Psychological thrillers are among the most thrilling films to watch due to their in-depth examination of human minds. They’re also accessible to a broad audience due to their stylistic diversity, which allows everyone to find something for themselves. However, who doesn’t enjoy a good mental teaser or a hot sexual encounter with plenty of twists and turns? The truth is that filmmakers have always experimented with psychological thrillers. That is why we have such a diverse selection of psychological films at our disposal.
Due to the popularity of psychological thrillers, we decided to compile a list of readily available films. There is never a poor moment for this type of entertainment, therefore for those Netflix addicts looking for the perfect films for a psychological marathon, here is a list of truly excellent psychological thriller films available on Netflix. And bear in mind that these films are neither graded nor arranged, as they are all equally mind-boggling. Many of these psychological thrillers are also available on Amazon Prime or Hulu.
Contents
25. Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
‘Velvet Buzzsaw,’ a Netflix original horror/thriller, serves as a commentary of the modern art scene and how it has devolved into a phoney multi-million dollar enterprise. The film’s major character is an art critic named Morf Vandewalt (Jake Gyllenhaal), who wields such influence over the art world that one negative review from him can permanently ruin an artist’s career. Josephina, one of Morf’s acquaintances, comes to find the paintings of an unknown artist named Vetril Dease and quickly recognizes their market value. As the story progresses, we learn that these artworks are cursed in some way. Anyone who attempts to quantify the value of art in monetary terms is doomed to failure. Each scene bears an unsettling tone, which gradually builds before the conclusion. The performances, particularly those of Gyllenhaal and John Malkovich, are unquestionably commendable.
24.. The Box (2009)
In this psychological thriller, James Marsden and Cameron Diaz play as a couple faced with a difficult choice. They receive a gift in which, by pressing a single button, they will discover $1 million. However, the issue is that as soon as they open the box, they will kill one random person. The pair has only 24 hours to decide, but they must also live with the consequences of their acts in perpetuity. The question now is rather straightforward: are you willing to indirectly take the life of an innocent man to be happy? This film features an engrossing plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Additionally, it offers a moral problem for the audience, forcing them to reconcile with their moral core depending on which option they chose for the couple in the issue.
23.. The River Wild (1994)
Curtis Hanson’s (‘L.A. Confidential’, ‘The Hand That Rocked The Cradle’) Hitchcockian psychological thriller stars Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon in the lead roles. Gail, played by Streep, is a history teacher who previously worked as a river guide. Gail chooses to take their son on a rafting vacation down the Salmon River, even though their marriage is in shambles. They meet two strangers on their journey, whom Gail assists in crossing the river. While on their raft, the mother-son combo learns of the two strangers’ terrible and disturbing secret. Gail must now fight these two men for her and her son’s lives while also piloting their raft to safety. The picture is tense and features strong performances from Streep and Bacon. Overall, though, it remains somewhat hollow and falls short of the grandeur of a comparable 1972 picture titled ‘Deliverance’.
22. In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019)
Serial killer films have always held a special place in the hearts of fans due to the madness of these characters. Serial killer films have been made across the globe over the years, and, unsurprisingly, Netflix would enter into this field as well. This is precisely what they accomplished with the 2019 film ‘In The Shadow of the Moon.’ The film’s plot revolves around a police officer who is eager to get to the rank of detective. When a case of serial killing comes to him, he believes that this is the opportunity he has been waiting for and dives headfirst into the case. As he investigates, he discovers a startling revelation about the murderer’s method of operation. According to reports, the murderer reappears every nine years, conducts several killings, and then returns to hiding. How this is feasible, and how the killings can be carried out with such precision and such a large gap between each spree, continues to astound the authorities. Our reactions can become polarised when the answer to this question is revealed. However, we must acknowledge that this picture takes a fairly unique approach to the genre. The cinematography of ‘In The Shadow Of The Moon’ is unquestionably noteworthy.
