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SXSW’s 2024 genre slate is an enchanting fusion of laughter, lore, and immersive terror. We’re highly anticipating these 20 features that prove that everything’s bigger in Texas!

7 Keys – Written and Directed by Joy Wilkinson

​When her date lets her down, Lena meets Daniel and there’s an instant connection, especially when she learns that he’s kept the keys to all the places he’s ever lived. Lena doesn’t want to go home. She wants to use Daniel’s keys to go on the ultimate property porn tour of London, a lost weekend of getting to know each other intimately in other people’s homes. But what begins as a risky fantasy soon becomes a deadly threat. 

Wilkinson’s no stranger to crafting world-breaking storylines, so we know we’re in for a ride with 7 Keys.

​Starring: Emma McDonald, Billy Postlethwaite, Kaylen Luke, Joey Akubeze, Amit Shah, Jane Goddard

Arcadian –   Written by Mike Nilon and Directed by Ben Brewer

​In a post-apocalyptic world, Paul and his sons, Thomas and Joseph, navigate a life of peace during the day and terror at night. When Thomas doesn’t return on time from visiting his crush, Paul ventures outside their fortified farm to find him before nightfall. A horrifying battle unfolds, nearly costing Paul his life. Meanwhile, back at the house, Joseph faces the nightly threat alone.

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Sadie Soverall

Azrael –   Written by Simon Barrett and Directed by E.L. Katz

​A mute cult pursues Azrael, a young woman who escaped captivity in a post-apocalyptic era. Recaptured, she faces sacrifice to appease an ancient evil. Determined to survive, Azrael launches a fierce bid for freedom, leading to a revenge-fueled showdown.

​Samara thrilled us in Ready or Not and had us screaming at the screen in Scream VI. We love a Samara under pressure. 

​Starring: Samara Weaving, Vic Carmen Sonne, Katariina Unt, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Sebastian Bull Sarning

Birdeater – Written by Jack Clark and Directed by Jack Clark, Jim Weir 

​A bride-to-be is invited to join her own fiancé’s bachelor party on a remote property in the Australian outback. But as the festivities spiral into beer-soaked chaos, uncomfortable details about their relationship are exposed, and the celebration soon becomes a feral nightmare. 

​This looks like a case of “girl, don’t go out there!”.

​Starring: Shabana Azeez, Mackenzie Fearnley, Ben Hunter, Jack Bannister, Clementine Anderson, Alfie Gledhill, Harley Wilson, Caroline McQuade

Cuckoo – Written and Directed by Tilman Singer

​On a trip to the German Alps with her father and stepmother, Gretchen discovers that the resort town where they’re staying hides sinister secrets, as she’s plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her. Soon, Gretchen finds herself pulled into a conspiracy involving bizarre experiments by the resort’s owner that echo back generations.

​Starring: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csókás, Jan Bluthardt

Family – Written and Directed by Benjamin Finkel

​Eleven-year-old Joanna faces upheaval after moving for her father’s medical treatment. Alone and desperate, she calls out for help, but ominous events unfold, making her fear a malevolent force has invaded her family.

Death and its impedance make us desperate to hold onto those we love, with dire consequences. 

​Starring: Ruth Wilson, Ben Chaplin, Lucinda Lee Dawson Gray, Allan Corduner

Hoodwitch – Written by Saïd Belktibia, Louis Penicaut and Directed by Saïd Belktibia

​Nour makes a living from smuggling exotic animals and illicit products (birds of prey, venom, rare roots, etc.). Wishing to get her son out of the city and offer him a better future, she designs and develops a mobile app that connects clients and marabouts. It’s a success, but a patient’s consultation turns into a tragedy and Nour has to face a wave of violence that could cost her and her son their lives.

​Starring: Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant, Jérémy Ferrari, Amine Zariouhi, Issaka Sawadogo

Hunting Daze – Written and Directed by Annick Blanc

​Nina, a bold exotic dancer, gets stranded up North and persuades five men on a bachelor hunting trip to host her temporarily. Amid the comical and philosophical dynamics of their masculine microsociety, she experiences an unexpected sense of belonging. However, the arrival of a mysterious stranger alters the course of their improvised holiday in this raw and dreamlike tale, blending humor, horror, the uncanny, and the sensual.

​Starring: Nahéma Ricci, Bruno Marcil, Frédéric Millaire-Zouvi, Marc Beaupré, Alexandre Landry, Maxime Genois, Noubi Ndiaye

Immaculate – Written by Andrew Lobel and Directed by Michael Mohan

​Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

​Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Dora Romano, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli, Simona Tabasco

It’s What’s Inside – Written and Directed by Greg Jardin

​A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase.

​Lots of marriage mayhem on this list and we love to get messy.

​Starring: Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Devon Terrell, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden, David Thompson

Kryptic – Written by Paul Bromley and Directed by Kourtney Roy

​Kryptic is a psycho-thriller about a woman’s search for a missing monster hunter and her growing realization that she is inescapably linked to the creature being pursued.

