One of the film genres with the greatest appeal to the general public is undoubtedly the psychological thriller . These films require total involvement on the part of the public who often launches into conjectures and hypotheses about how psychological thrillers can evolve in the course of their development.
Among psychological thriller films to watch , there are undoubtedly recent titles, such as The Invisible Man with Elizabeth Moss , but also older titles, which have stood the test of time, such as the timeless What Happened to Baby Jane? by Robert Aldrich with the extraordinary and disturbing Bette Davis .
In the list below you will find the best psychological thrillers we have seen in the cinema over time, and by browsing the article you will have the opportunity to have a list of psychological films on hand to watch comfortably at home.
The Invisible Man by Leigh Whannell (2020)
Among the best psychological thriller movies of 2020 The Invisible Manis the film written and directed by Leigh Whannell and a modern adaptation of the novel The Invisible Man by HG Wells, as well as a reboot of the 1933 adaptation of the same name, a true cult film. In the film entangled in an abusive and manipulative relationship with a rich and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the middle of the night by losing track of her, with the help of her sister (Harriet Dyer), a friend of theirs. childhood (Aldis Hodge) and the latter’s teenage daughter (Storm Reid). But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) commits suicide and bequeaths a large part of her vast fortune, Cecilia suspects her death is just a show. As a series of disturbing coincidences become lethal and threaten the lives of those she loves,
The Lighthouse di Robert Egger (2019)
One of the most talked about titles recently, certainly one of the most interesting psychological thriller films of 2019 is The Lighthouse written and directed by Robert Egger, former director of the highly acclaimed horror The Witch . Presented on May 19, 2019 at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in the Directors’ Fortnight the film tells of Ephraim Winslow who goes to a remote island off the coast of New England to work a month as a lighthouse keeper, under supervision by the elderly and short-tempered caretaker, Thomas Wake. In his quarters, Winslow discovers a hidden mermaid figurine that he decides to keep to himself. Wake assigns the young man hard work and however categorically forbids him to access the summit, where the light comes from.
Mike Flanagan’s Gerald’s Game (2017)
Among the best psychological thriller movies on Netflix Mike Flanagan ‘s Gerald ‘s game was released in 2017 directed by Mike Flanagan , well-known director of the genre, in fact they are his moderately successful thriller / horror films such as Oculus – The reflection of evil, Hush – The terror of silence and the Ouija series . He also created and directed the first season of The Haunting of Hill House , the hugely successful Netflix series. Distributed worldwide by the streaming giant on September 29, 2017 Gerald’s gametells Jessie that as she tries to spice up their marriage in their remote lake home, she must fight to survive when her husband unexpectedly dies, leaving her handcuffed to the bed frame. The protagonists of the film are Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood .
Sacrifice of the Sacred Deer by Yorgos Lanthimos (2017)
Accaldatissimp in 2017 at the Cannes Film Festival where he won the Prix du scénario (award for Best Screenplay), The sacrifice of the sacred deeris a film that incorporates elements of the Greek myth of the sacrifice of Iphigenia. In the movie Steven (Colin Farrell) is a famous cardiothoracic surgeon. Together with his wife Anna (Nicole Kidman) and their two children, Kim (Raffey Cassidy) and Bob (Sunny Suljic), he lives a happy and fulfilling life. One day Steven befriends Martin (Barry Keoghan), a lonely 16-year-old who has recently lost his father, and decides to take him under his wing. When the boy is introduced to the family, all of a sudden, more and more disturbing events begin to occur, which progressively put their whole world in turmoil, forcing Steven to make a shocking sacrifice in order not to run the risk of losing everything.
Get Out by Jordan Peele (2017)
Perhaps the most successful psychology thriller film of recent years, both with audiences and critics, is Escape – Get Out written, directed and co-produced by Jordan Peele . Opera prima which managed to obtain four Oscar nominations in 2017, has grossed more than 175 million in the United States alone and almost 77 million in the rest of the world, for a total of more than 252 million dollars. In Scappa – Get Outat Universal Pictures, a young African-American visits his white girlfriend’s family estate where he encounters the real motive behind the invitation. Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have arrived at their fateful meeting with their in-laws, she invites him to spend a weekend up north with Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean (Bradley Whitford). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as an attempt to manage their embarrassment about their daughter’s interracial relationship; but as time passes, he makes a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries, which lead him to a truth he could never have imagined.
Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Successful fashion designer Tom Ford returns behind the camera in 2016 with Nocturnal Animals , the second film after A Single Man . Presented at the 73rd Venice Film Festival, the film tells the story of a woman (Amy Adams) named Susan who receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, a man she left 20 years before her, asking her opinion of her. The book then follows two stories: the story in the novel, entitled Nocturnal Animal, which tells of a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose family vacation becomes violent and deadly; and the story of Susan, who finds herself remembering her first marriage and facing some dark truths about herself.
