The best psychological thrillers
There is nothing I enjoy more than a thriller that messes with my head. I’ve compiled a list of what I consider to be the best in psychological thrillers.
Fear (1999)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Rent Prime
Why I love this movie
Fear has a superior cast of Reese Whitherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, and Alyssa Milano all in the beginning of their careers which adds some fun for the viewers. It’s the story of an obsessive bad-boy boyfriend and an overbearing dad, both staking their claim over Reese’s character, Nicole. It will leave you on the edge of your seat, and possibly screaming at the characters to wise up.
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu
Why I love this movie
In many ways Sleeping with Enemy has the same formula that many-run of the mill Lifetime movies about a woman escaping an abusive relationship-have (and don’t get me wrong, I love those movies). So what sets it apart? A young Julia Roberts, who is mesmerizing to watch on screen before she’s hit her height of fame.
Identity (2003)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu
Why I love this movie
The best part of any psychological thriller is the twist, and this movie delivers on a twist like none other. It also earns the ‘psychological’ part of the genre more than any other film on this list. A slew of characters are trapped in a motel over night with an escaped convict on the loose. The movie gets interesting when you realize the convict isn’t the most dangerous guest at the motel.
Double Jeopardy (1999)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Netflix
Why I love this movie
This is almost too obvious of a choice, it is the definition of psychological thriller, and if you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for? It has one of the best twists imaginable and still that is not the best part of the movie. I won’t give anything away about the plot because the twist happens pretty early on but do yourself a favor and either – watch this if you haven’t seen it yet, or re-watch it, because yes it’s that good.
Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu, Prime (Free)
Why I love this movie
I prefer this film to the original 1962 version, though they are both fantastic watches. It successfully combines a lot of components you don’t usually get in these types of movies: war, politics, brain washing, and conspiracy. It’s my favorite Denzel Washington film and a bonus to see him act beside Meryl Streep.
Mr. Brooks (2004)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Rent Prime
Why I love this movie
If you’re like me and have a fascination with serial killers or psychopaths, this movie gives you a glimpse into what makes them tick. It also plays on the theory that very successful people are psychopaths. It does an excellent job of first person character narration throughout the film, which allows the viewer to uncover the mystery through Kevin Costner’s character, Earl’s, eyes.
The Bone Collector (1999)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu, Prime (free), STARZ
Why I love this movie
If you like shows like Law and Order you will like this film. It’s a great mystery/crime story centered around detectives (Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington) with strong personalities and twists along the way.
Unbreakable (2000)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu
Why I love this movie
I am a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan, and I consider Unbreakable to be the best and most underrated of all his films. It’s somewhat of a cult classic, and that’s why I believe he made the follow up nearly 20 years later.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu, Prime (free), HBO Max
Why I love this movie
One of the creepiest psychological thrillers of all time, Matt Damon’s portrayal of Tom Ripley is masterful. Set against a beautiful Italian seaside landscape, The Talented Mr. Ripley tells the story of obsession and jealousy going to far for a con artist. There’s no excuse to skip this one.
What Lies Beneath (2000
Categories: Psychological thriller
Hulu, Prime (Free)
Why I love this movie
The late 1990’s early 2000’s really knew how to make a good psychological thriller and this 2000 film is no exception. It paints a beautiful life and marriage between Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford’s characters, Claire and Norman, but soon we find that something sinister is happening in their home. I love a movie that causes the viewer to question if the heroine is losing their mind or if something happening is to them. The last 20 minutes of this film is worth the entire watch, it will leave you on the edge of your seat.