There's something to be said for horror films that make you leap out of your seat (or shamelessly crawl over to the other side of the couch). However, you might prefer something with fewer ghosts and gore and a little more suspense and drama on occasion. Psychological thrillers are a good example of this.
These films give thrills, chills, and intrigue, as the name of their genre suggests. The best psychological thrillers will keep you on edge long after the credits have rolled, with a climax that will leave you with more scope for interpretation and thought.
Here's a list of some of the best psychological thrillers to keep an eye out for.
1. Felt, Jason Banker
This movie is a fascinating indie feminist riff on superhero tropes. A young woman creates an alter ego to cope with the trauma inflicted upon her by men.
2. Swallow, Carlo Mirabella Davis
Its plot follows a young woman, who, emotionally stifled in her marriage and domestic life, develops an impulse to consume inedible objects.
3. Extremities, Robert M Young
A woman turns the knife on her stalker and rapist who violates her.
4. Images, Robert Altman
Cathryn battles the taunting apparition that mock her about her husband's suspected affair until she (and the audience) can no longer determine what is real, and what was born from her paranoid imagination.
5. Inland Empire, David Lynch
The actors learn that the project is a remake of an unfinished film in which the stars were murdered. Lynch deconstructs cliched binary representations of women on the levels of content, form and narrative.
6. The Silence Of The Lambs, Jonathan Demme
Clarice Sterling, an FBI agent, seeks help from Hannibal Lecter, a psychopathic serial killer and former psychiatrist, to apprehend another serial killer who has been claiming female victims.
7. Gone Girl, David Fincher
When a man's wife goes missing without a trace, he finds himself at the heart of a search for her. Along the way, it becomes evident that she isn't—and never has been—the woman he believed she was.
8. The Girl On The Train, Tate Taylor
When an untrustworthy witness witnesses something shocking on her everyday commute, she becomes obsessed with solving the mystery—but no one believes her.
9. The Invisible Man, Leigh Whannell
After a young lady manages to flee her controlling ex, he continues to terrorise her life—but she is unable to stop him. When you contemplate everything that goes undetected in The Invisible Man, your brain will spin.
10. Ma, Tate Taylor
When a bunch of young teenagers who were allowed to party in a lonely, middle-aged woman's basement find the truth behind her surprise generosity, it turns into a nightmare.
Conclusion
These are some of the top-rated psychological movies. So we guess, now your weekend binge-watch plans are sorted!
FAQs
Q. Are psychological thrillers scary?
A. These films give thrills, chills, and intrigue, as the name of their genre suggests. The best psychological thrillers will keep you on edge long after the credits have rolled, with a conclusion that will leave you wondering, "What did I just watch?!?"
Q. Are these movies based on true stories?
A. While a lot of these films are marketed as based on true stories, they most often take creative liberties to suit the storyline.