Movies are considered a form of media for escapism and enjoyment. However, psychological thrillers are one of the most subversive types of cinema. They allow viewers to view the psyche of the actors and the tenuous grasp on reality that one takes for granted. Foreboding, moody, dark, and grimy are some words associated with such movies. Over the years, acclaimed directors have offered viewers iconic movies. Here’s a list of 20 such films.
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1. The Silence of the Lambs
Directed by Jonathan Demme, The Silence of the Lambs is a gritty psychological horror-thriller, the first horror film to win a Best Picture Academy award. The highly influential film includes many memorable scenes. An FBI trainee, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), takes the help of a genius but cannibalistic psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), to find a gruesome serial killer. From the performances to the direction, the movie is one of the finest films in the genre.
2. Cure
Starring Koji Yakusho and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Cure is a neo-noir Japanese psychological horror-thriller that revolves around a detective (Koji) who investigates a series of murders where an X is marked into the neck of the victims. Even though the murderer is found near the crime scene, he or she cannot remember why he or she was killed. The hypnotic movie has an uneasy atmosphere and features a mysterious drifter named Mamiya. The movie is a cult classic and is a must-watch.
3. Cape Fear (1991)
A remake of the 1962 film and based on a novel by John D. MacDonald, Cape Fear is a psychological thriller starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. Directed by Martin Scorsese, his rendition was widely acclaimed for its performances and gripping atmosphere. The film revolves around a convicted rapist who believes that he was jailed due to the faulty tactics of his public defender. He decides to read about the law and seek vengeance upon himself and his family.
4. The Lighthouse
Starring Robert Pattinson and William Dafoe, The Lighthouse is a psychological horror-thriller directed by Robert Eggers and has received much praise. The movie defies genres and revolves around two lighthouse keepers in the 19th century, isolated at a remote New England outpost by a storm and beginning to experience strange incidents. Inspired by an unfinished tale of Edgar Allan Poe, the movie is shot in black-and-white and includes compelling performances by the lead duo.
5. The Shining
Based on a Stephen King novel and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the Shining is a psychological horror-thriller starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. A celebrated movie, it revolves around an aspiring novelist (Nicholson) who takes his family to an isolated hotel and descends into insanity under the influence of the mysterious hotel. The movie left a lasting impact on psychological and horror films. Watch this for the unsettling direction of Kubrick, memorable performances, and gripping score.
6. Vertigo
Starring James Stewart and based on a novel by Boileau-Narcejac, Vertigo is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It’s about a police detective (Stewart) who fears heights and has vertigo due to a past incident. He is asked to report the strange behavior of a friend’s wife. Known for his mastery of the genre, Hitchcock employed a camera effect that highlighted disorientation. Even though the movie had a mixed response, it is now considered one of the greatest films.
7. Mulholland Drive
Directed by David Lynch and starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, Mulholland Drive is a neo-noir psychological thriller revolving around an aspiring actress (Watts) who becomes friends with an amnesiac (Harring) and begins to experience strange events. Lynch is known for his penchant for psychological thrillers and incorporates surrealist elements to present the story in a non-linear manner, heightening the mystery. The movie has a stirring finale that makes it a must-watch.
8. Misery
Directed by Rob Reiner and based on a novel by Stephen King, Misery is a psychological horror-thriller starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. The story is about an obsessive fan (Bates) who holds an author (Caan) hostage and forces him to rewrite the finale of his novels. The film drew widespread acclaim, and Bates’ performance even won her an Oscar. Even Stephen King praised the adaptation and the movie’s tense and claustrophobic atmosphere, making it a must-watch.
9. Donnie Darko
Directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is a sci-fi psychological thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The film’s unique premise centers around a teenage boy (Jake) who is emotionally troubled and escapes an accident due to sleepwalking. He begins to see a mysterious rabbit figure, who tells him the precise time the world will end. Even though the film had an initially lukewarm response, it is now considered a cult classic. The meticulous direction and philosophical outlook make it a must-see.