A Discovery of Witches season 4 is not happening — but a spinoff might
21. Secret Obsession (2019)
‘Secret Obsession,’ a Netflix original film directed by Peter Sullivan, stars Brenda Song, Mike Vogel, and Dennis Haysbert. Song portrays Jennifer, a woman who is involved in a catastrophic accident and loses all her memories. Jennifer’s only solace is the fact that her devoted husband is constantly on hand to care for her and meet all her requirements. In parallel to Jennifer’s story, we learn about Detective Frank Page (Dennis Haysbert). While investigating his daughter’s kidnapping and also Jennifer’s injury, he uncovers material that demonstrates that Jennifer’s spouse is not who we believe him to be. While the acting in this picture is extremely good, the plot and framework are quite lacking.
20. V for Vendetta (2005)
The popular Guy Fawkes mask, commonly identified with the hacktivist group “Anonymous,” is the face of the film’s protagonist, Hugo Weaving’s vigilante “V.” In a futuristic dystopian world, the United Kingdom is ruled by fascists, which V rebels against and urges others to do the same. Evey, brilliantly portrayed by Natalie Portman, becomes embroiled in the scenario and embarks on a journey we could never have anticipated. It’s a political thriller with some excellent storey twists and emotional pleasures. A thrill of tense dramatic action, united in opposition to tyranny and sociopolitical issues, and highly recommended to everybody.
19. Fractured (2019)
‘Fractured,’ starring Sam Worthington, is one of the greatest Netflix original films of 2019. The film centres on a three-person family: Ryan, his wife Joanne, and their daughter Peri. Peri is hospitalised during the three of them’s vacation due to an accident. Her parents promptly transport her to a nearby hospital, where Ryan drops out from tiredness in the waiting area while Joanne takes Peri in for a checkup. However, upon regaining consciousness, Ryan is unable to locate his wife and child. He inquires about the hospital, but no one knows anything about them. The hospital staff will even deny that anyone resembling Joanne or Peri was present that day. Ryan begins to suspect that a dark conspiracy is at work here and that other hospital employee may be involved. While the film succeeds as an intense thriller, it fails to venture off the usual path and offer viewers something new and unique.
18. Cam (2018)
17. Circle (2015)
A film that aptly illustrates humans’ self-centered nature and the limits to which we will go to save our own lives by sacrificing others or making an innocent person a scapegoat, ‘Circle’ is the story of fifty strangers who awaken in a strange chamber with no memory of how they got there or what happened previously. In a twist reminiscent of ‘Maze Runner,’ the strangers begin to be electrocuted to death – one every two minutes. Soon, the survivors learn that they can collectively control who dies next, even though there is no definitive way out of the chamber and that everyone must eventually embrace their enemy. ‘Circle’ is heartbreaking and, despite its strange premise, will have you on the edge of your seat until you figure out what’s going on.
16.. Righteous Kill (2008)
At its core, ‘Righteous Kill’ is a crime thriller about two seasoned New York City Police Department officers known as Turk (Robert De Niro) and Rooster (Al Pacino). Together, they’re on the trail of a serial killer dubbed Poetry Boy, who leaves a brief poem near each of his victims’ bodies. As the storey unfolds and younger investigators join the hunt, it is revealed that the storey was centred on Turk because Rooster was the true serial killer, who admits that he did not agree with Turk’s methods and opted to take on criminals on his own, in a creative and nearly untraceable fashion. ‘Righteous Kill’ stood out only for its celebrity cast.
15. 1922 (2017)
The combination of Stephen King’s timeless talent and Zak Hilditch’s magical narrative could not be better. ‘1922’ begins in the 1930s when a farmer goes to a hotel room and writes about a crime he committed in 1922. Wilf, Ariette, and their 14-year-old son Henry live an ideal existence in rural Nebraska. Wilf and Ariette have frequent disagreements over who owns the farm the latter recently inherited. While Ariette wishes to abandon village life in favour of an urban lifestyle by selling the land and establishing a fashion boutique there, Wilf believes they should remain put. Wilf plans to murder his wife and bury her in the cornfield with the assistance of his teenage son but instead disposes of her body in the well. Soon after, their home becomes overrun with rats, Henry flees with his fiancée, and Wilf begins to regret his actions. ‘1922’ is not a jump scare film, but the thrill it provides slowly and steadily takes your breath away.
