My initial experience of I Saw the TV Glow was actually similar to yours: I liked it a good deal on first watch, but as We're All Going to the World's Fair is one of my favorite movies, Schoenbrun's follow up was always going to be at a disadvantage. But I rewatched TV Glow about a month ago, and it ended up my #13 on the year.

As for Gazer, it's admittedly not primarily a horror film, but has enough terror and surreal imagery and atmosphere that I think it qualifies.

Starting with the best: The Substance, I Saw the TV Glow, Gazer (still playing festivals), Late Night with the Devil, Nosferatu, In A Violent Nature, Strange Darling, Longlegs, A Quiet Place: Day One, The First Omen.

This year was great for showing that less conventional horror films can really make a splash, both in the online conversation and at the box office.

Note that Oddity was directed by Damian Mc Carthy. The Monkey is being directed by Osgood Perkins, who did Longlegs in 2024.