In recent years, A24, an American independent entertainment company that was founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, has been behind some of the best movies of the decade. From Lady Bird to Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All At Once, the company has been the distributor and sometimes the production company of some of the most phenomenal and groundbreaking TV shows and films.
About A24's horror films, it is very much clear that they have not only been successful in terms of audience feedback and viewership, but they have also brought out new lenses to the genre. Interestingly, A24 has also been the distributor of Ari Aster's feature films Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid. In addition to these Aster films, A24 has also been the distributor of The Witch, The Lighthouse, It Comes at Night, X, and Pearl, among other major horror hits. This establishes that this company has been pioneering in modern horror. The question is how, and we attempt to answer that. We'll just invite you not to use the obnoxious term "elevated horror."
Updated on August 20th, 2023 by Federico Furzan: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
Some of the Most Twisted Stories
For those who are familiar with A24's horror films, it is obvious that the company has its version of horror stories. Generally, horror films would heavily focus on supernatural elements like ghosts hauntings, and possessions. Due to this, these films tend to be more concerned with scaring the viewers, rather than sending out powerful messages. This has been the main concept of the horror genre for the past years. However, in the modern age, the horror genre has been used to invoke important messages and leave viewers with much to think about. The scare comes from a place of the human characters' ability to indulge or get involved with ideologies or events that seem very unnatural. A good example of this would be Jordan Peele's horror films Get Out, Us and Nope, which all focus on society and not the elements causing the scare.
A24 horror films take it a step further and combine these supernatural elements with some of the most twisted horror stories. Both Midsommar and Hereditary focus on the blind faith of humans while tapping into the theme of cults, which allows the stories to bring in the supernatural element to the story. The Witch takes a similar approach.
However, these films also delve deep into human bonds. In Alex Garland's debut film Ex Machina, it is the evolution of Artificial Intelligence and man's obsession with it, the film tries to focus on. What makes these films twisted is how they seem very real, while also coming off as unnatural. The cult obsession in Hereditary and Midsommar might be uncommon, but it also tells the story of our deep dark thoughts that justifies the gruesome acts and human sacrifice.
Not Afraid to Tap Into the Grotesque
Most of A24 films can be quite graphic, so much so that they're not for the faint of heart. Some of them can also be mentally taxing and leave the viewers confused for days. Nonetheless, it is also these elements that allow these films to emphasize the dark nature of the stories. Garland's 2022 horror film, Men, taps into body horror and brings out some visually traumatizing scenes. In one particular scene, we see the naked man giving birth to the man with a woman's mask, who then gives birth to the vicar, and so on. This image will stay with you.
What makes A24 Horror stand out is its ability to capture the viewer's attention through its visuals and make it an immersive experience. Yes, it can be horrifying, but at the same time, it also says a lot about the film. The constant use of naked people, the heavy focus on twisted bodies, and the incorporation of dark elements like blackbirds and blood. All these motifs are closely connected to the stories and the messages. Moreover, A24 does not limit these films to a specific time frame or a generation. While The Witch takes place in the 1630s, both Midsommar and Hereditary take place in the present day. Bodies Bodies Bodies focuses on millennials in a horror setting that forces them to think of survival beyond what their cell phones can provide. Interestingly, there seems to be a horror film for everybody.
Strong Female Leads
A24 horror films have also brought out some of the best female leads of this century. Florence Pugh's performance in Midsommar is regarded as her big break. Dani's role starts as someone who is going through so much trauma and pain caused by loss, while her distant boyfriend is seemingly trying to avoid her. However, the character ends up surpassing everyone's expectations and being the "Queen" of a cult. Pugh's delivery of Dani's character is undeniably one of the best performances of her career.
Similarly, Anya Taylor Joy's performance in The Witch, Toni Collette's performance in Hereditary, Noomi Rapace's performance in Lamb, and Mia Goth's role in Pearl. All these delivered some staggering female leads that broke gender stereotypes. These performances also stepped away from the typical feminine rage that showcases women weeping and portrayed a more powerful female stance.
Literal Portrayal of Real Emotions
The protagonists of these films might come off as evil, but at the same time, it's impossible not to relate. Pearl's obsession with fame is something that can be connected to society's obsession with influencers. Annie's obsession with connecting with her dead child in Hereditary can be seen as one way in which humans cope with grief. Thus, there seems to be a certain level of connection to these characters.
A key reason why these characters come off as relatable is how the actors visually portray their emotions. Their embodiment of grief, trauma, loss, and rejection is something that people might feel internally. The fact that these films were able to visually represent these emotions puts the horror genre above and brings out films that tap into humane emotions to invoke fear among the viewers.