Some people love them and some hate them. Psychological thrillers are designed to mess with viewers' heads, rather than filling screens with the gore and jump scares of horror films. While not everyone loves the genre, there are psychological thrillers that don't inherently feel like it.
Some thrillers don't feel like thrillers, because there's so much going on to occupy the mind. Whether it's humor, deep emotions, or purposefully confusing storylines, these psychological thrillers are bound to enthrall viewers who have never enjoyed the classic Silence of the Lambs type of thriller.
10 Fresh Is A Dark Take On The Ultra-Rich And Their Twisted Tastes
Fresh (2022) stars Sebastian Stan (Steve) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Noa). The two meet in a grocery store and are quickly drawn to each other. They go on a few dates, and Noa falls head-over-heels for the charming, handsome Steve.
When Steve takes Noa on a trip, she quickly learns that everything isn't what it seems, and Steve's intentions aren't pure. This movie is fun and witty, while also dark and twisted. Some moments will leave viewers' mouths agape, but overall, they'll get sucked in by the story alone.
9 Black Swan Conveys An Unreliable Narrator
Black Swan (2010) stars Natalie Portman (Nina) and Mila Kunis (Lily). Nina is a ballerina in New York City, where her company is putting on a production of Swan Lake. While the shy and pure Nina is the perfect fit for the white swan, the part she longs for is the black swan, which is given to Lily.
Nina descends into madness, overwhelmed by the pressure of ballet and her controlling mother. As Nina loses her grip on reality, the viewers do as well and are often confused about what's real versus what's happening as an extension of Nina's shaky consciousness.
8 Gone Girl Is A Revenge Plot For The Ages
Gone Girl (2014) stars Rosamund Pike (Amy) and Ben Affleck (Nick). When Amy disappears without a trace, Nick is the prime suspect due to his suspicious behavior and an incriminating journal Amy left behind.
As the story unfolds, viewers learn that nothing can be trusted, and no one is innocent in this tale of revenge. This movie is a mix between a murder mystery and a psychological thriller, and while it messes with viewers' heads, it won't frighten the way traditional thrillers do.
7 Shutter Island Deceives Viewers Until The Very End
Shutter Island (2010) stars Leonardo DiCaprio (Teddy) and Mark Ruffalo (Chuck). Teddy and Chuck are detectives who travel to the psychiatric facility on Shutter Island to investigate a patient's disappearance. Strange things start to happen, and Teddy gets caught up in a world that doesn't make sense.
Everything comes full circle at the end when viewers learn the truth about what's going on at Shutter Island. This movie can be quite confusing, as most Scorsese films are, and it would do viewers good to watch the movie a couple of times to absorb the full depth of its tragic story.
6 Gone Depicts A Kidnapping Victim Seeking Revenge
Gone (2012) stars Amanda Seyfried (Jill), a kidnapping victim who gets the sense that her kidnapper is back for revenge. Jill is the only victim to escape her kidnapper/serial killer, and a few years later, she feels he's coming back for revenge. The police don't take her seriously, stating she's paranoid, but when her sister goes missing in the same fashion she did, she leads the investigation herself.
This movie is twisty and dark, showing the lengths a woman will go to get back at the one who victimized her and is now doing the same to her loved one. Seyfried is great in this role, stepping into something darker than her traditional characters.
5 13 Cameras Leaves Viewers On The Edge Of Their Seat
13 Cameras (2016) stars Neville Archambault as Gerald, a homeowner who rents his house out to a young couple expecting their first baby. Gerald is a creepy, reclusive man who the couple has a weird feeling about.
They soon find out that Gerald has bugged their home with cameras and obsessively watches their every move. This movie is creepy and suspenseful, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. It also relates to real life, as secret cameras in hotels and vacation rental homes have made headlines over the last few years.
4 Zodiac Is A Fictionalized Version Of The Real Hunt For The Zodiac Killer
Zodiac (2007) stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Graysmith), Mark Ruffalo (Toschi), and Robert Downey, Jr. (Avery) as they hunt for the Zodiac Killer in 1970s San Francisco. Viewers see the reporters and detectives who worked to crack the case and how it affected their lives.
This movie is more procedural than scary, which makes it great for those who don't like psychological thrillers. It's based on real-life events, so there aren't fantastical plot lines or things that will scare the faint of heart, but it's a fascinating retelling of one of the greatest mysteries in criminal history.
3 The Woman In The House Is Silly But Twisted And Dark
The Woman in the House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window (2022) is a parody psychological thriller starring Kristen Bell. Although it's a series rather than a movie, it's still great for those who want a bit of mystery, but not too much.
This series is a mash-up parody of different psychological thrillers, including The Woman in the Window starring Amy Adams. It tells the story of a woman who abuses alcohol and prescription anti-psychotics, and witnesses a murder in her neighbor's house. Can she be believed? It's funny, while still giving viewers a bit of a thrill.
2 Psycho Is A Classic That Isn't Too Scary
Psycho (1960) is a classic psychological thriller centered around the murderer Norman Bates, a motel owner with a strange fixation on his mother. When viewers think of this movie, they probably think of the famous murder-in-the-shower scene.
While this movie is a psychological thriller, it's not very scary, especially compared to today's movies. It was revolutionary back in the '60s, as hardly anything like it had been done before. The fact that it isn't very scary makes it perfect for those looking for just enough of a thrill. Psycho even inspired a modern-day prequel series, Bates Motel, starring Freddie Highmore.
1 The Lovely Bones Is Emotional And Charged
The Lovely Bones (2009) stars Saoirse Ronan (Susie) and Stanley Tucci (George). Susie is a young girl in the 1970s who encounters her neighbor, George, on the way home from school. He convinces her to join him in the "playhouse" he created for the neighborhood kids.
Viewers later find out that Susie has been murdered, and her father and sister stop at nothing to find out what happened to her. This movie is tense, and viewers will be tensely involved throughout, anticipating what's to come. While it's a thriller, it's also very emotional, depicting the struggles a family goes through after a loved one is lost forever.