Psychological thrillers have a long history of sending chills down audiences’ spines. Leading characters and moviegoers alike outside their mundane, secure conception of life, these films send us on wild goose chases filled with secrets to be unearthed and terrifying opponents.
Prime Video, which is home to shows like The Legend of Vox Machina and The Boys, has a plethora of psychological thrillers with profound assertions about life, morality, and power. As the world is in the midst of a spooky season, what better way to celebrate than to dive into some of the most celebrated psychological thrillers found on Prime Video?
11 Coherence (2013)
Coherence sees James Ward Byrkit’s science fiction and thriller in his directorial debut. The film focuses on Emily (Emily Foxler) and several of her friends who endure a set of strange experiences following the sighting of Miller’s Comet. Beginning with an innocuous dinner party including her boyfriend Kevin (Maury Sterling) and their mutual friends, the only peculiarities emerge when Amir (Alex Manugian) brings Kevin’s ex-girlfriend Laurie (Lauren Maher) to dinner. Tensions rise when the power goes out and the group realize that there are more visitors than intended.
Coherence (2013)
Release Date August 6, 2013
Cast Emily Baldoni , Maury Sterling , Nicholas Brendon , Lorene Scafaria , Elizabeth Gracen
Runtime 89 Minutes
Main Genre Sci-Fi
The Scariness of Seeing Double Explored
Spent submerged in the dark, the characters and their respective fears make for a chilling look into a popular “what-if” scenario envisioned by many. Inspired by The Twilight Zone, the film masterfully highlights the eerieness of the unknown, especially when it appears in familiar shapes and faces. The breaking down of fundamental trust and consideration of supposed friends only heightens the tension, resulting in a bizarre yet engaging thriller that sees its characters confront their own reality in contrast to a fantasy that carries a stronger appeal.
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10 A Simple Favor (2018)
A Simple Favor invites audiences into the seemingly quaint lives of Connecticut mothers. Mommy vlogger Stephanie’s (Anna Kendrick) rather mundane life turns upside down after she meets and befriends Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). The two share drinks, fun memories, and secrets. However, one day, Emily vanishes, sparking a Stephanie-led race against time that leads to a truth more mystifying than anything. While the film basks in its darkly amusing tone, A Simple Favor undoubtedly has moments that strike fear into the minds of its audiences.
Release Date September 14, 2018
Runtime 119minutes
A Twisted Concoction of Laughs and Screams
Upon its release, A Simple Favorearned both commercial and critical celebration, so much so that fans eagerly await a sequel that was greenlit this past spring. Between the various implications that arise following Emily’s disappearance and the complex truth that emerges after Stephanie’s investigation, A Simple Favor offers audiences much to fear about its characters and their circumstances as much as it offers hilarious moments.
9 Charade (1963)
Charade sees Cary Grant and Aubrey Hepburn starring in an enthralling combination of romance, comedy, and thriller. When Regina Lampert (Hepburn) treats herself to a vacation in the French Alps, she plans to relax and enjoy the scenery before she divorces her husband Charles. There she meets Peter Joshua (Grant), and immediately, the two make a connection. Reggie’s trip, however, takes a turn for the worst when she is notified of her husband’s murder. The two attempt to make sense of his death when a secret from his past catches up with both of them.
Charade
Release Date December 5, 1963
Director Stanley Donen
Runtime 113 minutes
A Gratifying Example of Genre Fusion
Famously referred to as “the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never made” by the National Catholic Register, Charade continues to stun audiences with the mesmerizing chemistry between the two leads, as well as the genuinely shocking developments. Alongside the captivating mystery and Reggie’s relationship with the charismatic Peter, one can not help but appreciate the scenery. Not only does the film offer wondrous backdrops, but said locations contribute to the peculiar case at hand.