Green Room di Jeremy Saulnier (2015)
Released in 2015 and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Green Room was presented in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival. An unfortunate punk band accepts an offer to play at a rural Oregon club before closing the tour. When they arrive at the venue, they are troubled by the large neo-Nazi presence, but still decide to go on with their concert. At the end of the performance they retire to the backstage room, but behind the scenes they discover the corpse of a young woman on the floor and the neo-Nazis standing above her. Fearing that the band might contact the authorities, the gang holds them hostage while their leader (Patrick Stewart) tries to think of a solution to this difficult situation.
Prisoners by Denis Villeneuve (2013)
The film that brought world attention to director Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners is the box office hit and stars Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. In the film Keller Dover ( Hugh Jackman) is facing a parent’s worst nightmare. Six-year-old daughter, Anna, disappears along with her friend Joy and as the minutes turn into hours, panic takes over. Leading the investigation is Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) who arrests the owner of a suspicious camper. However, the lack of evidence forces him to release him. As the police follow several leads, the pressure builds and knowing that her daughter’s life is at stake, Dover, now out of his mind, decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.
The Secret of His Eyes by Juan José Campanella (2009)
The secret of his eyes known by the original name El secreto de sus ojos is the hugely successful 2009 Artentino film that won the best foreign film award at the 2010 Oscars. The film is about a retired legal counsel who writes a novel hoping to find a conclusion for one of his previous unsolved murder cases and his unconditional love with his superior, both of which still haunt him decades later.
The Sleepless Man with Christina Bale (2004)
Directed by Brad Anderson The Machinist, the original title of The Sleepless Man is the film that marks one of Christian Bale’s most incredible acting performances. For this film Bale has profoundly transformed his body, losing about twenty-five kilos of weight and coming to weigh only fifty-four. In the film An Industrial Worker Who Has Not Sleeps for a Year He begins to doubt his own sanity.
Old Boy by Park Chan-Wook (2003)
Based on the manga of the same name by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya, the film won the Special Jury Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and is part of the director’s revenge trilogy, started in 2002 by Mr. Vendetta and concluded in 2005 by Lady Vendetta . . In Old Boy Oh Dae-su on his daughter’s fourth birthday, after being released by the police (who had arrested him for drunkenness), he is kidnapped. The man wakes up and discovers that he is locked up in a small and squalid cell-apartment, from which it is impossible to escape: it is equipped with a bed, a bathroom and an old TV with few channels.
Lost Roads by David Lynch (1997)
One of David Lynch’s most successful films Lost Roads is the surreal crime story written by the director with Barry Gifford. In the Anonymous Videocassette they portend the conviction for murder of a musician and the girlfriend of a gangster leads a mechanic astray.
Seven by David Fincher (1995)
Released in 1995 Seven is the cult film directed by David Fincher and starring an exceptional cast composed of Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey. The film has long been considered a true masterpiece of the genre and tells the story William Somerset is a wise and elderly policeman who, about a week after retirement, is joined by the impulsive and instinctive young David Mills, destined to replace him. The two in those days end up running into a heinous crime, in fact they are called to the scene of a heinous crime, which has as its victim an obese man who was forced to overeat until his death. Somerset from the characteristics of the crime senses that they are faced with a case out of the ordinary that will lead them to chase a ruthless serial killer.
Bryan Singer’s Usual Suspects (1995)
Winner of two Oscars in 1996 The Usual Suspects is the film directed by the then young Bryan Singer, considered one of the best thrillers of all time. The film was screened out of competition at the 48th Cannes Film Festival. In the film, the only survivor of an ambiguous vicenta recounts the tortuous events that led to a horrific firefight on a boat, which began when five criminals bump into a handful of policemen in a seemingly random manner.
What happened to Baby Jane? by Robert Aldrich (1962)
1962 psychological thriller directed by Robert Aldrich and based on the novel What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell (1960) presented in competition at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for five Academy Awards. It is part of the 63rd place on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Thrills list established by the American Film Institute.
The film tells of little Jane Hudson, a child prodigy who, thanks to her beauty and singing skills, performs in the vaudeville theaters of the United States of America together with her father, who, in addition to being her manager, accompanies as a pianist on stage. The success is such that the Baby Jane Hudson porcelain doll is even created; the dolls sell out and Baby Jane soon assumes the attitude of a spoiled and capricious star, treating everyone, and particularly her shy older sister Blanche, in a haughty and contemptuous way.
Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island (2010)
The film is the 2010 thriller directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese and is based on the 2003 novel Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. In the film In 1954, an American marshal investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for criminally insane. The cast stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer and Max von Sydow.
Gone Girl by David Fincher (2014)
Other Title of director David Fincher , already present in this list with Seven . The film is based on the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the script for the film. Gone Girl – lying lovetells a convulsive journey through modern media culture and along the deep, dark fractures of an American marriage, with all its false promises, inevitable deceptions and dark humor. At the center of the story is former New York writer Nick Dunne and his wife and ex-girlfriend of his dreams, Amy, trying to make ends meet in the mid-recession in the American Midwest. Their story traces the sinuous silhouette of the life of a happily married contemporary couple. But on the fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears and that silhouette crumbles into a maze of cracks. Nick, shrouded in a haze of ambiguous behavior, becomes the prime suspect as Amy’s search runs its course in a growing media frenzy.