Film & TV
There’s nothing wrong with action-packed flicks. But when it comes to really bringing home the thrills, the movies that work best are the ones that get in your head: The psychological thrillers that make you feel the unease and suspense right along with the characters and linger in your mind long after the credits roll. That’s why we're celebrating some of the genre’s best offerings right now—and since we know you’re going to ask, we’re focusing right off the bat on the best psychological thrillers that you can watch on Netflix right now.
The Gift
The Gift operates on a tried-and-true psychological thriller premise–past wounds are reopened when a creepy figure from one's past appears. In this case, the target is Simon Callem (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall), and the menacing figure is Gordon "Gordo" Moseley (Joel Edgerton) who starts dropping by the house. He always shows up with gifts, but his true nature begins to reveal itself as the strange “friendship” sours.
Related: 12 Chilling Thrillers You Can (and Should) Stream Right Now
City of Tiny Lights
City of Tiny Lights stars Riz Ahmed as a private detective. Our protagonist is, of course, drawn into a mystery that is much more complex than it first appears. There’s a lot going on here, including everything from terrorism to secretive government operations. Naturally, not everyone is telling the whole truth.
Donnie Darko
2001’s weird surrealist horror flick Donnie Darko was must-watch material for a generation of disaffected teens, horror buffs, and stoners. You may be surprised to discover that it still holds up, and its unsettling psychological thrills are the perfect find if you’re hunting for a good psychological thriller on Netflix. Hey, maybe this time you’ll “get” the weird bunny-suit thing. Maybe.
Kaleidoscope
It’s a bit shocking that Toby Jones hasn’t been in more psychological thrillers. Something about his presence transmits the perfect mix of pathos and psychosis. This film, written and directed by his brother, nails the growing sense of unease so necessary for a potent psychological thriller. Although it’s flown a bit under the radar, Kaleidoscope is one of the best psychological thrillers on Netflix.
Related: 8 Psychological Thriller Books That Will Torment You For Days
The Invisible Guest
This Spanish psychological thriller is one of Netflix’s best offerings in the genre. A moody thriller with a flair for the dramatic, it takes itself seriously enough to get the viewer wrapped up and then follows through with a thrilling, satisfying ending that ties up every twisted thread.
The Interview
The Interview focuses on a police interview that pits a detective against a man with nothing left to lose. Viewers are initially left in the dark as to the nature of the crime, and the claustrophobic movie contains its action almost entirely within the small interrogation room. Through dialogue and flashbacks, a clever and unexpected plot soon emerges.
Related: 15 Killer Mystery Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Moon
Moon is a science-fiction movie that begins quietly–more psychological than thriller, perhaps. But as it builds ominously towards its climax, it begins to feel more and more like a thriller after all. Marked by scientific realism and a paranoid claustrophobia that makes it feel part-thriller, part-horror, Moon is a film that everyone should see at least once.
The Ones Below
This British thriller plays of the paranoias of parenthood. Our protagonist is a mother who lives with her husband in an apartment building. Her downstairs neighbors are strange, to say the least: They are jealous first of her pregnancy and then of her child. Their jealously soon becomes too insistent to ignore.
A Patch of Fog
Stephen Graham stars in this creepy psychological thriller about the power of secrets. The troubling plot kicks off when a novelist and TV host, Sandy Duffy, is caught shoplifting by a security guard. Shoplifting is a habit for Duffy, but the security guard is willing to keep what he saw to himself in exchange for “friendship.” The thrills arrive soon after, as Duffy’s new “friend” turns out to be a pretty demanding and creepy guy to pal around with.
Sun Choke
This enthralling thriller sets up a tense relationship between two women that grows more unsettling as the movie unfolds. Janie is being held inside her home by Irma (scream queen Barbara Crampton), who puts her through a variety of tests and rituals supposedly meant to restrain her violent tendencies. But which of the two is the bigger danger is never fully clear …
Featured still from "Donnie Darko" via Pandora Cinema
