Fortress of Solitude
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Anime
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Win
No Result
View All Result
POPULAR
  • DC
  • Marvel
  • Superman
  • Batman
  • Star Wars
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
  • Netflix
  • Predator: Killer of Killers
FOLLOW US
Newsletter
Fortress of Solitude
FORTRESS
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Predator: Killer of Killers
  • DC
  • Marvel
  • Superman
  • Batman
  • Star Wars
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
  • Netflix
Home Movies Movie News

The Creepiest Movie of 2024 Wasn’t in Theatres—But It’ll Haunt You

Why is no one screaming about 2024’s creepiest horror movie? The Devil’s Bath on Shudder might be the year’s scariest hidden gem.

Tito PernaletebyTito Pernalete
April 10, 2025
0
the-devils-bath-shudder-horror-movie-best-2024

Image Credit: Shudder

If there’s something great about streaming platforms becoming mainstream, that would be the demystification of indie films. It used to be borderline impossible to track down some of the more obscure independent releases – which just so happen to be some of the most genuinely gripping flicks you can watch. The Devil’s Bath is a prime example.

This unrelenting plunge into 18th-century crime drama never saw the inside of a multiplex, but its absence from theaters only amplifies its spectral aura. Just imagine my surprise when I came across this mesmerizing movie on Shudder. The first thing that catches the eye is how “artistic” the movie looks. After a while, flipping through countless bloody posters and gory titles, movies like The Devil’s Bath become even more captivating at face value.

the devil's bath
Image Credit: Shudder

Loosely adapted from Kathy Stuart’s harrowing academic work Suicide by Proxy in Early Modern Germany, and the real-life criminal trials of women like Agnes Catherina Schickin and Eva Lizlfellnerin, the movie transforms historical horror into a visceral, slow-burn nightmare, the kind that any fan of A24’s deliberate and methodical horror flicks would enjoy.

Agnes, our doomed protagonist, isn’t stalked by monsters or ghosts; her tormentors are the suffocating expectations of piety, duty, and a society that treats her existence as collateral. Pair the emotional drama with the incredibly haunting cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, and what you get is a more somber and visceral retelling of Midsommar.

One of the most unnerving things about The Devil’s Bath is its refusal to sanitize history. The film’s directors, Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, deploy a stark, almost anthropological lens to frame Agnes’s unraveling psyche. Every candlelit prayer, every hollow marital exchange, every sidelong glance from her husband’s family feels like a brick in the coffin of her autonomy.

If Franz and Fiala’s names sound familiar to you, then, congratulations: you’re a verified horror hound. In 2014, they worked on the unsettling Goodnight Mommy; here, they further weaponize their clinical emotional detachment to create a story that feels both surreal and utterly human. This isn’t horror as escapism; it’s horror as a mirror, reflecting the rot of systemic oppression that still lingers today.

the-devils-bath-shudder-horror-movie
Image Credit: Shudder

And then, there’s the audio. It’s a bit disappointing that movies like these don’t make it to theaters, but seeing the chaos that erupts each time Jack Black says “Chicken Jockey” in theaters, there’s a certain respite in knowing we can still enjoy movies like The Devil’s Bath in a more intimate ambiance. With a pair of good headphones, you’ll notice the true genius of the film’s soundscape, with Franz and Fiala denying viewers cathartic jump scares or grandiose violence, weaponizing the silence instead.

By the time the film’s grotesque climax arrives, you realize the horror was there all along, simmering in the mundane. It’s bloody, sure, but the gore feels real in a way that only a handful of horror films can capture. The story of Agnes’s downfall is a cautionary tale, but one that leaves behind lingering questions and haunting images that are sure to stay with you for a good while – even if you watch the film on your phone’s screen. Sorry, David Lynch, but that’s just how things are sometimes.

RELATED: The Most Twisted Horror Film You Can Watch Tonight (You’ve Been Warned)

YouTube video
Tags: Horror
ShareTweetShareSend

About the Author: Tito Pernalete

Tito Pernalete is a Venezuelan writer, movie buff, and lifelong geek with a love for sci-fi, tech, and all things weird and wonderful. When he’s not slaying bosses in Elden Ring or rewatching RoboCop for the 100th time, he’s dreaming of Japan or diving into '80s horror classics.

Related Posts

Best Horror Movies No One's Heard Of
Movie Lists

The Top 10 Best Horror Movies No One’s Heard Of But Should Definitely Watch

July 4, 2025
m3gan 2.0 movie review
Movie Reviews

M3GAN 2.0 Movie Review – The Dancing Queen Returns in a Fun But Shallow Sequel

creep-netflix-horror-movie-mark-duplass
Movie Lists

26 Must-Watch Horror Movies on Netflix To Watch This Weekend

June 20, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MOST READ

James-Gunn-DCU-superheroes
Movie News

James Gunn Reveals The DC’s First Black Female Superhero Is Coming

June 30, 2025
superman 2025
Movie News

A Film Pundit Claims James Gunn’s Superman Is a Mess

June 28, 2025
Ed Boon Mortal Kombat 2 Karl Urban Johnny Cage
Movie News

Ed Boon Says Mortal Kombat 2 ‘Nailed It’

June 28, 2025
Michael Bay New Transformers Movie Sequel
Movie News

Michael Bay Is Back With A New Transformers Movie Sequel

June 27, 2025
Fortress of Solitude

© 2025 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

More about Fortress of Solitude

  • About Us
  • Contact Fortress of Solitude
  • Work With Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Sign Up For Our Newsletter
  • Publishing Principles
  • Ethics Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Ownership
  • Privacy Policy & Site Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
  • MOVIES
    • Movie Features
    • Movie Lists
    • Movie News
    • Movie Reviews
  • TV
    • TV Features
    • TV Lists
    • TV News
    • TV Series Reviews
  • ANIME
    • Anime Features
    • Anime Lists
  • COMICS
    • Comic Features
    • Comic Lists
  • GAMING
    • Gaming Features
    • Gaming Lists
    • Gaming News
    • Game Reviews
  • TECH
    • Tech Features
    • Tech News
    • Tech Reviews
  • INTERVIEWS
  • WEB STORIES
  • ABOUT US
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Ownership
    • Work With Us
  • WIN

© 2025 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.