List of psychological thrillers

Films have influenced me within my production, as I already enjoy both thrillers and psychological thrillers. Here is a list of various films - some I have seen and others have not - which are highlighted as memorable motion-pictures within the psychological thriller genre:

http://listverse.com/2008/06/23/top-15-psychological-thrillers/ states that the following films are the top fifteen psychological thrillers of all time:

• 'The Talented Mr Ripley' (Anthony Minghella, 1999)


• 'Fatal Attraction' - (Adrian Lyne, 1987) - this is one of my more favourable films, with happily married Dan Callagher having an affair with his colleague Alex. However, once he decides to end it, she cannot accept this and things turn nasty


• 'The Game' (David Fincher, 1997)


• 'Cape Fear' (Martin Scorsese, 1991) - another one of my favourites, this remake follows family man attorney Sam Bowden and psychotic rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro). Bowden lost a case against Cady years before as he personally knew it wrong to save him by hiding a document, but once De Niro is released he makes sure Bowden pays back for all the pain and suffering he has achieved - by emphasizing psychotic sickness and loss


• 'American Psycho' (Mary Hannon, 2000) - a gripping, gory and sometimes intelligent thriller, which is full of cringey and gut-churning moments


• 'Les Diaboliques' (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955)


• 'Straw Dogs' (Sam Peckinpah, 1971)


• 'Play Misty For Me' - (Clint Eastwood, 1971)


• 'The Usual Suspects' - (Bryan Singer, 1995) - as studied in class, although confusing and perplexed at times, I overall enjoyed this slow-paced thriller as the tension was built throughout and the ending was superb and one of the most intelligent I have ever watched. I would like to view this film again, in order to add up the clues of the eventual criminal in the finale


• 'Memento' - (Christopher Nolan, 2000) - a favourite of mine, the flashbacks and use of narration makes this film's plot clever and unique. The wish for an happy ending is unsolved, which you subconsciously know all along.


• 'Se7en' - (David Fincher, 1995) - also studied the opening in class, this film intrigues me. It is based upon a psychotic serial killer, who murders people based around the Seven Deadly Sins


• 'Taxi Driver' - (Martin Scorsese 1976) - also studied the opening in class. This is one of my favourite films, based around an individual suffering from insomnia. We follow De Niro through New York, as he battles his way through this condition.


• 'The Manchurian Candidate' (John Frankenheimer, 1962)


• 'Rear Window' (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)


• 'Silence of the Lambs' - (Jonathan Demme, 1991) - A young FBI trainee is sent to interview a inn mate called Doctor Hannibal, as well as search for cannibal 'Buffalo Bill' - presenting both one of Jodie Foster's most infamous performances, as well as one of the most 'vile, crazed killers shown in movie history'

Above: an image of Dr. Hannibal, from Silence of The Lambs - noted on of the most famous psychological thrillers of all time.