Not everyone is a fan of scary movies, but for those who are, there is no shortage of excellent thrillers to keep boredom at bay. Psychological thrillers especially are guaranteed to keep you up at night even if they’re not full of blood and guts. We’ve made a list of five that you just can’t miss.
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We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
One of the subtle yet disturbing aspects of We Need to Talk About Kevin is the inner conflict faced by Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton) as she watches her son (Kevin) grow. Is Kevin just an eccentric kid, or is there something more sinister beneath the surface? The film does an excellent job of highlighting the classic fears of parents: what if there’s something wrong with my child? If there is, is it my fault? This adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s novel strikes the perfect balance between mundane family life and the visceral fear lurking beneath the surface.
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The Baby (1973)
Some of the best horrors and thrillers were made in the 1970s. The Baby, directed by Ted Post (of The Twilight Zone), is a cult classic that explores a dysfunctional family’s treatment of “Baby” – a diaper-wearing adult who behaves like a two-year-old. A concerned social worker uncovers disturbing secrets about Baby and puts her own life at risk in the process.
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Black Swan (2010)
Darren Aronofsky’s ballet-themed thriller is reminiscent of his 2000 masterpiece Requiem for a Dream as it chronicles a character’s steady descent into a nightmarish psychosis. Natalie Portman plays Nina Sayers, an aspiring ballerina who lands the leading part in Swan Lake but finds herself grappling with insecurity and paranoia. Aronofsky’s film is a combination of anxiety, jealousy, isolation and obsession that makes viewers question their own grip on reality.
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Misery (1990)
This film tells the story of author Paul Sheldon who, after being injured in an accident and stranded in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere, finds himself being cared for by Annie Wilkes, one of the only people living nearby.
Annie, a nurse, happens to be a fan of Sheldon’s work and has the same enthusiasm over Sheldon’s writing that millions of people have for AUS sports betting sites. He gives her a sneak peek at the first chapter of his latest book – inadvertently triggering a series of nightmarish events. Before long he finds himself at the mercy of his rescuer, instead of being nursed back to health.
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The Machinist (2004)
People who haven’t watched The Machinist might have seen the disconcerting photographs of an emaciated Christian Bale floating around online. His extreme physical transformation was very effective in drawing attention to Brad Anderson’s dark thriller, which portrays a fictional machinist’s descent into a horrifying madness. Trevor Reznik (Bale) battles with insomnia and nagging guilt after being involved in an accident that injured a fellow worker. Things are not as simple as they seem, however, and it becomes evident that there is another layer to Reznik’s tortured existence.
There are hundreds of other psychological thrillers to watch, but these are a few of the best to get your teeth into if you haven’t already done so.