2024 was a slightly odd year for horror movies. Audiences and horror fans were completely divided on some of the most critically acclaimed films of the genre (I Saw the TV Glow, In a Violent Nature, Cuckoo, The First Omen, Longlegs, You'll Never Find Me). Many of the best horror films went completely under the radar and remain obscure (Daddy's Head, Things Will Be Different, Handling the Undead, Oddity, Cloud). Arguably the biggest horror release (Nosferatu) was a remake of a century-old film. Most others were just decent, fun, but slightly forgettable films. That somewhat applies to the Carrie-Anne Moss and Douglas Smith movie, Die Alone, but its grim world-building and nasty ending prevent it from being forgettable. That, and a wonderfully memorable performance from Frank Grillo.

While Grillo led his own fun horror movie in 2024 (Werewolves), he only appears for a bit in the final act of Die Alone, but it's a crucial scene and a brilliant little performance from an actor who is usually a much bigger part of things. His inclusion is a testament to the film's strong writing and unusual narrative, which seems constructed from a variety of better-known titles but is strung together in an oddly distinct way. It all leads to a warped, bleak ending that you certainly don't see coming.