The best thrillers on Netflix right now
Thrillers are abundant on Netflix, but that doesn’t mean the streamer always has something new to show off for its subscribers. August is an unusually quiet month on that front, since only the 1997 Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt film The Devil’s Own and a more recent thriller, Arkansas, are worthwhile additions to this list. There are some other new films that are thrillers in name only, but those are better off ignored.
Thankfully, our roundup of the best thrillers on Netflix has plenty of older flicks that you can look in on throughout the month. Netflix has made quite a few original thrillers of its own, which is a good thing when the pipeline from other studios doesn’t offer anything comparable. We’ll just have to wait until September to see if some better options come along in this category.
We’ve also rounded up the best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video and the best thrillers on Hulu if Netflix doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
The Devil's Own (1997) [New]
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 107m
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Rubén Blades
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
The Devil’s Own featured a young Brad Pitt (Wolfs) as Frankie McGuire, an IRA operative who has come to America to buy stinger missiles. In order to protect his cover, Frankie pretends that he’s an Irish immigrant who needs a place to stay. NYPD Sergeant Tom O’Meara (Harrison Ford) and his family generously take Frankie in.
Over time, Frankie and Tom bond even though the former is keeping deadly secrets from the latter. Frankie has picked a very volatile place to hide, and his sins will catch up to him before he’s ready to confront Tom with the truth.
Arkansas (2020) [New]
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Clark Duke, Vince Vaughn
Directed by: Clark Duke
Clark Duke co-wrote, directed, and co-stars in Arkansas as Swin Horn, a low-level drug smuggler who is working with Kyle Ribb (Liam Hemsworth) for Frog (Vince Vaughn), a man they’ve never met. When their first assignment together gets a loyal operative, Bright (John Malkovich), killed, Swin and Kyle decide to cover up his fate to escape the blame.
The perspective changes a few times in this story, and the characters will keep you on your toes as they reveal who they really are. Kyle and Swin don’t realize how much trouble they’re in, but they’re going to find out quickly.
Vanished into the Night (2024)
IMDb: 5.2/10
Duration: 93m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Stars: Riccardo Scamarcio, Annabelle Wallis, Massimiliano Gallo
Directed by: Renato De Maria
Vanished Into the Night is an Italian thriller about a couple on the outs with each other. Pietro (Riccardo Scamarcio) and Elena (Annabelle Wallis), who are facing the impending end of their marriage, share two children, Giovanni (Lorenzo Ferrante) and Bianca (Gaia Coletti), whom they adore.
Although Pietro is trying to turn his life around, his shady past comes back to haunt him when his children are kidnapped and held for ransom. To get his kids back, Pietro has to turn to another morally questionable guy, Nico (Massimiliano Gallo). And Nico is all too eager to help … if Pietro handles a dangerous delivery for him.
American Psycho (2000)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 102m
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
Stars: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
Directed by: Mary Harron
One of the ironic things about American Psycho is that Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman absolutely hates Jared Leto’s Paul Allen. So a future Batman actor went up against a future Joker actor with their roles reversed. In this film, Bale is the one who plays a psychotic killer, while Leto’s character is Patrick’s clueless and affluent co-worker.
Once Paul goes to that big Arkham Asylum in the sky, Patrick’s killer hobby starts drawing the attention of private investigator Donald Kimbal (Nosferatu‘s Willem Dafoe). Patrick could keep the heat off of himself if he could stop murdering people and just enjoy the wealth and life of privilege that he has. But Patrick can’t stop, because this is his calling.
Captain Phillips (2013)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 134m
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Tom Hanks has a history of playing real-life people in extraordinary circumstances, as he does once again in Captain Phillips. Hanks portrays the title character, Richard Phillips, the captain of a cargo ship called the MV Maersk Alabama. In 2009, off the coast of Africa, the Alabama is attacked by pirates.
Phillips’ first officer, Shane Murphy (Michael Chernus), is able to protect himself and the rest of the crew by locking themselves in the engine room. But that leaves Phillips alone to face the pirates, including their leader, Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi). And they won’t let Phillips go without ransoming his life.
Patriots Day (2016)
Metacritic: 69%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 133m
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Peter Berg
The Boston Marathon bombing took place just over a decade ago, and the events surrounding that attack and the subsequent investigation are dramatized in Patriots Day. The main character, Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg), isn’t real because there wasn’t one person involved with so many aspects of the case. If you’re looking for a history lesson, this isn’t it.
What Patriots Day does have to offer is an increasingly intense manhunt for the two bombers, Dzhokhar (Alex Wolff) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (Themo Melikidze). And as law enforcement officials get closer to the suspects, the Tsarnaev brothers prove to be more erratic and dangerous than expected.
A Simple Favor (2018)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Comedy
Stars: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding
Directed by: Paul Feig
Anna Kendrick stars in A Simple Favor as Stephanie Smothers, a single mother who befriends the glamorous Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). Since Emily’s son, Nicky (Ian Ho), is friends with Stephanie’s son, Stephanie agrees to look after him while Emily is in Miami.
When Emily goes missing and is feared dead, Stephanie is forced to wonder what happened to her friend. She also starts an affair with Stephanie’s husband, Sean Townsend (Henry Golding). But there’s more to this murder than meets the eye, and Emily’s secrets will come back to haunt both Stephanie and Sean.