8 The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden combines the suspense of a thriller, the warm touch of a secret romance, and an adrenaline-rushing drama to make a rather riveting period piece. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the film opens with Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo), an ambitious yet sly poser, planning to swindle a Japanese noble named Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). Through Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a pick-pocket he sought after, Count Fujiwara hopes to marry Lady Hideko for her wealth, planning to have her committed to an asylum. What transpires, however, is an exhilarating game of chess that upends early expectations.
Release Date June 1, 2016
Cast Min-hie Kim , Tae Ri Kim , Jung-woo Ha , Jin-woong Jo , Hae-suk Kim , So-ri Moon
Runtime 145
A Dynamic Game of Cat and Mouse
If not for the sapphic tension reverberating throughout the estate or for the intriguing backstories of its characters, The Handmaiden manages to stun audiences with the series of mind games embedded in the story. The frequency of deception within the story, as well as the darkly genius traps the characters lay out for each other, make for a movie that is nothing short of compelling. Additionally, the audience gains depth in understanding the various class, gender, and ethnic dynamics under Japanese imperialism.
7 The Neon Demon (2016)
Many forms of media have explored the idea of a character stepping into what appears to be a shimmering utopia where dreams are made of, only for said character to find themselves drowning in the dark abyss of the city’s vices. The Neon Demon follows sixteen-year-old Jesse (Elle Fanning), who leaves her home state of Georgia after being orphaned.
Opting for Los Angeles, Jesse quickly establishes herself as an upcoming model and befriends a photographer named Ruby (Jena Malone), the latter of whom introduces Jesse to fellow models Gigi (Bella Heathcote) and Sarah (Abbey Lee). Between vivid dreams and villainous peers, Jesse’s experience in the industry takes a turn for the worst, one harrowing situation after another.
The Neon Demon
Fame, Dark But Just a Game
While earning mixed reviews upon its premiere, The Neon Demon offers an insightful gaze into the normalized abuse that occurs within the entertainment industry. While some moments may seem underdeveloped, the vagueness provides more than it detracts, giving audiences a clue into the true nature of the characters at hand, who shroud their material obsessions behind thinly veiled but ultimately appropriative associations with the otherworldly. The true horror of The Neon Demon lies in the lengths one is willing to go to take that first step in turning their dreams into reality.
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6 Elephant Song (2014)
Elephant Song is an intriguing film that follows a psychiatrist based in an asylum, and his growing interest in a particular patient. Dr. Toby Greene (Bruce Greenwood) engages in a mind game of sorts with Michael (Xavier Dolan), one of his patients. The film quickly descends into an unnerving amalgamation of displaced memories and shocking revelations, especially when news of a colleague’s disappearance reaches Dr. Greene.
A Game of Tricks and Time
Adapted from the Nicolas Billon-penned play of the same name, the film went on to earn generally favorable reviews, with some commending the film for its reliance on unpredictable twists and rich storytelling. While others found issues with the cinematography in relation to the film’s progression, performances from both Greenwood and particularly Dolan were cherished for transforming a typical asylum thriller into an engaging gaze into the complex nature of memory and the greater capabilities of the mind.
5 Green Room (2015)
Green Room is a 2015 psychological thriller starring the late Anton Yelchin, Patrick Stewart, and Imogen Poots. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the film follows a punk band’s bizarre experience in a remote club after coming across a group of Neo-Nazis. The Ain’t Rights, comprised of Pat (Yelchin), Sam (Alia Shawkat), Reece (Joe Cole), and Tiger (Callum Turner), opt to perform at a nearby, notably Nazi-run event. However, when a sickening surprise awaits them in the green room, the band finds themselves fending for their lives.
Release Date April 15, 2016
Director Jeremy Saulnier
Runtime 95 minutes
A Chilling Adrenaline Rush of a Film
A limited release, Green Room was a critical success. The shared desire for survival between the bandmates, a visceral disgust at the obvious evil surrounding them, and the excellent pacing all coalesce into a particularly gripping film. Green Room may not dig any deeper into more nuanced territory, but it is one of the rare films that is equally as simple as it is intelligent, and most importantly, gruesomely terrifying.
