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".
The Presidio (1988)
6/10
Director: Peter Hyams
Starring: Sean Connery, Meg Ryan, Mark Harmon, Jack Warden
A San Francisco civilian police detective is forced to work on a series of murders with his former enemy commanding officer while dating his daughter. Read more
The Prestige (2006)
8.5/10
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, D...
Two budding magicians start out as friendly competitors and end up deadly enemies in this hypnotic, turn of the century thriller from director Christo... Read more
The Prestige ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
8.5/10
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, D...
Two budding magicians start out as friendly competitors and end up deadly enemies in this hypnotic, turn of the century thriller from director Christo... Read more
The Protector (1985)
5.8/10
Starring: Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello, Victor Arnold
Two New York City cops, Billy Wong and Danny Garoni, head to Hong Kong after the daughter of a rich businessman is kidnapped by the drug lord, Mr. Ko. Read more
The Protector 2 (2013)
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Starring: Tony Jaa, Jeeja Yanin Vismitananda, RZA
Kham (Tony Jaa, "Ong Bak") is the last in a long line of traditional guards who watch over Thailand's war elephants. When one of these elephants is st... Read more
The Punisher (1989)
5.7/10
Director: Mark Goldblatt
Starring: Barry Otto, Bryan Marshall, Dolph Lundgren, Jeroen Krabbe, Kim Miyori, Louis Gos...
Inspired by the infamous Marvel Comic Book anti-hero, The Punisher is a dark and brooding action packed trip into the violent underworld of crime. Whe... Read more
The Punisher (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Roy Scheider, Laura Harring, Ben Foster...
Based on the Marvel comics brutal anti-hero character and coming across like some down and dirty 70s revenge flick, "The Punisher" finds FBI agent Fra... Read more
The Punisher: Extended Edition (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: John Travolta, Roy Scheider, Thomas Jane, Will Patton, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Be...
Based on the Marvel comics brutal anti-hero character and coming across like some down and dirty 70s revenge flick, "The Punisher" finds FBI agent Fra... Read more
The Purge (2013)
5.7/10
Director: James DeMonaco
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Rhys Wakefield, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin H...
In the near future, the corporations that govern the United States have devised a way for citizens to release negative energy. It's called "the Purge,... Read more
The Purge (Blu-ray) (2013)
5.7/10
Director: James DeMonaco
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Rhys Wakefield, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin H...
In the near future, the corporations that govern the United States have devised a way for citizens to release negative energy. It's called "the Purge,... Read more