Wild Things (1998)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 115m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell
Directed by: John McNaughton
Wild Things is an ol- school erotic thriller starring Neve Campbell and Denise Richards as high school students Suzie Toller and Kelly Lanier Van Ryan, respectively. Suzie and Kelly have accused their teacher, Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon), of sexually assaulting them. But in court, their accusations fall apart.
Sergeant Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) goes against orders to continue his investigation into Sam and the two girls. As the scrutiny of the case grows, bodies start piling up. And the last person standing may walk away with a lot of money.
Miller's Girl (2024)
Metacritic: 41%
IMDb: 5.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 93m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Martin Freeman, Jenna Ortega, Bashir Salahuddin
Directed by: Jade Halley Bartlett
The majority of the online discourse around Miller’s Girl centers on the large age gap between Martin Freeman and Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega, and the power imbalance of their respective characters, Jonathan Albert Miller and Cairo Sweet. And that’s kind of the point of the whole film.
Jonathan knows that Cairo is much too young for him, and so does she. Cairo is Jonathan’s student, and pursuing anything romantic with her would be career suicide. However, Cairo just can’t resist pushing Jonathan’s buttons to provoke a response. When Jonathan doesn’t give her the answer she hoped for, Cairo’s revenge may burn his entire life to ashes.
Shot Caller (2017)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 121m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Omari Hardwick, Jon Bernthal
Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
Former Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has multiple thrillers on Netflix, but Shot Caller is the best one. Coster-Waldau plays Jacob Harlan, an ordinary stockbroker who accidentally got one of his friends killed while driving under the influence. Even a plea deal means Jacob has to go to prison. In order to survive behind bars, Jacob allows himself to become a hardened killer even though it adds years to his sentence.
When Jacob is finally released, he attempts to keep his distance from his wife, Kate Harlan (Lake Bell), and their son. But when Jacob’s criminal associates demand that he continue to work for them outside of prison, he’ll have to take matters into his own hands to protect his family.
Dark Waters (2019)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 127m
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Dark Waters is a legal thriller with a cast to die for, including Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber, and William Jackson Harper. It’s also based on the true story of Robert Bilott (Ruffalo), a lawyer who is hired by farmer Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp) to discover why his animals are dying of unusual causes.
Bilott’s investigation leads back to DuPont, the chemical manufacturer that is also one of the largest employers in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Bilott realizes that DuPont is dumping unregulated chemicals that may be making the town sick. But proving that case in court is going to be difficult, and DuPont pushes back every step of the way.
The Little Things (2021)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 128m
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Stars: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
The Little Things is a more modern Denzel Washington thriller, and he brings his usual intensity to the part of Joe “Deke” Deacon. Years ago, Deacon was a LAPD homicide detective who couldn’t break the case of a serial killer in Los Angeles. Deacon’s inability to let that go proved to be very costly both personally and professionally.
In the present, the killer apparently begins going after new victims. This time, Deacon meets Detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), a man whose drive to close this case may be as deep as Deacon’s. Former Joker Jared Leto co-stars as Albert Sparma, the man who Deacon and Baxter are convinced is behind the murders. Sparma even loves taunting them about whether he’s the killer, and there’s very little they can do within the law to stop him from killing again. But their mutual urge to take the law in their hands may come back to haunt them both.
Your Lucky Day (2023)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 89m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza
Directed by: Dan Brown
It’s the American dream to get rich without really trying. But the thriller Your Lucky Day is going to make Sterling (Angus Cloud) work for it. After hearing someone discover that he’s got a winning lottery ticket worth millions, Sterling kills the owner of the ticket and a cop who was at the scene. The big problem is that there are witnesses to Sterling’s crime: Amir (Mousa Hussein Kraish), Abraham (Elliot Knight), and his girlfriend, Ana-Marlene (Jessica Garza).
Sterling offers the survivors a share of his winnings if they help him cover up his murders. Unfortunately, it was never going to be that simple, and the money on the line is simply too enticing. There’s going to be more blood spilled before this story is over, but who will emerge with the lucky ticket?
Unthinkable (2010)
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 97m
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Sheen
Directed by: Gregor Jordan
Unthinkable puts FBI Special Agent Helen Brody (Carrie-Anne Moss) in a very tough situation. A former Delta Force operator, Yusuf Atta Mohammed (Michael Sheen), has planted three nuclear devices around the country and is demanding that the U.S. completely pull out of the Middle East. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so H (Secret Invasion star Samuel L. Jackson) is summoned to employ some enhanced interrogation techniques on Yusuf.
H wastes no time moving right along to torture, which Yusuf anticipated. Although Brody is horrified by H’s actions, the clock is ticking to save lives and even H may not be brutal enough to make Yusuf break in time.
Oldboy (2003)
Metacritic: 78%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 120m
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Action
Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung
Directed by: Park Chan-wook
There is an American remake of Oldboy by Spike Lee, but the South Korean original is the one that deserves all of the attention. Park Chan-wook directed and co-wrote this manga adaption, which follows the story of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who is arrested for being drunk in public. But Dae-su’s problems really begin after being released by the cops when he is kidnapped and imprisoned in a sealed hotel room.
