Every André Øvredal Movie, Ranked

Since his directorial debut over two decades ago, André Øvredal has steadily built an impressive filmography, mostly working within the horror genre. After his first feature film, Future Murder, in 2000, the Norwegian filmmaker built a name for himself over a decade later, eventually directing popular films like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and The Last Voyage of the Demeter, with the latter hoping to find a place among the best Dracula movies of all time.

Despite working his way up to Hollywood productions, Øvredal is not yet a household name, but the signs of him becoming one are there, especially with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 2 in the works. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is by far his most famous film, earning over $104 million worldwide when it was released in 2019 (via Box Office Mojo), and the sequel has the potential to earn even more. Alongside that blossoming horror franchise, there is a lot to like in Øvredal’s filmography.

6

Future Murder (2000)

A Lackluster Debut

Directorial debuts can be hit or miss, especially when it comes to feature-length films, and unfortunately, André Øvredal’s is fairly lackluster. Released back in 2000, Future Murder follows Dr. Simon Thorne (Philippe Bergeron), a surgeon who suffers from paranoia and hallucinations. After losing his wife and job, he meets a couple who killed him in one of his dreams, so he decides that he needs to kill them first.

Future Murder has a decent premise, but it is obvious that Øvredal isn’t working with a lot in this one. Shot on an extremely low budget, the biggest sin that Future Murder commits is that it doesn’t feel like it justifies its already short runtime. Still, there are a few bright spots in the film, and Øvredal definitely has the talent to be behind the camera, but that wouldn’t truly show until 10 years later with his next feature film.

5

Mortal (2020)

A Superhero Inspired By Norse Mythology

Everything after Future Murder is a considerable step-up in André Øvredal’s filmography. Still, some are stronger than others, and Mortal from 2020 is one of his lower-key outings since he began to direct bigger projects. Inspired by Norse mythology, Mortal tells the story of a young man named Eric who begins to discover that he has extraordinary powers, setting into gear a slow-burning action thriller.

Mortal feels like Øvredal is trying his hand at the ever-popular superhero genre, with a Norwegian twist, of course. Nat Wolf stars as Eric, and gives an admirable performance alongside the rest of the talented cast. The biggest knock against Mortal is that it might be a bit too meandering, leading to moments where the pacing feels glacial, which is never a good thing for films like this. Despite that, Mortal is a beautiful-looking film with an intriguing setup.

4

The Last Voyage Of The Demeter (2023)

A New Look At The Seminal Novel

André Øvredal tries his hand at adapting one of the most influential horror novels of all time with his latest film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter. Adapting one chapter from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Last Voyage of the Demeter is about the crew of the ship Demeter that attempts to survive a voyage from Transylvania to London, while one of horror’s most iconic monsters, Dracula, stalks them throughout their journey.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a wet, bloody experience that holds no punches when it comes to the brutality of Dracula and the havoc he wreaks on the crew of the Demeter. Øvredal crafts a bone-chilling experience that is tense for most of the runtime, and beautiful all the way through. Perhaps the best aspect of The Last Voyage of the Demeter is the terrifying design of Dracula, leaning heavily into the creature aspect of the character.

3

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019)

A Strong Adaptation Of The Anthology Horror Series

Adapted from the book series of the same name and produced by Guillermo del Toro, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark follows a group of teenagers on Halloween night in the town of Mill Valley, Pennsylvania in 1968 that sneak into a haunted house and accidentally release dark forces that they have no idea how to control. With a similar vibe to It or Stranger Things, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is another impressive horror-film period piece that revolves around a group of friends.

Everything that Øvredal does well as a director is on display in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It’s beautiful to look at and Øvredal is able to build the tense atmosphere well, making it incredibly scary for a horror film that is only rated PG-13. There is a lot of unsettling imagery in this one that will linger with viewers. So much works in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and the sequel should be high on horror fans’ anticipated lists.

2

Troll Hunter (2010)

Troll Hunter was André Øvredal’s follow-up feature film after kickstarting his career 10 years earlier with Future Murder. His sophomore effort is a much better film, and should be considered one of the best in his entire filmography. Tapping into the found-footage genre, Troll Hunter follows a group of students who attempt to investigate a series of mysterious bear killings before getting caught up in troll hunting.

It’s an incredible premise and Øvredal does so much with it, crafting a superb found-footage film that is thrilling from start to finish, with a strong sense of dread and atmosphere throughout. Despite being fairly low budget, Troll Hunter is able to get the most out of its premise, and the trolls featured in the film look fantastic. It’s a spectacular film that explores rich mythology without getting lost in the minute details.

1

The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)

An Incredible, Tension-Building Horror Movie

Released in 2016, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is André Øvredal’s best film to date and a testament to the talent the Norwegian director has to offer. The movie revolves around father and son coroners who receive an unidentified corpse and soon begin to experience supernatural phenomena during their examination. The Autopsy of Jane Doe takes advantage of its strong premise and ends up being an effective piece of horror.

One of the best aspects of The Autopsy of Jane Doe is the performance of Olwen Catherine Kelly as Jane Doe, who lies motionless and dead throughout the film’s runtime. Despite it being one-note, it is an incredible performance that propels the film forward. The movie is tense and scary throughout and the atmosphere is palpable, with the setting being a particular standout. André Øvredal has made some impressive films, but The Autopsy of Jane Doe stands above the rest.