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".
Samurai Rebellion (1967)
8.4/10
Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yoko Tsukasa
Toshiro Mifune stars as Isaburo Sasahara, an aging swordsman living a quiet life until his clan lord orders that his son marry the lords mistress, wh... Read more
San Andreas (2015)
6.1/10
Director: Brad Peyton
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd, Archie Panjabi,...
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot (Dwayne Johnson) makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife (Carla Gugi... Read more
Sanctum (2011)
5.9/10
Director: Alistair Grierson
Starring: Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield
A scuba-diving expedition in New Guinea goes terribly wrong when disaster strikes the team inside a claustrophobic maze of caves. Can the leader (Rich... Read more
Savages (2012)
6.5/10
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron...
Living the beautiful life, successful young Californian marijuana dealers, Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and Ben (Aaron Johnson), suddenly find their lucrative... Read more
Savages (Blu-ray) (2012)
6.5/10
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron...
Living the beautiful life, successful young Californian marijuana dealers, Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and Ben (Aaron Johnson), suddenly find their lucrative... Read more
Saving Zoë (2019)
5.3/10
The high school freshman kid sister of the murdered Zoë finds her diary, which sheds new light on the murder missed by the police. She investigates. Read more
Saw (2004)
7.6/10
Director: James Wan
Starring: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Tobin Bell,...
Obsessed with teaching his victims the value of life, a deranged, sadistic serial killer abducts the morally wayward. Once captured, they must face im... Read more
Saw ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
7.6/10
Director: James Wan
Starring: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Tobin Bell,...
Obsessed with teaching his victims the value of life, a deranged, sadistic serial killer abducts the morally wayward. Once captured, they must face im... Read more
Saw II (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith, Tobin Bell, Franky G, Glenn Plummer
Tobin Bell reprises his (brief) role as the deranged psychopath only this time he's the main attraction. After allowing himself to be caught Jigsaw t... Read more
Saw III (2006)
6.2/10
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus MacFadyen, Donnie Wahlberg, Bahar Soomekh, Dina...
Jigsaw lives on. Once again he has eluded capture and this time the nefarious villain has a new apprentice (Shawnee Smith), and has kidnapped a docto... Read more