Dae-su soon learns that his wife has been murdered, and the police think he killed her. This also means that their four-year-old daughter will grow up without him. For the next 15 years, Dae-su remains trapped by his captors until he is mysteriously released. Now, Dae-su has to discover who did this to him and why. One of the best thrillers with a twist ever, Old Boy is just as shocking and enthralling as it was 20 years ago.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Metacritic: 70%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 140m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke
Directed by: Sam Esmail
Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) and her husband, Clay (Ethan Hawke), just wanted to take a vacation in Leave the World Behind. But their kids, Rose (Farrah Mackenzie)and Archie (Charlie Evans) were the first to notice that their smartphones can’t connect to the internet.
The vacation continues uninterrupted until G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la), show up at the rental house and claim that it’s theirs. From there, things start to get super weird, and both families are left to question what happened to the rest of the world while they were in the woods and whether they can trust each other.
The Killer (2023)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 118m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by: David Fincher
Michael Fassbender’s unnamed assassin talks to the audience throughout The Killer, and he tells viewers all about his life except who he is. Perhaps he truly has no identity outside of meticulously planning and long stretches of waiting for his opportunity to kill. Yet before our eyes, the Killer botches a hit and kills the wrong person.
If the Killer thought he could slink away without consequences then he’s sadly mistaken. For his failure, the Killer’s lawyer, Hodges (Charles Parnell), has him marked for death. Two other assassins, The Expert (Tilda Swinton) and The Brute (Sala Baker), are sent to hunt down the Killer…if the Killer doesn’t hunt them down first.
Locked In (2023)
IMDb: 5.1/10
Duration: 96m
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Famke Janssen, Rose Williams, Alex Hassell
Directed by: Nour Wazzi
Locked In apparently starts in the aftermath of an attempted murder, and only gets more twisted from there. Someone tried to kill Katherine (Famke Janssen), and they must have come pretty close to succeeding because she’s become trapped in her own body and left unable to move or properly communicate, with the exception of her eyes.
Suspicion immediately falls on Lina (Rose Williams), a young woman who is both Katherine’s adoptive daughter and her daughter-in-law. Nurse Mackenzie (Anna Friel) is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, but she may be kicking the proverbial hornet’s nest by asking questions that shouldn’t be asked.
Fair Play (2023)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Sebastian de Souza
Directed by: Chloe Domont
Netflix’s new thriller, Fair Play, follows a couple, Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) and Emily (Phoebe Dynevor), when their relationship is challenged by their mutual ambition. The pair keep their romance a secret from their co-workers at One Crest Capital. That only works for them until a promotion comes up, and Emily gets the job instead of Luke.
Although Luke initially takes the news well, he soon becomes obsessed with the idea that Emily’s success came at his own expense. This puts a lot of intense pressure on their relationship, especially when Emily discovers that Luke may be fired. And if Emily isn’t careful, she may lose more than just her romance.
Reptile (2023)
Metacritic: 52%
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: R
Duration: 136m
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Stars: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone
Directed by: Grant Singer
The brutal murder of Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz) is the beginning of the mystery in Reptile, a thriller starring Benicio del Toro as Detective Tom Nichols (del Toro), the man in charge of the murder investigation. Summer’s body was found by her boyfriend, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), but there are suspicious details that may draw suspicion to all of the men in Summer’s life.
Nichols is able to share some of the details with his wife, Judy (Alicia Silverstone), who acts as a sounding board for him. Regardless, the unfolding case forces Nichols to more closely examine his own life as well. However, he may not like what he finds.
River Wild (2023)
IMDb: 5.4/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 92m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adventure
Stars: Adam Brody, Leighton Meester, Taran Killam
Directed by: Ben Ketai
Nearly three decades ago, Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon headlined a white-water thriller called The River Wild. And while River Wild isn’t quite a remake, it’s not really a sequel either. Leighton Meester stars as Joey, a woman who has trust issues with her brother, Gray (Taran Killam). Much to Joey’s chagrin, Gary invites one of their childhood friends, Trevor (Adam Brody), on a white-water trip with two other people.
When one of their party is attacked, Joey realizes that the only option to save them is by braving the waters to get help. But there may be a killer among the group, and Joey isn’t sure who she can trust.
Run Rabbit Run (2023)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 5.1/10
Duration: 100m
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Stars: Sarah Snook, Greta Scacchi, Damon Herriman
Directed by: Daina Reid
Sarah Snook (Succession) headlines Run Rabbit Run, a thriller that takes some horrific turns. Sarah (Snook) is a single mother with a contentious relationship with her ex-husband, Peter (Damon Herriman). But Sarah’s real problem is with her daughter, Mia (Lily LaTorre). Inexplicably, Mia has taken on a new persona and declared that she is someone named Alice.
While Sarah doesn’t believe her daughter at first, the evidence mounts that Mia’s behavior somehow is tied to a dark episode in Sarah’s past. Something unnatural is happening with Mia, and Sarah may pay the price for keeping her secrets for so many years.
God's Crooked Lines (2022)
IMDb: 7.0/10
Duration: 155m
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Bárbara Lennie, Eduard Fernández, Loreto Mauleón
Directed by: Oriol Paulo
You might want to watch God’s Crooked Lines with subtitles, otherwise, you may miss some critical details in this Spanish thriller. Bárbara Lennie stars as Alice Gould, a woman who has herself institutionalized by her husband, Heliodoro (David Selvas), in the late ‘70s and she finds herself under the care of Doctor Teodoro Ruipérez (Federico Aguado). However, Alice has her own hidden agenda as she tries to solve a murder while feigning mental illness.
