It is now the beginning of August, and so far 2024 has offered moviegoers a stellar selection of new and exciting movies. Between Timothée Chalamet riding massive sandworms and fending off foes in Dune Part 2, Zendaya pulling the strings on steamy tennis matches (and love triangles) in Challengers, Kirsten Dunst capturing the horrors of war in Civil War, and many other major releases, high intensity cinematic storytelling is undoubtedly wowing audiences this year.

But when I think about my favorite intense theatrical experiences, my mind immediately goes to genres that have surprisingly dominated cinema screens all year alongside the blockbusters: thriller and horror films. I can't help but think of Jesse Plemons eating Emma Stone's thumb, Nicolas Cage in full prosthetics hailing Satan, and a human-sized, magic-wielding frog.

I know all of that may sound like the fever dreams of a drunken night, leaving you confused and late for work, but I assure you there is greatness in some of the most obscure films of 2024. So if you ask me what my top three films have been this year so far, these are what I’d choose:

KINDS OF KINDNESS

Yorgos Lanthimos continues to show just how twisted his mind can get with each movie he creates. After Poor Things took home four Oscars at the most recent awards ceremony, I did not expect to get another film from him so soon—starring Emma Stone once again. But, boy, am I glad we did! 

The nearly 3-hour film from Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness, consists of three short stories: “The Death of RMF,” “RMF Is Flying,” and “RMF Eats a Sandwich.” Besides the mysterious RMF character that is sprinkled throughout the three stories, each short contains the same main cast, including Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau, Margaret Qualley, Mamoudou Athie, and Joe Alwyn. Lanthimos’ twisted tales are all centered around the same theme: different kinds of kindness. Yes, the title of the film is in fact the most efficient way to describe the film’s focus, but to elaborate, each story showcases its characters demonstrating disturbing and unsettling forms of devotion and care to the people or beliefs that are most harmful to them.

And what’s more, Kinds of Kindness is bolstered by great performances. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons have fantastic chemistry, even when their characters are at odds or, in certain cases, eating each other. Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau, and Margaret Qualley also shine in their supporting roles, with great comedic timing paired with Lanthimos’ dry humor and sharp writing. I could have watched five more short stories in this film and still would have wanted more.

LONGLEGS

Oz Perkins found his way back into the director's chair for Longlegs, which has been positioned in strategic marketing campaigns as “one of the scariest movies ever.” For me, the scariest things are how much I enjoyed the film, everyone in it, and the genius marketing behind it. 

I believe this movie pays off best knowing as little as possible going into it, so I won’t give too much away here. Set in the 90s, we follow a young Special Agent Lee Harker played by Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest) as she is brought in on her first case by her superior, Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), after she is deemed half-psychic. Lee needs to help catch a serial killer responsible for the grisly murders of multiple families. The mysterious and oddly speaking killer that goes by the name Longlegs (portrayed chillingly by Nicolas Cage) begins to tangle Lee into his twisted plans after she gets involved with the case, slithering into her house while she's present and leaving her an encrypted message. 

What follows is an unsettling, suspense-filled psychological thriller with phenomenal performances all around. Two standout performances are Lee’s mother, brilliantly played by Alicia Witt, and Kiernan Shipka, who hauntingly portrays Carrie Ann.

And above all, I’d like to highlight how amazing the cinematography and lighting are in this film. The lighting does a superb job of filling each scene with dread so thick you could almost reach out and grab it. On top of all that, we get some show tunes from Nicolas Cage, so what else could you possibly want from a movie? 

FROGMAN

As a huge sucker for found footage horror movies, I don’t think there is a world where I watch one featuring a mythical frog creature as the antagonist and not love it. From director Anthony Cousins - his feature directorial debut - I found a more than pleasant surprise with Frogman. 

This shot-on-VHS horror flick follows Dallas Kyle, a newly dumped, couch-surfing adult whose claim to fame is viral VHS footage he captured of the infamous Frogman (a Loveland, Ohio cryptid legend) that many seem to believe is fake. After Dallas is told by his brother-in-law that he needs to move out, he reignites his search for Frogman with the reluctant help of his friends Scotty and Amy. The trio embarks on a trip into the woods where Dallas last saw Frogman as a child to finally prove the naysayers wrong. 

The combination of the classic found footage horror formula with a wacky urban legend - seemingly untouched by film - makes Frogman extremely charming. Some may see this as an amphibious Blair Witch Project and they aren’t wrong, but that may be a reason I liked it so much. The practical effects used for Frogman and the fact it was shot on VHS make the film feel nostalgic in a way. A bonkers third act and a wicked creature design made this flick one of my favorites this year.