While all the superhero sagas and A-list dramas are out collecting box-office success and critical acclaim, thrillers of every ilk are released throughout the year, too. And while arguably receiving less fanfare than their star-studded brethren, thrillers are the movies that make us think, make our hearts beat out of our chests, and stick in our minds for days, weeks, and months — sometimes even a lifetime.
Beyond the silver screen, at-home streaming is one of the best ways to experience any cinematic genre, and if you’re a big fan of pulse-pounding twists and turns, look no further than out list of the best thriller movies on Netflix this month.
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.
Recently added to Netflix
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I Came By2022 -
The Good Nurse2022
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Lou2022
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 templating, there are still plenty of devilish surprises to shock viewers, and Bonneville is simply top-shelf casting as the madman running the show.
115m
Genre
Thriller, Action
Stars
François Civil, Omar Sy, Mathieu Kassovitz
Directed by
Antonin Baudry
When it comes to submarine subterfuge, The Wolf’s Call is one of the best movie choices you can make. Written and directed by Antonin Baudry, the film stars François Civil as Chanteraide, a sonar pro serving onboard the Titan, a French military sub. After picking up on a distress call from a nearby vessel, Chanteraide must harness his uncanny understanding of underwater acoustics to navigate treacherous waters occupied by wartime enemies to seek out a ballistics sub that is one missile strike away from sending the world into a nuclear onslaught. An exceptional genre pic, The Wolf’s Call doesn’t stray far from tried-and-true military movie slow burns, but it’s a noteworthy addition to the canon as a whole.
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.
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.
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 Bäumer, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
129m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, 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 Niewöhner, among other players. Directed by Christian Schwochow, the story follows Hugh Legat and Paul von Hartmann (MacKay and Niewöhner), 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.
108m
Genre
Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Stars
Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
Directed by
Joel Edgerton
We may be through with the past, but the past still wants to antagonize us to death. Disregarding the loose paraphrasing of a Magnolia quote, writer-director Joel Edgerton’s 2015 film The Gift is all about the re-emergence of long-ago individuals we would rather not be seeing. Starring Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall as married couple Simon and Robyn Callem, when the elusive Gordo (Joel Edgerton), a man from Simon’s past, begins making appearances to his old pal, a series of seemingly innocent gestures leads to a haphazard unearthing of Simon’s troubled relationship with the invasive guest. An expertly crafted thriller film with defiant twists and turns, The Gift is an amazing effort on Edgerton’s part and a worthy addition to the genre.
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.
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.
98m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Adventure
Stars
Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane
Directed by
Matthew Reilly
In director Matt Reilly’s Interceptor, Elsa Pataky stars as Captain JJ Collins, the spearhead of an isolated nuclear missile facility smack-dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When the weapons hub falls under attack from enemy forces led by a former U.S. intelligence operative (Luke Bracey), Collins must use her military background and quick ingenuity to thwart the evildoers before they overrun the base. Interceptor is a decent example of a Netflix-backed action-thriller, driven by a kinetic pace that hits all the beats but misses here and there. A refreshing change of pace is seeing a woman in a role that would normally be helmed by Bruce Willis, and Pataky tackles her heroine character with muscle and grace.
100m
Genre
Thriller
Stars
Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross, David Cronenberg
Directed by
Albert Shin
As a child, Abby inadvertently witnessed a harrowing deed: A kidnapping carried out in broad daylight. Now an adult (played by Tuppence Middleton), Abby returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls, Ontario, after inheriting a family-run motel in the wake of her mother’s passing. Upon taking up residence at the Clifton Hill resort, Abby’s memories of the childhood kidnapping return full force. She begins reconstructing the crime from her memories, becoming a vigilante detective that follows a trail of loose leads that could reveal what happened to the boy she saw taken away years ago. A grim and stylish thriller with tinges of noir tossed in for good measure, Disappearance at Clifton Hill is an excellent foray into the world of independent genre filmmaking.
113m
Genre
Crime, Action, Comedy
Stars
Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding
Directed by
Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie films are always at their best when the plot involves some kind of dirty dealings amongst two-bit criminals and the fortunes they wish to make off with. Such is the case with the director’s return to form in 2010’s The Gentlemen. Starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Pearson, an American expat who has built his monetary empire through overseas marijuana. When the news breaks that Pearson is seeking to sell off his infamous drug business, the criminal underbelly takes shots at Pearson’s legacy through bribery and blackmail, hoping to rock the magnate from his throne. A powerhouse action-thriller with blasts of comedy throughout, The Gentlemen is your typical Guy Ritchie fare, and we’re more than OK with the formula at play.
128m
Genre
War, History, Drama
Stars
Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald
Directed by
John Madden
Operation Mincemeat stars Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen as Ewen Montagu and Charles Cholmondeley, two British World War II intelligence officers who are tasked with protecting resistance troops that are planning an all-out siege of Sicily by July of that year. To do so, both men are inspired by the 1939 Trout Memo to send a corpse filled with misleading information and a false identity onto enemy shores. What follows is an act of wartime deception unlike any other. Based on Ben Macintyre’s historical text of the same name, Operation Mincemeat features powerhouse performances from both Firth and Macfadyen, and a plot full of memorable turns and nail-biting subterfuge.