Some of the creeps that Alice encounters, including the Gnome (Luis Sacristán), the Elephant Man (Francisco Javier Pastor), and the twins Romulo and Remo (both played by Samuel Soler). The scary part is that the staff at the institute pick apart Alice’s story and raise questions about whether she is an investigator or if she is simply paranoid and delusional.
Missing (2023)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 111m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Stars: Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung
Directed by: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick
Could you solve a mystery from the safety of your computer? That’s the challenge facing Grace Allen (Storm Reid) in Missing when her mother, Grace Allen (Nia Long), and her new boyfriend, Kevin (Ken Leung), disappear during their vacation to Columbia. While scrambling for answers, Grace finds evidence that Kevin may have hidden some suspicious details about his past.
With Grace stuck in the U.S., she has to turn to a man named Javier (Joaquim de Almeida) to act as her proxy in Columbia. But there’s only so much Grace can do before she has to head into danger herself.
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 130m
Genre: Crime
Stars: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton
Directed by: Scott Cooper
Given its extremely short stay in theaters in late 2022, you probably missed seeing The Pale Blue Eye when it was on the big screen. But the cast is too good for this movie to simply disappear among the other streaming thrillers. Christian Bale headlines the film as Augustus Landor, a former detective who has fallen on hard times following the death of his wife.
When Leroy Fry (Steven Maier), a cadet at West Point, is found ritualistically murdered, Landor is coaxed out of retirement to solve the mystery. But Landor can’t do it alone, which is why he turns to one of Fry’s classmates to act as his partner on the case: Cadet Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling).
The Snowman (2017)
Metacritic: 23%
IMDb: 5.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 119m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
It’s very appropriate that Michael Fassbender’s character in The Snowman is a detective named Harry Hole, because his life is in a deep hole when the story opens. Harry has broken up with the woman he loves, Rakel Fauke (Charlotte Gainsbourg), while struggling with his sobriety. Unfortunately for Harry, a serial killer has already started sending him enigmatic messages.
Harry’s new partner, Katrine Bratt (Silo‘s Rebecca Ferguson), is convinced that the killer is somehow linked to a case that was once investigated by Gert Rafto (Val Kilmer), an alcoholic former detective who was very much like Harry himself. But as the mystery intensifies, Harry realizes that Katrine has a personal connection that fuels her obsession with the case.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 90m
Genre: Horror, Drama, Adventure
Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Corinne Foxx, Brianne Tju
Directed by: Johannes Roberts
A sequel to 47 Meters Down (2017), 47 Meters Down: Uncaged brings a whole new cast of characters to the mix, but keeps the threat of shark bite death alive. When four teenagers dive down to the remains of a sunken Mayan city, what begins as a life-changing discovery quickly becomes a harrowing fight for survival when the group discovers that the ancient place is a magnet for man-eating sharks.
While not straying too far from classic “shark movie” tropes, Uncaged instead ups the ante in the shocks department, delivering plenty of bone-chilling sequences that will have us all thinking twice about taking a plunge into any body of water.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Rated: R
Duration: 147m
Genre: War, Drama, Action
Stars: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer
Directed by: Edward Berger
All Quiet on the Western Front is a classic text that has received its fair share of cinematic attention with both the Oscar-winning 1930 Lewis Milestone adaptation and director Delbert Mann’s 1979 TV movie version. So does Edward Bergers’ 2022 Netflix reimagining have anything worthwhile to say? Yes, actually. The latest retelling stars Felix Kammerer as Paul B?umer, a young German soldier who enters combat during the last days of World War I. With his hopes high and valor strong, Paul and his comrades are thrust into the terrors of trench warfare — a harsh wake-up call to the enlistees that the battlefield is a forever-unforgiving place. Brilliantly shot and packed with the kind of performances that rip your heart out, All Quiet on the Western Front is just as relevant now as it was almost a century ago.
I Came By (2022)
Rated: R
Duration: 110m
Genre: Thriller
Stars: George MacKay, Percelle Ascott, Kelly Macdonald
Directed by: Babak Anvari
I Came By stars George MacKay as Toby Nealey, an underground graffiti artist operating in London, who targets the aristocratic estates of the city’s top movers and shakers. Infamously renowned for the spray-painted “I Came By” moniker that he leaves behind, Nealey’s vigilante artwork lands the youth in troubled waters when he targets a decorated judge (played by Hugh Bonneville) who has some less-than-philanthropic secrets lurking in his manor — mysteries that could threaten Toby’s own life and the lives of those he holds dear. If you’re looking for pure originality, you won’t find it with I Came By, but among the tropes and cookie-cutter templates, there are still plenty of devilish surprises to shock viewers, and Bonneville is simply top-shelf casting as the madman running the show.
Circle (2015)
Rated: R
Duration: 87m
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Stars: Julie Benz, Carter Jenkins, Cesar Garcia
Directed by: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione
In Circle, sci-fi dystopia takes center stage. The premise is fairly simple: a collective of 50 individuals is imprisoned in a mysterious compound, each stationed on a single platform. If they attempt to move from their location, a laser-beam of death instantly eradicates them. When it’s discovered that a random captive is executed every two minutes, the group figures out that a gesture-led voting system will allow them to select who among them will get the beam treatment. If you like your thriller flicks dark and disturbed, but filled with gripping plot points, give Circle a whir — you won’t be disappointed.