​Starring: Chloe Pirrie, Jeff Gladstone, Jason Deline, Ali Rusu-Tahir, Christina Meredith Lewall, Patti Allen, Pam Kearns, Jennifer Copping

The Moogai – Written and Directed by Jon Bell

​Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, give birth to their second baby. But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. Fergus, who can’t see it but desperately wants to believe her, grows increasingly worried as she becomes more unbalanced. Is the child-stealing spirit real or is she in fact the biggest threat to the safety of their family?

​Starring: Shari Sebbens, Meyne Wyatt, Tessa Rose, Clarence Ryan, Toby Leonard Moore, Bella Heathcote

Oddity – Written and Directed by Damian McCarthy  

​In this new supernatural spectacle from “Caveat’s” Damian McCarthy, a blind medium uncovers the truth behind her sister’s death with the help of a frightening wooden mannequin.

​Starring: Gwilym Lee, Carolyn Bracken, Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Steve Wall, Jonathan French, Joe Rooney

Sew Torn – Written and Directed by Freddy Macdonald

​Barbara Duggen, ‘The Mobile Seamstress’, is struggling to keep her fabric shop alive. After a botched sewing appointment sets her on a quest to replace her client’s lost button, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Faced with two downed motorcyclists, guns, and a briefcase – Barbara is completely torn. She is forced to pick between three choices: commit the perfect crime, call the police, or drive away.

​Starring: Eve Connolly, Calum Worthy, John Lynch, K Callan, Ron Cook, Thomas Douglas, Werner Biermeier, Veronika Herren-Wenger, Caroline Goodall

Timestalker – Written and Directed by Alice Lowe

​Agnes, an ill-fated heroine, repeatedly falls for the wrong man, meets a grim demise, and reincarnates a century later to restart the cycle. A tale of messy thrills and spills, it explores the challenges of following one’s heart, or perhaps, one’s desires. 

​If Lowe’s Prevenge (2016) tells us anything about longing, lost love and the absolute pain embodied, we can imagine how Timestalker is going to toy with our emotions.

​Starring: Alice Lowe, Jacob Anderson, Aneurin Barnard, Tanya Reynolds, Nick Frost

Monkey Man – Written by Paul Angunawela,  John Collee, Dev Patel

Directed by Dev Patel

​An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.

​The trailer threw us into an absolute tizzy and there’s no Dev like action Dev…we hope. We’re stoked to be seated for this!

​Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte,, Makarand Deshpande

Dead Mail – Written and Directed by Joe DeBoer, Kyle McConaghy 

​On a desolate, Midwestern county road, a bound man crawls towards a remote postal box, managing to slide a blood-stained plea-for-help message into the slot before a panicking figure closes in behind him. The note makes its way to the county post office and onto the desk of Jasper, a seasoned and skilled “dead letter” investigator, responsible for investigating lost mail and returning it to its sender. As he investigates further, Jasper meets Trent, a strange yet unassuming man who has taken up residence at the men’s home where Jasper lives. When Trent unexpectedly shows up at Jasper’s office, it becomes clear he has a vested interest in the note, and will stop at nothing to retrieve it.

​Starring: Sterling Macer, Jr., John Fleck, Susan Priver, Micki Jackson, Nick Heyman, Tomas Boykin

Things Will Be Different – Written and Directed by Michael Felker

​In order to escape police after a robbery, two estranged siblings lay low in a farmhouse that hides them away at a different time. There they reckon with a mysterious force that pushes their familial bonds to unnatural breaking points.

​Starring: Adam David Thompson, Riley Dandy, Chloe Skoczen, Justin Benson, Sarah Bolger, Jori Lynn Felker

Desert Road – Written and Directed by Shannon Triplett

​A woman crashes her car and walks down the road for help – only to find no matter which way she walks she ends up back at her crashed car again.

Starring: Kristine Froseth, Frances Fisher, Beau Bridges, Ryan Hurst, D.B. Woodside, Max Mattern, Ratchel Dratch, Edwin Garcia II

I Saw the TV Glow – Written and Directed by Jane Schoenbrun

​Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.

​If the accolades for this film tell you anything, it’s a must-see that’ll push you headlong into nostalgia, heartbreak, truth and love….not to mention kick-ass SciFi and a bit of body horror.

Starring: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst

Check out our daily coverage from SXSW in March!!

Mo Moshaty is a horror writer, lecturer and producer. As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and life long horror fan, Mo has lectured with Prairie View A&M Film & TV Program as a Keynote, BAFSS Horror Studies Sig  and The University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Mo has partnered with horror giant, Shudder Channel, to co-produce the 13 Minutes of Horror Film Festival 2021 and 2022 with Nyx Horror Collective and her literary work “Love the Sinner” was published with Brigid’s Gate Press in July of 2023 and her two volume collection, “Clairviolence: Tales of Tarot and Torment Vol. One and Two” will be published in 2025
Mo is the creator and Editor-in-Chief of NightTide Magazine and Founder of Mourning Manor Media