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".
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
On the Job (2013)
7/10
Director: Erik Matti
Starring: Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Angel Aquino, Shaina Magdayao, Empres...
When a prominent drug dealer is murdered, police Sergeant Acosta (Joey Marquez) and Federal Agent Coronel (Piolo Pascual) lead the investigation, but... Read more
Back in the USSR (1991)
4.9/10
Director: Deran Sarafian
Starring: Frank Whaley, Roman Polanski, Natalya Negoda
A young American tourist in Moscow becomes involved in the Russian underworld when he's framed for murder. Frank Whaley, Natalya Negoda and Roman Pola... Read more
The Replacement Killers ( Blu-ray ) (1998)
6.1/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Jurgen Prochnow
Chow Yun-Fat follows the footsteps of Hong Kong action auteurs Jackie Chan and John Woo with his own bid to crossover into mainstream Hollywood fare.... Read more
The Sin Eater ( aka The Order ) (2003)
7/10
Director: Brian Helgeland
Starring: Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Benno Furmann, Peter Weller
AKA 'The Order' Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland writes and directs the compelling religious thriller - renegade Catholic priest Heath Ledg... Read more
Midnight Lace (1960)
6.9/10
Director: David Miller
Starring: Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Herbert Marshall, Myrna Loy
As a newly-wed heiress, Doris Day is slowly being driven mad by life-threatening phone calls and near-fatal "accidents". Although Rex Harrison, her su... Read more
Rambo: First Blood Part II ( Blu-ray ) (1985)
6.4/10
Director: George Pan Cosmatos
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff
Sylvester Stallone returns as Vietnam vet Rambo, returning to Southeast Asia on a "red herring" mission to search for MIAs the government left behind.... Read more
Pink String and Sealing Wax (1946)
6.7/10
Director: Robert Hamer
Starring: Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers, Gordon Jackson, Sally Ann Howes
Belying its whimsical title, this Victorian era thriller tells the story of an adulterous wife who hatches a cunning plan to kill her abusive husband... Read more
M.W. (2009)
5.5/10
Director: Hitoshi Iwamoto
Starring: Yuriko Ishida, Ryo Ishibashi, Takayuki Yamada, Hiroshi Tamaki
When a top secret compound called M.W. (pronounced 'mew') infects an island community, the military moves in to kill the victims and cover up the stor... Read more
The Last King of Scotland ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson, James McAvoy, David Oyelowo, Simon McBurney,...
Forest Whitaker walked away with the Best Actor Oscar for his complex portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Adapted from the novel by Giles Foden, t... Read more