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Top 10 Best Thrillers

By Ally Sinyard · December 20, 2011

“The concept of “thriller” falls somewhere between a genre proper and a descriptive quality that is attached to other, more clearly defined genres – such as spy thriller, detective thriller, horror thriller. There is possibly no such thing as a pure, freestanding “thriller thriller.” (Thrillers by Martin Rubin). Already I am treading on dangerous ground, so I shall try to be clear: I am looking at 10 films that, quite simply, “thrill.”

Thrillers succeed in providing suspense, more often than not by exploring the darker side of life. I am looking at films that make the nightmares real and reality nightmares. Thrillers are about the presence of “certain feelings in excess” (Rubin). We are vulnerable as an audience and are allowing ourselves to be emotionally manhandled. We’ll be shocked, horrified, swept away and generally taken on the “roller coaster ride” that is the cliché we all love so much.

As this genre is such an unstable one, I feel I must apologise if there are certain favourites that have been missed out; for example, I considered including The Shining, but it is considered by most to be a horror rather than a thriller. This is THE list to look at if you’re trying to find a film that will liven you up a bit in these cold, dozy winter months!

10. Jaws (1975)

Back in 1975, if it was thrills you were after, Jaws certainly delivered so much so that many people feared ever going into the sea again! Famous for its heavy advertising and for being the first film to be realised simultaneously in hundreds of screens nationwide, Spielberg made sure that The Fear spread like a virus as quickly as possible. However, it’s not all about the shark! This film is a top thriller because it doesn’t go for the easy target. Roger Ebert remarked that what made the film such a thrill was the way that its central characters had been developed “into human beings.” You could identify with your heroes more and be genuinely scared for them. The biggest testament to Spielberg’s work comes from Frank Rich of The New York Times, who wrote that “It speaks well of this  director’s gifts that some of the most frightening sequences in Jaws are those where we don’t even see the shark.” Given the, err, not-so-realistic qualities of the shark, this was probably for the best… Jaws became the highest grossing film of its time and a “benchmark in the art of delivering modern blockbuster thrills” (Rotten Tomatoes.)

9. Black Swan (2010)

Ok, so it might be a controversial choice to include a film that is still so fresh, but Black Swan absolutely floored me. Out of all of the films on this list, Black Swan is the one that literally “thrilled” me the most. The world we are pulled into is intense and fast-paced, and we share Nina’s (Natalie Portman) living nightmare. Mixing fantasy and reality in a successful way such as this is always going to hook the audience as we all search for the truth. Then, of course, there are the beautiful dance pieces accompanied by the positively electric score consisting of both dance music from The Chemical Brothers and classical Tchaikovsky.  However, its theatricality divided critics. Some found it a little over the top whilst others declared themselves “swept away” (The Sydney Morning Herald.) I see no problem with theatricality as long as it is not incongruous to the piece. If you relax and allow yourself to be totally sucked into the world of Black Swan, then you will be taken on one of the most thrilling cinematic journeys that the 21stCentury is yet to produce.

8. Double Indemnity (1944)

As #1 on my recent “Top 10 Film Noir” list, it seemed only appropriate to include the top film noir in a list of top thrillers, as the genres do seem to merge. This film absolutely set the standard for future film noir and thrillers, introducing the sexy femme fatale archetype and leading the way with noir’s unique aesthetic. Critically, Double Indemnity was well received and praised as an original thriller, although some found the racy content a little uncomfortable. The film also caught the attention of Alfred Hitchcock, who would then go on to write to director Billy Wilder that, “Since Double Indemnity, the two most important words in motion pictures are ‘Billy’ and ‘Wilder.” When it comes to thrillers, Hitchcock is certainly not a man I’m going to argue with!

7. The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense was an unexpected blockbuster that became a hit through word of mouth and positive reviews. It earned over $670 million in 1999 ($880 million against today’s economy.) As well as featuring one of the greatest performances from a child actor to date, The Sixth Sense also makes the list for being one of the best examples of the power of the twist ending. I won’t ruin it for you; although I’m sure if you haven’t seen it, you still know what I am talking about. M. Night Shyamalan lets the tension rise slowly and thrills you without relying on gore and effects. It has “all the style of a classical Hollywood picture, but all the chills of a modern horror flick” (Rotten Tomatoes.) Many have probably overlooked this film as just-another-cheap-horror but do not underestimate it. It has a great atmosphere and some truly chilling moments. You’ll be left feeling haunted…but in a good way.

6. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Of all the political thrillers concerning Government conspiracies and secrets, The Manchurian Candidate is certainly one of the best. Released at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, you might say that this is a film that really took a chance for its time! “A riveting portrait of early-60’s paranoia,” it never loses its edge and features one of the most intense and climactic endings in cinema history (David Everitt, “Entertainment Weekly.) The story centres on a man who has been brainwashed into becoming an assassin as part of an international Communist conspiracy. The catch is that he has absolutely no idea… and his mother is responsible. Angela Lansbury’s wonderfully evil performance is a highlight of the film and it cemented Mrs. Iselin’s place as one of cinema’s most memorable villains. A masterful thriller that remains so relevant that it “feels as if it were made today” (Ebert).

