surprise hit, last year. Playing out as a reinvention of the age old vampire horror for the modern, TikTok, age. Abigail sees a group of mercenaries kidnapping the young daughter of a crime boss. Little realising that there is much more to this child than meets the eye.

This is a film that is jam packed with cool scenes. A heavy focus on both action and dry wit are well supported by a relentless pace. It’s the scene where the group are truly introduced to the maniacal girl’s power that really stood out for me, though.

The group realise they have to stab Abigail through the heart to kill her. Charging into the room where she is hiding. They are greeted by the site of the girl dancing maniacally with the decapitated corpse of getaway driver Dean. Abigail’s demented look and macabre dance moves perfectly set the tone for what is to come.

A vicious fight commences where it becomes clear the group can do very little to harm the girl. It is punctuated by some truly sickening moments as Peter is repeatedly stabbed with a crucifix before Abigail wipes his blood across her mouth. Awesome stuff.

Lowlifes was a good example of Tubi at their, let’s be honest here, rather rare best. One of a couple of great Tubi original horror movies in 2024. It follows a family taking a cross country road trip where they are forced to spend the night with some locals in a remote rural community.

The only catch is that this family is not quite as they seem. They are, actually, a family of travelling murderers. They head across the country, every summer, in their RV and butcher people along the way.

The most memorable scene, for me, was the one where we first realise just what this family is about. The family are driving a rather obnoxious local to find a mechanic to help fix his car. The obvious implication is that this man is, likely, a fair bit of trouble in a Deliverance style manner.

The truth comes out, however, when the family’s youngest member, Jeffery, uses a wire to garotte the man as the family watch on without an ounce of shock. The first hint that this movie is not going to be what you initially assumed.

Speak No Evil is an English language remake of the rather shocking, rather depressing, and rather divisive Danish horror movie of the same name from 2022. Taking the same plot and modifying the ending a little to make it more palatable for an English speaking audience. It is the performance of the brilliant James McAvoy that makes this movie stand out.

It’s witty, hilarious, brutal and rather tense. The tension really amps up towards the end, however, as the family attempt to leave. After one failed attempt that resulted in the family returning to retrieve their daughter’s favourite plushie. It becomes very clear that Paddy has no intention of allowing them to get away again.

A slow build up involving they plushie being thrown on to the roof and a very tense climb up a rickety ladder to retrieve it. Eventually gives way to the more apparent as Paddy shoves Ant into the pond forcing the family to return to save him. In a movie filled with moments of suspense and tension, this scene stands out.

I Saw The TV Glow was one of the movies that really came out of nowhere in 2024. Jane Schoenbrun weaves a touching, coming of age, tale about a pair of teenagers and their love for a trashy 90’s supernatural kid’s show. The deeper message at the heart of this movie, however, is one of self identity, self discovery, and the life unlived.

That point is never more poignantly conveyed than when Owen breaks down towards the end of the movie. Working a dead end job in an entertainment centre, now old and unfulfilled. Owen, crushed by his predicament and mourning the life he never afforded himself the chance to experience. Sees the world around him freeze as he screams at the top of his lungs that he is dying and needs help. All the while going unheard and unnoticed by those around him. A momentary reflection of the entirety of his life up until this point.

It’s a touching and immensely affecting scene that powerfully conveys the reality of life for people forced to hide who they truly are. As well as being a relatable allegory for everyone who feels unfulfilled or unsatisfied with their own lives. I Saw the TV Glow is barely a horror movie but this scene represents a brilliantly original interpretation of a real life horror that people experience all the time.

In a Violent Nature spiced up the slasher genre in 2024 by turning it on its head. Taking the traditional format and flipping it by placing the viewer as a companion to the killer as he plods from victim to victim, brutalising everyone in his path. In a Violent Nature felt like the original, refreshing, take on the genre that we have needed for a very long time.

Some of the kills are absolutely brutal. While I was tempted to go with Aurora’s horrendous end at the hands of Johnny and the drag hook. It’s not the horror moment that resonated with me the most. That scene was the Ranger’s absolutely blood chilling death at the hands of a log splitter.

Johnny paralyses the ranger by breaking his back. He then, calmly, drags the immobile victim into a barn where a huge log splitting machine eerily waits. Placing the ranger’s arm into the log splitter, Johnny turns the machine on, removing the ranger’s limb in one fell swoop. He then moves onto his head and you can probably guess the rest.

There is something so utterly unsettling about the manner in which this scene plays out. Johnny’s deliberate actions. The ranger’s deafening silence and lack of reaction to the events taking place. The endless anticipation of the log splitter’s journey towards the ranger’s neck. It is truly horrifying and one of the most memorable scenes in a slasher movie in a very long time.

Damian Mc Carthy’s Oddity is another horror movie that, seemingly, came out of nowhere. While everyone was talking about Longlegs, Oddity was, quietly, the much better film. The story of blind psychic, medium, Darcy and her investigation into her sister’s death was utterly compelling. The movie actually managed to be legitimately scary, as well, thanks to the terrifying, Golem like, wooden mannequin.

There are two scenes that deserve mention, here. The final shot where Ted, arrogantly, rings the bell. Apparently summoning the ghostly bellhop and sealing his own fate. Stands out for being a fiendishly satisfying way to, ultimately, wrap things up. But it is Darcy’s final scenes that really stand out.

Sat on the landing, Darcy is vulnerable due to her blindness but still has the bravery to confront Ted for his crimes. He tells her he will have the investigator phone her to prove his innocence. He places the phone across the landing while, slyly, opening a trap door in front of Darcy.

As the phone rings, Darcy makes her way across the landing to answer, falling through the trap door to the cold ground below. The reveal suggests it was Ted that called her, luring Darcy to her death. It’s a truly sad moment and a mortifying end for a terrifically likable character. She still manages one last stand, however. Using her supernatural powers to control the mannequin and attack Ted’s accomplice Ivan.

Coralie Fargeat’s brilliant body horror The Substance was my favourite horror movie of the year. In fact, it is one of my favourite horror movies in a very long time and it, also, featured my favourite horror moment.. Following the story of a washed up starlet offered the opportunity to create a younger, better, version of herself by injecting a substance. This is a movie that combines grotesque body horror with a sexed up plot, sensational visuals, and a wicked sense of humour.

It doesn’t come more grotesque than the appearance of Monstro Elisasue, though. After Elisabeth’s (Demi Moore) repeated breaking of the rules. Her counterpart, Sue (Margaret Qualley), appears, each time the substance is used, with more deformities and more problems. Eventually culminating in a horrifying monster like creature that is little more than a collection of mutated body parts and oozing flesh.

Wearing a mask in a vain attempt to hide her appearance. Elisasue heads to the New Year’s Eve event to host. Only for the audience to find themselves repulsed by her appearance. Attacking her and causing an insane level of chaos that leaves the entire room covered it body parts, gore and viscera. Awesome, crazy, stuff and a scene that absolutely solidifies The Substance as a future cult classic.

Thanks for Reading

That’s Knockout Horror’s 10 Best and Most Shocking Horror Moments of 2024. We have a few more lists recapping 2024 coming up so keep your eyes peeled for those. If you are still feeling festive, we have a ton of Christmas content for you to check out. We reviewed lots of Christmas Horror in our Awful Advent category and put together Christmas horror lists so be sure to take a look. Thanks for reading and happy new year.