10. American Psycho
Based on a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is a satirical psychological horror-thriller directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale. The movie is about an investment banker in New York City (Bale) who is also a serial killer. The movie is a comment upon yuppie culture and over-consumerism. Bale’s performance was praised, and his character has since become a pop culture staple. The movie is a cult classic and enjoys a loyal fan base.
11. Black Swan
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan is a psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman and revolves around a ballet dancer, Nina (Portman), who wants to star in the production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Better suited for the role of the White Swan, she begins to crumble under pressure as another dancer vies for the role of the Black Swan. A major critical and commercial success, the movie was praised for its direction, performances, and themes of reality and imagination.
12. Duel
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson and directed by Steven Spielberg, Duel is a psychological action-thriller starring Dennis Weaver. Matheson also wrote the screenplay, and it revolves around a traveling salesman (Weaver) who encounters a terrifying unseen driver of a semi-truck that begins to chase him through rural California. The movie is a cult classic and brought Spielberg to prominence, getting praised for his direction.
13. Shutter Island
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is a neo-noir psychological thriller based on a novel by Dennis Lehane. The movie is about a Deputy US Marshal (Leonardo) who comes to the psychiatric facility of Shutter Island and begins an investigation after a patient goes missing. The film received positive reviews and has a twist ending that makes it memorable. Themes include illusion versus reality, guilt, and grief, which make it an impactful watch.
14. Seven
Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, Seven is a famous psychological thriller that revolves around a serial killer who murders people based on the Biblical seven deadly sins. Freeman plays the role of an almost-retired detective lieutenant, and Pitt essays the role of his newly-transferred partner. The movie was widely acclaimed, even though it had violent content and revitalized Fincher’s career. It has since inspired many shows and films with its aesthetic.
15. Single White Female
Based on a novel by John Lutz, Single White Female is a psychological thriller starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Directed by Barbet Schroeder, the movie is about an estranged woman, Allison (Fonda), who rents her apartment to Hedra (Leigh) and begins to notice strange behavior in her flatmate after she reconciles her relationship. The movie received mixed reviews from critics but did well among audiences. It now enjoys cult status.
16. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and others, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a psychological horror-thriller. Incorporating absurdist elements, the movie is about a surgeon (Farrell) who brings a teenage boy to his family, after which the family members fall ill. The movie also explores the past connection between the doctor and the young boy. Receiving positive reviews for the direction, cinematography, and performances, the movie is an engaging watch.
17. Predestination
Based on a short story by Robert A. Heinlein and directed by The Spierig Brothers, Predestination, is an Australian sci-fi thriller starring Ethan Hawke. The movie is about an agent who travels back in time to stop a bomb attack from happening in New York City in 1975. But his search for the attacker leads him down a spiraling path of secrets and conspiracies. The movie received good reviews and has a lot of twists and turns.
18. Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl is a psychological thriller based on a novel by Gillian Flynn and stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The story is about the relationship between Nick (Ben) and Amy (Rosamund), who don’t have a happy marriage. As Nick has an affair with a student and the marriage starts to crumble, Amy goes missing suddenly, shifting all the focus to Nick. The movie was a success, and Pike’s performance was universally acclaimed, a must-watch.
19. Jacob’s Ladder
Directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Tim Robbins, Jacob’s Ladder is a psychological thriller revolving around a postman, Jacob (Tim), who experiences bizarre visions due to his military service in Vietnam. The movie plays on themes of reality vs illusion and presents a grainy backdrop that heightens the unsettling atmosphere. As Jacob’s condition worsens, the movie presents an unnerving portrait of a disturbed psyche. The movie gained cult status years after its release and inspired other movies.
20. The Babadook
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Directed by Jennifer Kent, The Babadook is an Australian psychological horror-thriller based on Kent’s short film. Starring Essie Davis and others, the film is about a widowed mother who is haunted with her son, by a mysterious humanoid figure in her house. Even though the movie has horror, it also includes topics about paranoia, which are psychological. The movie gained widespread acclaim and is praised for its themes of parenting and grief. The movie is considered a cult classic.
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