The Good Nurse (2022)
Rated: R
Duration: 121m
Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Emmerich
Directed by: Tobias Lindholm
Adapted from the true-crime novel of the same name, The Good Nurse stars Jessica Chastain as Amy Loughren, a single mother and ICU nurse. When a series of untimely patient deaths start cropping up around the hospital, Amy begins to suspect that new hire Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) is the man responsible. Both Chastain and Redmayne are the kind of talents we expect greatness from, and truly, both actors go out of their way to foster a sort of surreal pathos for their characters, especially the latter. It’s a solid thriller and a tragic and haunting reminder that we don’t have to dig into fiction to tell some of the most grueling stories imaginable.
Lou (2022)
Rated: R
Duration: 107m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green
Directed by: Anna Foerster
If you’re in the mood for something a little more on the action-heavy side, director Anna Foerster’s Lou will likely satiate. It stars Allison Janney as the titular protagonist, a reclusive woman living on Orcas Island, Washington. When a wicked storm threatens the Pacific Northwest, a single mother named Hannah (Jurnee Smollet) begs Lou for help when her young daughter is kidnapped by a vicious ex-pat (Logan Marshall-Green). But as the two women set off on their rescue mission, Hannah soon learns that there’s far more to Lou than meets the eye. A grim gut-punch of an action-thriller, Lou is a big win for the genre.
The Stranger (2022)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Jada Alberts
Directed by: Thomas M. Wright
Based on Kate Kyriacou’s non-fiction novel, The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer, writer-director Thomas Wright’s cinematic adaptation of the source text, The Stranger, stars Joel Edgerton as an undercover cop tasked with befriending a suspected murderer (Sean Harris), in hopes of electing a confession from the elusive man. But when the guise of friendship starts to falter, it’s only a matter of time before things start to boil over. With a similar plot to Apple TV+’s Black Bird series (which is also based on true events), The Stranger is a pulse-pounding thriller done right.
Inheritance (2020)
Metacritic: 31%
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 110m
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, Connie Nielsen
Directed by: Vaughn Stein
When New York City business magnate Archer Monroe (Patrick Warburton) passes away, a healthy inheritance is gifted to his surviving family members — his wife (Connie Nielsen), his son (Chace Crawford), and his daughter, Lauren (Lily Collins). But when a posthumous video confession from her father leads Lauren to a secret underground bunker beneath the family estate, what she discovers in the unknown locale spells disaster for her and the rest of her family. Playing like a combination of many different types of thrillers, Inheritance may not win everyone over, but genre diehards will appreciate the film’s many twists and turns.
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
Metacritic: 57%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 114m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour
Directed by: Scott Frank
In A Walk Among the Tombstones, Liam Neeson stars as former FBI agent-turned-private detective Matt Scudder, a man-for-hire working the streets of NYC. When a drug kingpin (Dan Stevens) calls upon Scudder to track down the men who brutally murdered his wife, Matt’s investigation turns up a number of jaw-dropping discoveries that force the PI to constantly address and re-address his moral compass. A Walk Among the Tombstones plays a bit like a grim film noir, a narrative leaning that bolsters the strength of the film’s script and further sells the airtight chops of the many onscreen talents.
Munich: The Edge of War (2022)
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 129m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: George MacKay, Jannis Niew?hner, Sandra Hüller
Directed by: Christian Schwochow
Based on the 2017 Robert Harris novel Munich, Munich: The Edge of War stars Jeremy Irons, George MacKay, and Jannis Niew?hner, among other players. Directed by Christian Schwochow, the story follows Hugh Legat and Paul von Hartmann (MacKay and Niew?hner), a British civil servant and a German official tasked with traveling to Munich for an international conference of nations. But on the brink of WWII, the stakes are high for the European powers, with Hitler’s planned takeover of Czechoslovakia an imminent danger. Can negotiations be successfully made, or will the Nazi besiegement come to be? An eloquently stylized espionage thriller, Schwochow draws on the many strengths of his core cast to deliver an elevated historical spy picture, exploring and unpacking the art and risk of top-shelf subterfuge.
The Platform (2019)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 95m
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars: Iván Massagué, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor
Directed by: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Have you ever seen or heard of famed French-Canadian Denis Villeneuve’s short film Next Floor? If not, here’s a quick summary: A baroquely-costumed set of aristocrats gorge on a handsome feast, with their increasingly accrued weight plummeting them (and their table, chairs, and food) through the floor, where they resume said gorging. Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform plays with some of the same narrative bits, albeit in the form of a more realized social commentary.
The story follows the imprisoned residents of a Vertical Self-Management Center, a dystopian vessel that delivers food to its captives by way of an elevator system. In order of randomized hierarchy, those at the top get the most food, while those at the bottom get the scraps. Inevitably, this leads to an uprising of horrific proportions. The Platform is a satirical production that grapples with Darwinism in some bizarre and all-consuming ways. One thing is for sure: It’s a flick you don’t want to miss.