5. Psycho (1960)

As I’m sure my lovely readers are all very aware, Alfred Hitchcock is the Master of Suspense. If you don’t know who he is, spend 10 minutes in the Naughty Corner and then go and rent this film. Hitchcock broke many rules (including being the first person to show a toilet on film) and made up new ones as he went along. Psycho may not necessarily be his best work, but it is certainly the most well-known, as well as the top moneymaking film of Hitchcock’s career. #1 on the AFI’s list of “100 Years…100 Thrills,” Of course, there is the now-famous score, which Hitchcock himself said created “33% of the effect” of this film. It can be very easy for one to forget the power of both sound and silence in thrillers, but Hitchcock schools us here. There is also the pivotal scene of the murder of Janet Leigh’s character, better known as the famous Shower Scene. Killing off the main character 40 minutes or so into the film is one way to certainly shake up your audience. It creates the “Alienation Effect” more commonly associated with the theatre of Brecht. The audience is put on edge and is now fully aware that they are in a world where anything might happen. This sensation runs all the way through to the film’s triumphant and shocking climax. This film should be the first port of call for Hitchcock beginners.  A thrilling ride and a work of cinematic art!

4. Se7en (1995)

David Fincher is one of the finest directors working today. As well as Se7en, he is also responsible for The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Zodiac (2007) and of course, the newly-released version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011.) His thrillers are always exceptional. For me, Se7en is his finest. There are absolutely no weak links. The script, the craftsmanship and the performances compliment each other perfectly, and Fincher succeeds in visually creating a world that reflects its inhabitants: “dirty, violent, polluted and often depressing” (Fincher.) What is also interesting is that, in this story of the hunt for a serial killer, the murders themselves are never shown. The power of the thrillers seems to come from the ability to affect your audience without entering the realms of exploitation. Fincher is very selective in what he chooses to show us and this makes Se7en all the more thrilling, as we often are left imagining the sickest parts that we never see. This is just one of the many reasons why I love Fincher!

3. Old Boy (2003)

Old Boy has to be one of my favourite foreign films of all-time, as well as one of the best thrillers out there! Directed by Park Chan-Wook, it’s the story of a man who is kidnapped and held captive for 15 years. Suddenly released, he sets out to find his captors and take his revenge. The plot is incredibly well developed and all is slowly revealed to us like solving a puzzle. Similar to Memento, we learn as our hero learns. It reminds us of the power that a film can have by just having great storytelling. Old Boy is a “breath of fresh air to anyone gasping on the fumes of too many traditional Hollywood thrillers” (James Berardinelli.) Adapted from manga of the same name, its background brings a unique aesthetic to the film that appeals to 21stCentury audiences, whilst still reminding us of classic thrillers and revenge movies. Winner of the Grand Prix and Nominee for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2004, this film is an incredible eye-opener for those looking to broaden their horizons. Spike Lee is set to do a remake, but I don’t think you can improve on perfection!

2. Rear Window (1954)

It was a tough call to make between Rear Window and Psycho, but I would say that Rear Window is Hitchcock’s all-round best thriller. It goes just that little bit further, containing all of the suspense and thrills of Psycho but with more humour, wit, and artistic and technical skill. Although I enjoyed Psycho more for the intensity of the thrills, it is in Rear Window that we see Hitchcock exerting the “full potential of suspense” (Rotten Tomatoes). The tension builds throughout the entire film, rather than coming in waves. What also makes this film so effective is how we connect with our hero, L. B. Jeffries (James Stewart.) We are “accomplices” in his act of voyeurism, and so we share his morbid curiosity, fear, and guilt as the murder mystery develops (Ebert). We also share Jeffries’ frustrating physical restrictions, as the camera never leaves his apartment. We are thrust into this confined space and made to watch, powerless. For a thriller that really makes you identify with the protagonist and feel what he feels, Rear Window is The One.

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Like so many other films on this list, The Silence of the Lambs can undoubtedly be declared as one of the greatest thrillers ever made because of what it doesn’t do and what it doesn’t show you. There is no need for great amounts of gore and hysteria, because the power is in the story, the direction, the music and lighting; and of course, most importantly, the performances. Anthony Hopkins’ performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter is my favourite of any other character on this list. He is “the personification of brilliant, hypnotic evil” (Variety.) A great deal of this is also down to his movements and voice. Think back to your childhood, when you did something reaaaaaally bad. You knew you were going to get yelled at by your parent, but then they didn’t yell at you. They lowered their voice and almost spoke in a whisper. Hopkins performs as Lecter in a familiar way. You wait for him to lash out, just as you wait your telling off, because at least then you won’t have to suffer the suspense. It comes as no surprise that The Silence of the Lambs became the 3rdfilm ever to win Oscars in all Top 5 categories and still tops many “Top Thriller” lists.