4 The Gift (2015)
The Gift sees director Joel Edgerton star alongside Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall in a chilling thriller about a couple’s escape from their traumatic past, despite a living reminder haunting them at every turn. When Simon (Bateman) and Robyn (Hall) opt for a new life in the Windy City, everything is seemingly going as planned. That is, until Simon’s high school friend Gordo (Edgerton) reappears and makes a huge effort to help said couple with their moving in process.
Release Date January 19, 2001
Runtime 111 Minutes
Main Genre Horror
A Dark Unnerving Experience
The Gift earned praise, not only for its intriguing story and delightful surprises, but also for the direction. Seeing Edgerton’s labor and imagination as a co-director, performer, writer, and producer is nothing short of impressive, especially with a captivating story as such. Following Simon and Robyn as they unearth mysteries about Gordo and themselves is a sublime concoction of tension, suspense, and disillusionment. Homes are, ideally, where one feels the safest, and a film like The Gift toys with the illusion of such being shattered by a familiar face.
3 Memento (2000)
Memento sees Guy Pearce star as Leonard Shelby, a man who wakes up with little to no recollection of what transpired moments before. Living with anterograde amnesia, Shelby relies on photographs, hand-scribed notes, and tattoos to help regain important memories. Throughout the film, Shelby relies on these visual remedies to help piece together the events leading up to the murder of his wife, and those responsible for said bloodshed. Blending neo-noir tropes with expectations of a psychological thriller, Memento is anything but straightforward.
Release Date May 25, 2001
Runtime 1hr 53min
A Pleasantly, Disorienting Ride Down Memory Lane
The Nolan-directed thriller excels in inventive storytelling, offering an intriguing plot that deviates from traditional structure. Through the use of non-linear narratives and an imaginative juxtaposition between black-and-white scenes and color sequences, Memento exists as a stimulating puzzle of sorts. As Shelby attempts to piece together his life, and the countless tragedies, together, the audience also has a chance to actively decipher what Shelby may have forgotten, resulting in one of the most refreshing stories one could indulge in.
2 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the more recognizable thrillers and for all the right reasons. With a cast including Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glen, and Ted Levine, the film follows Clarice Starling (Foster), an ambitious detective who relies on the insight of Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a notorious serial killer, in hopes of thwarting the plans of Buffalo Bill (Levine). The film sees Clarice engage in various, intriguing mind games in the hope of finally catching Bill, and ending his reign of terror.
The Silence of the Lambs
A Uniquely Thought-Provoking Mystery Thriller
The film is both controversial and compelling, especially in its discussions on gender. From Clarice’s role as a woman in a violent, male-dominated industry, to Bill’s controversially-displayed, frightening relationship with gender, the film leaves much to discuss. Using identity as a vehicle, alongside well-crafted motifs, the film is a fascinating exploration into the human mind, desires, and the complexities of both. Even outside of spooky season, The Silence of the Lambs is a must-see.
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1 Get Out (2017)
Get Out shattered expectations and ceilings alike after its premiere in the late 2010s. What began as a romantic getaway quickly turns into a disturbing race against time, one that feels all too real even at its most surreal. Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Alison Williams) are a New York-based couple who opt for the scenic route while traveling to the latter’s remote family abode upstate. Plagued with uncomfortable discussions and strikingly bizarre behavior, Chris soon realizes that there is more than meets the eye to Rose’s family.
Release Date February 24, 2017
Runtime 103
A Surreal Nightmare Come to Life
A masterful amalgamation of science fiction, thriller, and horror, Get Out broadened audience perspectives. Peele excels in melding discussions about the dehumanization of black people through fetishization with classic horror tropes like constant fear that follows a character designated as prey, and the flimsy web of secrets and lies that collapses at the right moment. A satisfying release of built-up tension, inventive plot progression, and a slew of convincing portrayals, Get Out may very well be remembered as one of the defining thrillers of the 2010s, if not the century.
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