That popcorn-spilling jump at a scary scene in a horror movie is one thing, but psychological thrillers get inside your head and stay there, for a totally different kind of scare that can linger long after the closing credits roll. For those who like to mull over movies (and aren’t too susceptible to nightmares) a slow-burn kind of fright is far more satisfying.
Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most accomplished psychological thriller filmmakers of all time, described the genre perfectly: “There is a distinct difference between ‘suspense’ and ‘surprise,’ and yet many pictures continually confuse the two.” Hitchcock’s talent, of course, was his ability to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next twist to finish turning. That said, he certainly isn’t the only one who has mastered the art of suspense over time — directors Jordan Peele, Martin Scorsese and David Fincher, just to name a few, have also created equally stirring films full of unexpected plot lines and characters who aren’t quite who they seem.
Whether you’re an avid psychological thriller fan looking for your next excite or trying to decide on a mind-bending flick to watch leading up to Halloween, we’ve gathered a list of the best hair-raising films the genre has to offer. Chances are, you’ll feel inclined to double check your door locks after watching these. And even if you’re not easily scared, you might want to sleep with the lights on, just in case.
The Woman in the Window (2021)
One night, while looking out the window of her New York City home, psychologist Anna Fox (Amy Adams) witnesses her neighbor being murdered across the street — or did she? Unable to leave her house due to agoraphobia and suffering from alcoholism and hallucinations, Anna struggles to make sense of what she thinks she saw.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This film adaption of Thomas Harris’s classic novel follows a young FBI cadet named Clarice (Jodie Foster) who needs help tracking down a serial killer. She ends up seeking the expertise of former psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibal murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) and the results are just as unsettling as you’d think.
The Girl on the Train (2016)
Every day on her commute, Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) catches glimpses of a picture-perfect couple as the train passes them by. When the woman goes missing, Rachel finds herself in the center of a missing persons investigation that gets less straightforward with every gasp-inducing revelation.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
When an 8-year-old boy says, “I see dead people,” you know you’re in for a spine-tingling ride. In this film, a little boy named Cole seeks help from a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) for being able to talk to the dead. If you don’t already know about the twist at the end, we’ll just say this: You’ll never see it coming.