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.
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.
138m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, 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.
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.
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.
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.
117m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson
Directed by
Joe Penna
From Gravity to Passengers, the sci-fi-meets-thriller sub-genre has seen a lot of attention over the last decade. Stowaway, a new entry to the fold, honors the close-quarters iconography of the flicks that came before it while delivering its own unique set of thrills. Our story follows a three-person crew (Toni Collette, Anna Kendrick, and Daniel Dae Kim) on a voyage to Mars. After takeoff, the trifecta discovers a fourth passenger is also onboard, a presence that threatens the lives of the four space-bound humans. Faced with life-or-death decision making, Stowaway leans on the acting gravitas of its main ensemble and tight script to tell a familiar yet gripping story of choices and consequences.
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.
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.
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.
101m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Stars
Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton
Directed by
Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson
Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) are lifelong best friends and paramedic co-workers operating in New Orleans. When a series of horrific accidents are called into the duo, the pair believes it will be work as usual. That is until Dennis’ daughter disappears, forcing both men to question the true properties of a dangerous drug that has been found amongst all the accident victims. Is the drug capable of actually bending time in some way? Or are Steve and Dennis beginning to lose their minds with all the pressure at work. A mind-bender with tinges of sci-fi-like bits of bread crumbs along the way, Synchronic will make you ever more empathetic to the lives and hardships of first-responders — especially those affected by dimension-breaking narcotics.
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.
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.
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.
127m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Comedy
Stars
Matthias Schweighöfer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ruby O. Fee
Directed by
Matthias Schweighöfer
Serving as a prequel to Zack Synder’s adrenaline-pumping Army of the Dead, Army of Thieves was co-written by Matthias Schweighöfer and Synder and directed by Schweighöfer. Our story follows Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), 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.
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.
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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.
116m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Directed by
Tom Ford
When art curator Susan Morrow receives the manuscript for her ex-husband’s latest novel entitled Nocturnal Animals, she begins reading the book. As Susan unpacks the novel, we watch the prose unfold onscreen. In the text, a teacher (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his family have a horrific run-in with a pack of miscreants on a deserted country road, leading the patriarch down a twisted path of revenge. The more Susan reads, the more she realizes how several events of the book echo significant moments from her past with Edward (also played by Gyllenhaal), her writerly ex. A tension-packed modern noir laced with incredible performances, Nocturnal Animals is one you don’t want to scroll past.
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.
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.
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.
Genre
Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Cast
Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgård, 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 Skarsgård), 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.
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.
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.
118m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Thriller
Stars
Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
Directed by
J Blakeson
Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike) is a daring and destructive Massachusetts con artist. Malicious in ways most of us could never be, Marla targets the elderly. Her modus operandi? A court-appointed legal ward, she and her lover, Fran (Eiza González), make their living by funneling the assets of their octogenarian clients via legal means. That is, until they cross paths with Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), a wealthy senior with no living family — the perfect target for Marla and Fran. It just so happens that Jennifer comes with some not-so-forgiving mafia connections. What unravels is a vicious game of sharks versus sharks as the mob closes in on Marla’s daring exploits. Featuring a fantastic performance from Pike and a nail-biting script, I Care a Lot dares to be bold and does so more than effectively.
103m
Genre
Thriller, Drama
Stars
Javier Gutiérrez, Mario Casas, Bruna Cusí
Directed by
Àlex Pastor, David Pastor
In The Occupant, Javier Gutiérrez stars as Javier Muñoz, a high-ranking executive who falls on hard times. Forced into unemployment, the big earner watches as his luxurious penthouse home is put on the seller’s market. When new tenants move in, the psychologically troubled Javier becomes obsessed with the occupants and begins making himself known to them in unsavory ways. Gutiérrez is a standout in The Occupant, packaging corporate greed, intellect, and a touch of humanity into a chilling lead performance that truly steers the film.
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.
82m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Mystery
Stars
Christopher Abbott, Mia Wasikowska, Laia Costa
Directed by
Nicolas Pesce
Reed is a near-homicidal family man who needs an outlet for his inner rage. So, he decides on a prostitute. Not for sex. For murdering. What he didn’t expect was Jackie (Mia Wasikowska), a call girl just as cunning, sadistic, and merciless as Reed himself. When the two get together, Reed’s killer plan disintegrates before his eyes, and a wicked game of cat and mouse begins. Piercing is an adaptation of Ryū Murakami’s novel of the same name, source material that writer-director Nicholas Pesce pays great respect to. This vision is only furthered by the perfectly-cast Abbott and Wasikowska, two versatile actors who flourish as the wretched psychopaths of Piercing.
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.”
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.
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