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".
Year of the Dragon (1985)
6.9/10
Director: Michael Cimino
Starring: Mickey Rourke, John Lone, Ariane
"This is not Brooklyn. This is not the Bronx. This is not even New York...this is Chinatown."...And all Hell's breaking loose, as police captain Micke... Read more
The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
6.8/10
Director: John Schlesinger
Starring: Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton, Lori Singer, David Suchet
A based-on-fact dramatic thriller starring Timothy Hutton as a defense plant employee who uncovers proof that the CIA is secretly influencing the acti... Read more
Subway (1985)
6.6/10
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Isabelle Adjani, Jean Reno, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Michel Gal...
Fred (Christopher Lambert) is a successful safecracker who needs to find a hideout after robbing the wealthy and well-connected Helena (Isabelle Adjan... Read more
Mr Wrong (1985)
3.8/10
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Heather Bolton, David Letch, Gary Stalker
Aka "Dark of the Night". What would you do if the car you had just bought made noises like somebody's dying breaths. This made in New Zealand psycho... Read more
The Falcon and the Snowman (Blu-ray) (1985)
6.8/10
Director: John Schlesinger
Starring: Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton, Lori Singer, David Suchet
A based-on-fact dramatic thriller starring Timothy Hutton as a defense plant employee who uncovers proof that the CIA is secretly influencing the acti... Read more
Thief of Hearts (1984)
5.7/10
Starring: Steven Bauer, Barbara Williams, John Getz, David Caruso, Christine Ebersole, Geo...
If you met Ray and Mickey Davis, you'd swear they had a perfect marriage. But if you read Mickey's diary, you'd know that unrest is lurking just benea... Read more
Fear City (1984)
5.7/10
Director: Abel Ferrara
Starring: Tom Berenger, Billy Dee Williams, Melanie Griffith, Jack Scalia
A serial killer who is an expert at martial arts is preying on strippers in Manhattan's Times Square. Night after night, he visits smoky strip clubs,... Read more
Cloak and Dagger (1984)
6.7/10
Director: Richard Franklin
Starring: Dabney Coleman, Henry Thomas, Michael Murphy
Davey Osborne (Henry Thomas from "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial") is an imaginative youngster who loves role-playing games and who often enlists the aid... Read more
Red Dawn ( Blu-ray ) (1984)
6.4/10
Director: John Milius
Starring: Ben Johnson, C Thomas Howell, Charlie Sheen, Harry Dean Stanton, Jennifer Grey,...
It's gung-ho action all the way as a troop of small-town teenagers take on the Commies when the U.S. of A. gets invaded. Opening with a truly memorabl... Read more
Trial Run (1984)
4.8/10
Director: Melanie Read
Starring: Annie Whittle, Judith Gibson, Christopher Broun
Rosemary didn't know how fast she could run... until she had to run for her life. There are three things that matter to Rosemary Edmonds (Annie Whittl... Read more