Spiderhead (2022)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 5.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 107m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Spiderhead tears down all the bars, gates, and imposing walls of the traditional prison thriller. And it totally flips the sub-genre on its head with a bit of sci-fi thrown in for good measure. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Steve Abnesti, the tech-warden-savant of a revolutionary new prison, one where inmates are fed mind-altering drugs for their respective sentences as opposed to literal time “behind bars.” But when two new inmates, Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett), enter the facility, they form a unique bond that calls Abnesti’s experimental practices into question. Based on the George Saunders short story Escape from Spiderhead, the film adaptation aims for a high-brow blending of wit and adrenaline. While it doesn’t completely nail either, screen-stealing performances from its main ensemble, particularly Hemsworth, are enough to keep us here for the long haul.
Triple Frontier (2019)
Metacritic: 61%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 125m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime, Adventure
Stars: Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
In Triple Frontier, an ensemble of recognizable talents are given the action-hero treatment for what amounts to a heist thriller that dares to say more about the genre, and succeeds. Our story follows a team of ex-Special Forces comrades as they band together to steal away the fortune of a South American drug lord. But as the group’s collective hubris threatens to deconstruct their mission, their adversaries gain ground, forcing the mercenaries to fight for their lives.
Lost Bullet (2020)
Metacritic: 78%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 92m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars: Alban Lenoir, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Rod Paradot
Directed by: Guillaume Pierret
Lost Bullet is exactly what the world needs right now: A taut action-thriller with adrenaline-fueled everything — cinematography, editing, score, etc. Starring Alban Lenoir as Lino, a talented mechanic, Lino is in over his head when charges for a crime he committed in a horrific past life catch up to him. To escape the clutches of the crooked cops that want him put away, Lino must journey once more into the world of underground ram-driving to find his true freedom. Loud, caustic, and a ton of fun, Lost Bullet does both the familiar and daring with the sub-genre it lives within.
The Devil All the Time (2020)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 138m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsg?rd, Riley Keough
Directed by: Antonio Campos
In writer-director Antonio Campos’ The Devil all the Time (an adaptation of the Donald Ray Pollack novel of the same name), the lives of several small-town post-World War II citizens are changed forever when the fervor of evangelical religion descends upon their rural community. Powered by an ensemble cast (Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland chief amongst the players), the source material may have been a bit too much to pull off for the creative team, but The Devil all the Time manages to serve up plenty of maniacal thrills, regardless of the bumpy nature of its narrative coherence.
Windfall (2022)
Metacritic: 52%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 92m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Jason Segel, Lily Collins, Jesse Plemons
Directed by: Charlie McDowell
In Windfall, Jason Segel stars as an unnamed home invader. Breaking into the regal estate of a billionaire CEO, the man seeks to make off with whatever he can find, but his plans are thwarted when the owner of the home (Jesse Plemons) and his spouse (Lily Collins) arrive unexpectedly. As the robbery devolves into a hostage situation, the three home inhabitants are forced to contend with both their actions and intentions, all while some long-held secrets boil to the surface. A bare-bones thriller that really gets the job done, thanks in part to the strengths of its core cast, Windfall will have you glued to the edge of your couch for its entire 90 minutes.
The Weekend Away (2022)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 89m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Stars: Leighton Meester, Christina Wolfe, Ziad Bakri
Directed by: Kim Farrant
Based on the 2020 Sarah Alderson novel of the same name, The Weekend Away stars Leighton Meester as Beth, a woman who boards a flight to Croatia to spend time with her best friend, Kate (Christina Wolfe). It turns out that Kate’s marriage isn’t going so well, but after a night on the town, the women agree to make the most of their getaway. But when Beth wakes the next morning, Kate is nowhere to be found. As she begins looking for her lost friend, the plot continues to thicken for Beth as she realizes that their simple trip may have been more than the girl’s retreat it was made out to be.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Metacritic: 52%
IMDb: NaN/10
Rated: R
Duration: 111m
Genre: Crime
Stars: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario
Directed by: Joe Berlinger
An adaptation of the Elizabeth Kendall memoir The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile stars Zac Efron as the infamous serial killer and Lily Collins as his longtime girlfriend, Liz. As news of Bundy’s crimes start making headlines, the authorities descend on the murderer, putting him behind bars. At first, Liz is hesitant to believe that Ted could commit such horrific crimes, but as the evidence starts piling up, her steadfast belief in her partner starts to wane. Featuring great lead performances and a captivating story told from the perspective of someone who doesn’t want to believe their lover is a psychopath, Extremely Wicked is unnerving from start to finish.
Fever Dream (2021)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 5.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 93m
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Horror
Stars: María Valverde, Guillermo Pfening, Dolores Fonzi
Directed by: Claudia Llosa
A hypnotic adaptation of the Samantha Schweblin novel of the same name, Fever Dream centers on the story of two young mothers that are brought together in psychologically mind-bending ways when their children fall victim to a mysterious poisoning. A commentary on some of Argentina’s environmental troubles, the film takes a bold visual approach, building an overbearingly eerie tone as the fates of several characters become unbreakably intertwined.
Extraction (2020)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 116m
Genre: Drama, Action, Thriller
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda
Directed by: Sam Hargrave
Retiring his superhero cape in favor of gritty militant threads, Extraction stars Thor alum Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a cunning Australian mercenary. Hired to rescue the kidnapped son of a Mumbai crime lord, Tyler’s descent into hostile territory quickly proves to be more than the black-ops soldier ever bargained for. Packed with electric action sequences and a strong performance from Hemsworth, Extraction is an octane-charged foray into the familiar amalgamation of the action-meets-thriller sub-genre.
