M. Night Shyamalan’s latest psychological thriller is so preposterous it makes “ The Front Room ,” my pick for the dumbest horror movie of 2024, look like “The Shining.” But unlike “The Front Room,” “Trap” takes itself very unseriously — God, I hope it does — and watching it was the most fun I had at a horror movie this year.

From new entries in beloved franchises to stories that aren’t afraid to put a spotlight on tough topics, there is so much to look back on fondly, even if that walk down memory lane is littered with body parts and jump scares we’re still recovering from.