Top 10 Psychological Thrillers That Have Aged Well
#10: “Misery” (1990)
Stephen King often deals in monsters and otherworldly enemies, but he went with a more down-to-earth approach for “Misery.” The story concerns writer Paul Sheldon, who is imprisoned and tormented by a manic fan named Annie Wilkes. Kathy Bates is terrific as Annie, and her Oscar-winning performance remains terrifying and threatening. Furthermore, the themes that the movie presents are even more relevant today than they were in 1990. While “Misery” obviously depicts an extreme, it’s nevertheless interested in the idea of toxic fans and the senses of entitlement they often exhibit.
#9: “Don’t Look Now” (1973)
Another Top 10 Psychological Thrillers
Released back in 1973, “Don’t Look Now” stars Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland. They play Laura and John Baxter, two grieving parents who recently lost their daughter, Christine. The themes of grief are both timeless and universal, which has allowed the story to remain relevant throughout the decades. But perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the movie is its editing. Both unconventional and experimental, the editing works in tandem with the prophetic nature of the story. This style of editing was highly inventive back in 1973, and has remained fresh and invigorating well into the 21st century.
#8: “Memento” (2000)
This was Christopher Nolan’s major directorial debut, and it introduced the world to his unorthodox storytelling techniques and pacing. The story is fairly typical of a crime-thriller, as Leonard Shelby hunts the people responsible for his wife’s death. However, there are countless twists and turns. For one thing, Leonard has amnesia, and cannot remember important details he previously learned. Furthermore, the film contains a bizarre structure that requires some serious mental gymnastics (and maybe even a spreadsheet) to work out. “Memento” was a huge experiment, but Nolan and his team of filmmakers pulled it off flawlessly, resulting in a movie that’s nearly impossible to replicate and which has proudly stood the test of time.
#7: “Manhunter” (1986)
As technicaly impressive as “The Silence of the Lambs” remains today, its pseudo representation of the queer community through killer Buffalo Bill remains contentious, so we we’ll instead go with this related, underseen gem. Adapted from Thomas Harris’s novel “Red Dragon,” “Manhunter” follows former FBI profiler Will Graham as he attempts to find a killer known as the Tooth Fairy. Along the way, he’s forced to interact with his old nemesis, Hannibal Lecktor. Director Michael Mann managed the seemingly impossible - he made “Manhunter” stylistically “‘80s” while also keeping it timeless. The acting remains fantastic - especially Brian Cox’s incredibly eerie portrayal of Lecktor. The movie’s groundbreaking use of forensic science is also notable, as are its difficult themes about humanity and evil.
#6: “Mulholland Drive” (2001)
David Lynch is such a talented filmmaker that very few of his movies have aged. “Blue Velvet” remains just as unsettling as it was in 1986, and what may be Lynch’s masterpiece - “Mulholland Drive” - remains a masterpiece. Told with the typical Lynchian flair, the movie follows Betty Elms, an aspiring actor who navigates the merciless world of Hollywood. Lynch’s trademark surrealism has kept the movie fresh since its release in 2001, as no one does the whole “nightmare logic” thing quite like him. The film’s complex themes and meanings are also left open to personal interpretation, which rewards study and countless rewatches. Even if those rewatches last for decades.
#5: “The Conversation” (1974)
Top 10 Psychological Thrillers
While underperforming at the box office, Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” has long enjoyed critical acclaim. It won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, received a Best Picture nomination, and has been preserved in the National Film Registry. Gene Hackman stars as Harry Caul, a surveillance specialist who finds himself personally sucked into his latest mission. The film remains an impeccably acted and edited piece of work, and the passing of time has not sapped the story of its tension. But “The Conversation” has aged the best through its approach to technology, the role it plays in our everyday lives, and the surveillance fears that it so often inspires. Some movies are truly ahead of their time, and “The Conversation” was one of them.
#4: “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962)
Top 20 Psychological Thrillers
Despite being in black and white, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” has aged remarkably well. Movie icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford star as Jane and Blanche Hudson, sisters and former stage and screen stars who are cooped up in a mansion. Baby Jane Hudson is one of the finest villains in movie history, and Davis gives the performance of her incredible career. The movie also remains hauntingly atmospheric (the black-and-white photography certainly helps), and its themes surrounding relevancy and resentment may forever remain applicable to the entertainment industry. It’s a Hollywood movie about Hollywood starring two of its biggest legends, and it is a classic.
#3: “Taxi Driver” (1976)
One of Martin Scorsese’s best films, “Taxi Driver” is very much a product of its time. The seedy New York City it presents is vastly different from the one of today, yet the film’s themes and the characterization of Travis Bickle haven’t aged a day. Travis is the titular taxi driver who takes it upon himself to fight the urban decay of New York. The movie touches on many difficult yet universal issues, including crime, mental illness, and loneliness. Along his journey, Travis is generally ignored and descends further and further into his violent delusions. As a result, “Taxi Driver” can be viewed as a warning not just for the 1970s, but for all times.
#2: “Gaslight” (1944)
The recipient of two Academy Awards, “Gaslight” stars Charles Boyer as Gregory Anton, a man who constantly tricks and manipulates his wife, Paula. In other words, he gaslights her. In fact, the term “gaslighting” comes from this movie and the play from which it was adapted. The term didn’t become widespread until the mid-2010s (a full seventy years after the movie’s release), meaning “Gaslight” is more relevant now than ever before. Ingrid Bergman also gives a soaring and Oscar-winning performance as Paula, and it remains a tragically realistic glimpse into gaslighting victimhood.
#1: “Rear Window” (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of the taught psychological thriller. His movies are expertly paced, and their stories impeccably told. “Rear Window” is a classic of the genre and one of Hitchcock’s finest works. James Stewart stars as L. B. Jefferies, a photographer who’s trapped in his apartment after suffering a broken leg. He begins passing the time by spying on his neighbors, and he uncovers a horrifying plot in the process. The film speaks on our desires to be involved and entertained. These themes are especially prevalent today, with reality TV and social media giving us unprecedented access into others’ personal lives. Plus, “Rear Window” is just a really awesome movie that tells a tense and absorbing story.