The Ice Road (2021)
Metacritic: 42%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 108m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Liam Neeson, Marcus Thomas, Laurence Fishburne
Directed by: Jonathan Hensleigh
The Ice Road stars thriller-stalwart Liam Neeson as Mike, a big-rig truck driver. When a crew of diamond miners is trapped inside their working quarters in the wake of a collapse, Mike must drive his eighteen-wheeler across the harsh Canadian tundras, over frozen waters and through a devastating storm, to rescue the miners. But as Mother Nature begins prevailing, Mike and his backup team are in for much more than they bargained for. Playing out much like a number of Liam Neeson’s cinematic escapades, The Ice Road doesn’t seek to reinvent the action-thriller but provides plenty of gravitas in the form of big dialogue, big effects, and big locations.
Forgotten (2017)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 108m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Horror, Crime
Stars: Kang Ha-neul, Kim Moo-yul, Moon Sung-keun
Directed by: Jang Hang-jun
Jin-seok (Kang Ha-neul) has just moved into a new house with his parents and older brother, and it’s quite the unusual place. While there’s seemingly nothing that is blatantly out of the ordinary, Jin-seok just doesn’t feel right under the new roof. This is further compounded when his brother is suddenly kidnapped, returning close to three weeks later. After his sibling’s reemergence, Jin-seok notices that his entire nuclear unit is acting funny. Then they hit him with the news: It’s not actually 1997, but 2017. What in tarnation is going on? A slick entry in the South Korean action-thriller canon, Forgotten is a visual feast set against a compelling and complex narrative.
Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
Metacritic: 64%
Rated: R
Duration: 93m
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Stars: Daniel Gillies, Erik Thomson, Miriama McDowell
Directed by: James Ashcroft
The feature debut of James Ashcroft, Coming Home in the Dark stars Daniel Gillies and Matthias Luafutu as Mandrake and Tubs, a pair of hellbent maniacs who attach themselves to the doomed Hoaganraad family, a nuclear unit of four hoping to enjoy a weekend away from it all. As the family gets to know Mandrake more, they soon realize that his surface-level charisma is but a thin wall that holds back a much more sinister plan, a scheme he has been planning for nearly two decades. Powered by a devilish lead performance from Daniel Gillies, Coming Home in the Dark will feel familiar to anyone who was watched movies like Funny Games, but it’s a welcome entry to the constantly rotating sub-genre of domestic invasion thrillers.
Sentinelle (2021)
IMDb: 4.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 80m
Genre: Thriller, Action, Drama
Stars: Olga Kurylenko, Marilyn Lima, Michel Nabokoff
Directed by: Julien Leclercq
Revenge-thrillers are a dime a dozen, so what makes Sentinelle any different than the rest? Well, for starters, it’s completely unrelenting. The plot follows Klara (Olga Kurylenko), a discharged soldier sent home after a harrowing close call during combat. The woman’s trauma is only compounded when she uncovers a web of crime that could lead to her sister’s death. Taking justice into her own hands, Klara utilizes her weapons training and intellect to hunt down the could-be killers. As mentioned, Sentinelle hits hard and fast, delivering a blazing action-thriller in less than 90 minutes.
Army of Thieves (2021)
Metacritic: 49%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 127m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Comedy
Stars: Matthias Schweigh?fer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ruby O. Fee
Directed by: Matthias Schweigh?fer
Serving as a prequel to Zack Synder’s adrenaline-pumping Army of the Dead, Army of Thieves was co-written by Matthias Schweigh?fer and Synder and directed by Schweigh?fer. Our story follows Dieter (Matthias Schweigh?fer), operating as Sebastian, a safecracking expert living in Potsam. When one of Sebastian’s safecracking instructional YouTube videos receives attention from a mysterious viewer, he journeys into the city where he is recruited to join an elite heist-team led by Gwendoline (Natalie Emmanuel). Together, the band of thieves concoct a plan to crack a series of impenetrable safes throughout Europe. A brilliant extension of the Army universe, Thieves stands on its own two legs, thanks to memorable performances and riveting set-pieces.
The Guilty (2021)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 91m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Riley Keough
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
LAPD officer Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is working the night shift for 9-1-1 dispatch. Awaiting a court hearing for an initially-unknown incident that occurred months before, Joe receives a call from a woman claiming to be kidnapped. As Joe does everything in his power to help his abducted caller, it soon becomes clear that this singular call may have more to do with Joe and his past than he’s aware of. A fist-clenching thriller, one led by an extremely captivating lead performance from Gyllenhaal, The Guilty may not be as great as the original 2018 Danish film, but the talent onscreen and close-quarters cinematography is undeniably gripping.
In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)
Metacritic: 48%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 115m
Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars: Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, Michael C. Hall
Directed by: Jim Mickle
Our story begins in 1988. Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) is faced with a macabre investigation in Philadelphia — one where several victims all hemorrhage to death at the same time, with puncture wounds located on each of their heads. Following leads that inevitably result in an even deeper mystery, Lockhart’s investigation goes dormant until a series of copycat killings resurfaces nine years later. A great blend of mystery-meets-sci-fi, In the Shadow of the Moon may not land with all viewers, but as a made-for-Netflix caper, it’s an arresting genre-dive you won’t want to miss.
