by Maddie Baron ‘27

Over the past few years, teens have moved away from old-school horror movies filled with jump scares and monsters. Instead, they’re turning toward psychological horror, which focuses more on the mind than on gore. A big reason for this change is the film company A24, which has built a reputation for making horror movies that are deeper, smarter, and often scarier in a lasting way. The indie film company, headquartered in New York City, has produced numerous popular movies within this genre, such as Midsommar, Hereditary, and Talk to Me.

In the past, when people thought of horror, movies like Scream or Scary Movie usually came to mind. Those films leaned on blood, violence, and loud scares to get reactions from audiences. A24 takes a different approach. Their horror movies often deal with grief, trauma, and psychological struggles. For many teens who face stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in their own lives, this feels more real and relatable than a predictable slasher film.

Psychological horror works differently than traditional horror. Instead of shocking people with sudden scares, it builds tension slowly, using paranoia and emotional tension to keep the audience uneasy. A24 movies like The Lighthouse, It Comes at Night, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer don’t just try to scare people in the moment, they also leave viewers unsettled long after the credits roll. Even box office numbers show this trend. Movies like Smile and It, which rely heavily on psychological tension, performed better than many of the films in The Conjuring franchise. This indicates that audiences, particularly younger ones, are increasingly preferring stories that emphasize psychological depth over predictable frights.

Founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, A24 has become the face of this new wave of “elevated horror.” Its films stand out for their artistic cinematography, unusual storytelling, and sometimes even confusing endings that prompt people to think. These creative choices set them apart from traditional horror and make their movies more engaging for teens who want something beyond cheap thrills. Instead of handing out answers, these films often leave audiences with questions, which many younger viewers actually find more exciting.

Many critics argue that A24 has completely changed what horror means today. Its movies often highlight big themes like grief, identity loss, and mental instability. For example, A24’s most recent horror movie, Bring Her Back, follows two step-siblings, Andy and Piper, who are fostered by a mother grieving the death of her daughter. Crushed with grief, the foster mother, Laura, played by Sally Hawkins, attempts to kill Piper to bring her late daughter, Cathy, back, demonic ritual style. Rather than only scaring people for a moment, these stories stick in the mind because they feel closer to real life. Teens are connecting with that, since the idea of losing control of your own mind is a lot scarier than a masked villain in the dark.

It’s clear that A24 has reshaped horror for a new generation. For teens, the scariest thing isn’t a monster hiding in the shadows, it’s the thought of their own fears and emotions taking over. With psychological horror on the rise, it seems like movies that mess with the mind are here to stay, shaping the way horror will look for years to come.