Thrillers & Suspense
Thriller and Suspense Films promote intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension.
A genuine thriller is a film that relentlessly pursues a single-minded goal, to provide thrills and keep the audience cliff-hanging on the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax. Plots of thrillers often involve characters which come into conflict with each other or with outside forces - the menace is sometimes abstract or shadowy.
Below is a grand line-up of the best in contemporary Thrillers & Suspense made since 1965. Following a similar theme, with generally a darker look is the "Film Noir" feature, well worth checking out. The exploits of "James Bond 007" may also be accessed stage left.
Right: Frances McDormand makes an arrest in the Coen Bros "Fargo".
Minette Walters: The Sculptress (1996)
7.5/10
Director: Stuart Orme
Starring: Pauline Quirke, Caroline Goodall, Christopher Fulford
Olive Martin (Quirke), a heavily overweight young woman is convicted of killing and butchering her mother and sister and sentenced to life imprisonmen... Read more
Mirage (1965)
7.4/10
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Starring: Diane Baker, George Kennedy, Gregory Peck, Jack Weston, Kevin McCarthy, Walter M...
Edward Dmytryk ("Murder, My Sweet"/"Cornered") directs an excellent diverting thriller in luminous black and white, scripted by Peter Stone (wrote "Ch... Read more
Mirrors (2008)
6.2/10
Director: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Cameron Boyce, Erica Gluck, Amy Smart, John Shr...
Kiefer Sutherland is ex-NYPD cop Ben Carson, dumped by his wife, just quit drinking, and working the nightshift as security in an old burned-out depar... Read more
Misery (1990)
7.8/10
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Frances Sternhagen, James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth
Stephen King's tale about a successful romance novelist who's nursed back to health after a car crash by his number one fan - who turns out to be a se... Read more
Misery ( Blu-ray ) (1990)
7.8/10
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Frances Sternhagen, James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth
Stephen King's tale about a successful romance novelist who's nursed back to health after a car crash by his number one fan - who turns out to be a se... Read more
Miss Bala (2011)
6.5/10
Director: Gerardo Naranjo
Starring: James Russo, Stephanie Sigman, Noe Hernandez, Lakshmi Picazo, Leonor Vitorica, I...
Suspenseful Mexican crime thriller involves the plight of Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman), a poor Tijuana salesgirl who dreams of winning the local... Read more
Miss Meadows (2014)
5.8/10
Starring: Katie Holmes, James Badge Dale, Jean Smart, Mary Kay Place
Prim schoolteacher Miss Meadows (Katie Holmes) is not entirely what she appears. She is well-mannered, sweet, and caring, yes, but the candy-sweet ext... Read more
Miss Scarlet & The Duke (2020)
Eliza Scarlet joins forces with a Scotland Yard Inspector to solve crime in 19th century London. Read more
Miss Sloane (2016)
7.5/10
Director: John Madden
Starring: John Lithgow, Mark Strong, Sam Waterston, Dylan Baker, Alison Pill, Douglas Smit...
In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. Know... Read more
Missing (2023)
7.1/10
Starring: Nia Long
After her mother goes missing, a young woman tries to find her from home, using tools available to her online. Read more