14. The Ritual (2017)
A convoluted affair, ‘The Ritual’ was lauded for its directing rather than its script’s relative weakness. The film begins with four men — Luke, Hutch, Phil, and Dom – embarking on a hiking expedition in Sweden, much to the chagrin of their now-deceased friend Rob, who was also meant to accompany them but was fatally shot in a street brawl. As they continue their King’s Trail, Dom loses his ability to walk, and they seek refuge inside an abandoned cabin for the night due to severe rain. Strange things begin to occur, and they all encounter something they have never encountered before. Doesn’t a wooded location, weird happenings, and the engrained notion of being unable to leave a place provide enough nightmares?
13. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Another Stephen King book adaptation on this list, ‘Gerald’s Game’ features a married couple, Jessie and Gerald, who move into an isolated country estate to liven up their sexual relationship. To Jessie’s astonishment, her husband has brought handcuffs to secure her while he consumes two pills of viagra to heighten the passion. Gerald falls and dies of a heart attack while they continue to have sex and Jessie plays. Jessie quickly has hallucinations and visions of things that aren’t there, amidst her husband’s decomposing body and a stray dog chewing on his flesh. Jessie reveals her past recollections, including instances of child molestation that occurred to her, as well as moments of nail-biting suspense. ‘Gerald’s Game’ is an unsettling psychological thriller that is well worth the effort.
‘Dead to Me’ Season 3: Everything We Know So Far(New Report)
12.. The Invitation (2015)
At points, “The Invitation” will make you doubt the plot’s logic and the logic behind the protagonist’s choices, not to mention his peculiar and aggravating attitude toward the storey. However, there are reasons for these blank spaces, and while they are gradually revealed, the picture will retain your loyalty due to the searing tension that pervades the air from beginning to end. It’s odd and intriguing, and the sense that something evil is afoot will stay for the duration of the film’s 100 minutes. To summarise, the film follows Will and his girlfriend as they attend a dinner at his ex-Hollywood wife’s mansion. There will be her new spouse, old acquaintances, and some old secrets to disrupt the evening’s serenity. Clever, effective, and unbelievably seductive.
11.. Fracture (2007)
The hairline fracture in the gathering of the evidence proves a guilty man innocent, thanks to the legal loopholes. In what can be called Anthony Hopkins’ genius and Ryan Gosling’s compelling characterization, ‘Fracture’ is set around Ted Crawford, an aeronautical engineer who catches Jennifer, his wife, and police detective Nunnally red-handed in a hotel and assumes they’re having an affair. As Jennifer arrives home, he shoots her point-blank and shoots another three bullets. Nunnally arrives and arrests him and Crawford accepts all the charges. Beachum is a young attorney with an extremely high conviction rate and before he moves to a lucrative private law firm, he takes up Crawford’s case deeming it as an open and shut one. To his surprise, Crawford chooses to defend himself and pleads not guilty and leaves a very small room for Beachum to prove his case. Terrific performances and spellbinding thrill make the most of the movie.
10.. The Interview (1998)
Eddie Fleming is a lone man who has lost everything – his job, his wife, and so on. The police knock on his door one fine morning and drag him to the police station for interrogation. Eddie wants food and requests that the camera is turned off as the interrogation unfolds, with everyone, including the spectators, unsure of the nature of the crime. Once the camera is turned off, he confesses to stealing the automobile in question, mercilessly murdering the driver, and also running over a few victims. When the camera is turned back on again, he steps back and says he said so simply because he wants to be freed and that he has not committed any crime. Due to a dearth of proof, the police are compelled to release him. ‘The Interview’ was nominated for and won several awards, including Best Film and Best Direction.
9. Bird Box (2018)
Sandra Bullock appears in this Netflix original psychological thriller as a lady who must guide her two children through a dangerous area where weird entities are causing the deaths of numerous people. While these beings do not directly harm someone, one glance at one of them can cause you to lose your mind and commit yourself. In this risky circumstance, Bullock’s character, Malorie Hayes, blindfolds herself and the two youngsters and transports them to a location free of these creatures’ influence.
8. Shimmer Lake (2017)
This film’s structure is what sets it different from the competition. ‘Shimmer Lake,’ written and directed by Oren Uziel, is a week-long storey about the attempts of a small-town sheriff to apprehend the three perpetrators of a bank heist. Surprisingly, one of the three crooks is his brother. The film is masterfully written, with the tale portrayed in reverse. We’ve seen this reversal structure before in Gaspar Noe’s ‘Irreversible,’ but Oren Uziel injects a new dimension into the format in this psychological crime thriller.
7. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Though ‘The Hateful Eight’ is not classified as a psychological thriller, the mystery and the gruff, complex characters frequently make the case for it. ‘The Hateful Eight’ opens in the aftermath of the Civil War, when a stagecoach hurtles down Wyoming’s snow-covered plains toward Red Rock, carrying bounty hunter John Ruth and Daisy, his prisoner who is a murderer convict. Major Marquis is another bounty hunter who is also Chris Mannix, the Red Rock sheriff. They seek safety in a cabin full of odd, unwelcoming people due to the blizzard. Soon after, a disagreement over poisoned coffee develops, followed by a bloody firefight over who did what. Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight is the ideal combination of blood, gore, and sleazy characters that will get under your skin.
6. Clinical (2017)
‘Clinical,’ a Netflix original film by writer-director Alistair Legrand, is about a psychiatrist who goes through a harrowing incident in which one of her patients attempts suicide directly in front of her. Dr Jane Mathis (Vinessa Shaw), the psychiatrist in question, experiences sleep paralysis and PTSD, and it takes her a long time to regain her footing. Jane, on the other hand, receives a patient with a deformed face and a troubled mind once she recovers. However, she is oblivious to the fact that this patient is more distressed than any she has ever faced. While the film contains some excellent moments, it ultimately lacks the appeal that would elevate it to the ranks of Netflix’s best psychological thrillers.
5. The Invisible Guest (2016)
At its core, ‘The Invisible Guest’ is a Spanish psychological thriller about Adrian, an affluent businessman who has been accused of murder – the death of his lover, who was discovered alongside him on his bed. Given his wealth, he engages a seasoned lawyer, Virginia, to build a case against the accusations levelled against him. While reminiscing about his departed lover Laura, who was also a photographer, Adrian recalls that he was involved in an automobile accident with Laura, in which they ran over a man named Daniel. When confronted, Laura convinced Adrian to flee the scene of the crime. Virginia must exhaust all possible defences in Adrian’s case before preparing for a defence, but nothing is as straightforward as it appears. Due to its enthralling narrative and layers of complex characters, ‘The Invisible Guest’ is frequently hailed as one of the greatest Spanish films.
4. The Son (2019)
This Argentine film is one of the most compelling psychological thrillers available on Netflix. The film’s plot revolves around Lorenzo, a painter who recently married and wishes to rebuild his life with his new bride. While pregnant with their first kid, his new wife exhibits unusual behaviour. She develops an abnormal obsession with and manipulation of Lorenzo, producing much tension between them. Their relationship becomes even more dangerous and hostile with the birth of the child. The picture is carried by the lead actor’s performance, who masterfully conveys his amazement and anguish at his wife’s behaviour.
3.. American Psycho (2000)
‘American Psycho,’ directed by Mary Harron, is the film that catapulted Christian Bale to international popularity and demonstrated just how talented an actor he truly is. Bale portrays Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street investment banker who is quite successful in his professional life, in this picture. While his colleagues and acquaintances perceive him as a talented and fun-loving individual, no one truly understands the other side of Bateman. At night, he transforms into a crazed killer with unsurpassed bloodlust. The picture is a masterful fusion of horror and comedy that maintains the film’s terror factor. ‘American Psycho can be interpreted as an indictment of the market-oriented youth culture of the 1980s.
2.. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
One of the best psychological thriller/horror films of all time, ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ is a Roman Polanski film that helped establish the director’s reputation in Hollywood following critical praise in Europe. The film begins with the storey of a couple who recently relocated to a new apartment building. Rosemary, the wife, is pregnant and receives a great deal of assistance from her older next-door neighbours, who at times appear to be a little too friendly. Her spouse, on the other hand, seems unconcerned about this and warmly embraces this family. On the other hand, Rosemary begins to distrust the elderly couple’s motives. Certain events continue to occur, reinforcing Rosemary’s uncertainty. There comes a point when she is unsure of her own husband’s intentions. The film’s two great points are Mia Farrow’s performance and Roman Polanski’s excellent direction. Polanski masterfully maintains the drama despite shooting in a relatively small space.