Creep (2014)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 82m
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Stars: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice, Katie Aselton
Directed by: Patrick Brice
When shoestring videographer Aaron (Patrick Brice) accepts a paying gig from a mysterious new client, his visit to the man’s remote mountain residence soon devolves into a bizarre nightmare as Josef (Mark Duplass), the homeowner, claims to be making a video for his unborn child before he dies from a brain tumor. At least that’s what Josef wants Aaron to believe. The truth, as the viewer will come to discover, is far more sinister. Taking the found footage sub-genre to thrilling new places, Creep feels like a very small film, but one packed with suspense and misdirects as Josef’s intentions become increasingly murkier.
Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
Metacritic: 47%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 114m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Chloe Coleman
Directed by: Navot Papushado
In this rollicking action thriller, Karen Gillan stars as Sam, a high-octane assassin carrying out hits for an underground organization known as The Firm. Abandoned at a young age by her mother (Lena Headey), a fellow hitman, Sam’s estrangement has reinforced her cold-blooded tendencies. In the wake of a hit gone wrong, Sam is forced to re-examine her allegiance to the organization that provides her lifestyle and the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl (Chloe Coleman). An intense film from start to finish, Gunpowder Milkshake gives us an intriguing premise with excellent players and top-notch filmmaking.
The Vault (2021)
Metacritic: 50%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 118m
Genre: Crime, Action, Thriller
Stars: Freddie Highmore, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Riley
Directed by: Jaume Balagueró
In The Vault, Freddie Highmore stars as Thom, a prolific engineer who happens upon some intoxicating intel. Learning of a hidden treasure trove located underneath The Bank of Spain, Thom and his group of allies concoct a master plan to break into the compound and make off with the riches while the rest of the country is distracted by Spain’s World Cup Final. Powered by energetic performances from its main ensemble and buttressed by some incredible set pieces and memorable locations, The Vault hits all the beats that a heist thriller should, making for an excellent watch.
Hold the Dark (2018)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Cast: Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsg?rd, James Badge Dale
In his follow-up to the ultra-violent Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier takes to the great wilds of Alaska for an adaptation of William Giraldi’s Hold the Dark. Starring Jeffrey Wright as wolf-tracker Russell Core, the animal expert is hired by Medora Slone (Riley Keough), a woman convinced that a pack of vicious wolves made off with her young son. As Russell begins his investigation, Medora’s spouse, Vernon (Alexander Skarsg?rd), arrives home from Iraq. Troubled by the horrors of frontline warfare, Vernon begins an all-out descent into madness as Russell begins to uncover more than he bargained for in the unrelenting tundra. Working with his biggest budget yet, indie stalwart Jeremy Saulnier delivers a grim reimagining of Giraldi’s already-macabre prose, complete with big action sequences and a touch of folkloric horror.
The Call (2020)
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 112m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction
Stars: Park Shin-hye, Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Sung-ryung
Directed by: Lee Chung-hyun
In Chung-hyun Lee’s The Call, we follow two different timelines, with a telephone call linking both eras. Seo-Yeon (Shin-hye Park) spends her days in the present while Young-Sook (Jong-seo Jun) lurks in the past. One is a serial killer, the other the victim. A bizarre amalgam of sci-fi-meets-psychological-thriller, The Call scores high with us for its nail-biting narrative, moody tone, dedicated performances, and plenty of originality.
Red Dot (2021)
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Nanna Blondell, Anastasios Soulis
David (Anastasios Soulis) and Nadja (Nanna Blondell), a set of young newlyweds, lead a stressful life of work, school, and poor communication skills. When Nadja learns that she’s pregnant, she decides to save the news for an adventurous ski trip to Sweden’s far north with David. As the couple begins to lose themselves to nature’s bounty, a hidden assailant begins stalking David and Nadja. It’s a nightmarish fight for survival in the merciless winter wilderness, as the infamous red dot of a rifle-sight follows every move the married couple makes. An energy-packed survival thriller, Red Dot is effective in making us feel just as lost and drenched in paranoia as the film’s leading talents.
Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
Metacritic: 61%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
The art world is a strange one to live in, particularly when the tortured spirits of dead artists start wreaking havoc on the outside world. These are the cards we’re dealt with Dan Gilroy’s insanely odd Velvet Buzzsaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Morf Vandewalt, an eccentric art critic that comes in contact with the possessed paintings of Vetril Dease (Alan Mandell). Death, dismemberment, and other macabre occurrences soon descend on the principal players, leaving us to wonder where the line is drawn between reality and fiction. Big, odd, and loaded with color, Velvet Buzzsaw is one you won’t forget.
Calibre (2018)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran
When two lifelong friends, a businessman and his pal from boarding school, head out for a hunting weekend in the Scottish Highlands, things quickly turn ugly. The old friends find themselves unexpectedly panicked and dealing with dire situations they never thought they would face. The British thriller, originally released on Netflix, was described by Variety as an “intensely terrifying twist on Deliverance.”
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Action
Cast: Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, Charles Baker
For fans of the AMC series Breaking Bad, this flick is the epilogue they’ve been waiting for to address the unanswered question of what happened to Jesse Pinkman. For others who might not have seen Breaking Bad, it’s still a fabulous film about a young man on the run from a clearly sordid past. It wraps Pinkman’s story up with a nice little bow and delivers plenty of cameos and throwback references from the original series to make it a worthwhile watch for any fan who has been missing the show.