Great thrillers you probably never heard of!
A list of thrillers, old and new, you probably never heard of but are definitely worth watching. They are in no particular order and are generally safe for anyone to watch, even if you're a bit squeamish. If you can watch tv crime shows like CSI you'll be ok with these. Most of them are crime/thrillers but I threw in a few odd balls as well just for variety and because the odd ball flicks are damn good. Have fun!
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- DirectorDaryl DukeCurtis HansonStarsElliott GouldChristopher PlummerSusannah YorkA timid bank teller anticipates a bank robbery and steals the money himself before the crook arrives. When the sadistic crook realizes he's been fooled, he tracks down the teller and engages him in a cat-and-mouse chase for the cash.Nice classic 70's style light thriller that's more about the strategy than suspense. Gould is deceptively awesome, York is predictably useless & Plummer is plain wonderful! Some lovely little cinematic and surprising plot touches make this film special.
- DirectorDavid MarconiStarsFrank GrilloJaimie AlexanderRoschdy ZemA couple on their honeymoon in Morocco survive a deadly car accident in the middle of the desert.Don't be fooled by it's low ratings. This is a cool little sleeper that starts of a bit slow and confusing but turns into a right corker of a tale.
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsMichael GladisDan BakkedahlMax MinghellaAn office worker is trapped inside the building where a killer is on the loose.Low budget flick that's worth a watch if you like claustraphobic "1 location" suspense flicks. Could have been done better but still worthwhile and has much better production values than you expect! Better than the similar movie who's title I cant think of right now.
- DirectorBrad AndersonStarsKate BeckinsaleJim SturgessDavid ThewlisAn Oxford graduate takes up a job in a mental asylum, only to discover that the "revolutionary" new treatments are inhumane, and that there is more going on than meets the eye.Just watch it!!! :) It's excellent
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsDan StevensSheila KelleyMaika MonroeA soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.I'm not actually sure if this is well known or obscure so I'll include it here just in case. It's a MUST see. Very well produced & acted, great suspenseful story. I loved it.
- DirectorMary LambertStarsMeliseOlivia d'AboGavin HoustonA rebellious young woman is invited to a tropical island by her stepmother, only to have her life snatched away from her by another girl in a complicated scheme to steal the money her dead father left to her.It's not the best movie ever made & ranks a bit lower than most in this list but it's not a bad flick for a rainy afternoon. Grab some popcorn and settle in. Pretty good for a TV movie!
- DirectorJim MickleStarsMichael C. HallSam ShepardDon JohnsonWhen a protective father meets a murderous ex-con, both need to deviate from the path they are on as they soon find themselves entangled in a downwards spiral of lies and violence while having to confront their own inner psyche.Excellent cast including Michael C Hall (Dexter) & Don Johnson, this movie is brilliant. I rated it an 8 easily. This is a quality gritty crime/thriller.
- DirectorYves SimoneauStarsJohn C. McGinleyMolly ParkerBlu MankumaA woman spending Thanksgiving at the home of her friend's family in the rural Pacific Northwest finds herself in the clutches of a disturbed serial killer.This is the original Koontz story that the criminally over-rated horror movie High Tension (Haute Tension) ripped off but won't credit or admit it. Intensity is a million times better than High Tension in my opinion and doesnt have to rely on a lame unrealistic "plot twist" to try to impress it's viewers.
- DirectorBrian KingStarsDanny GloverLeelee SobieskiSteve ZahnTwo passengers and the conductor discover that a man has passed away on their night train cabin. They come across a mysterious object in a box the dead man was carrying and they all wish to keep for themselves.A fun whodunnit!!! Another low budget gem that has the feel of an old 80s mystery thriller. All set on board a train it has some serious set design issues and plot holes you could drive a.... well a train through but it's a good fun watch anyway. Just don't take it too seriously and you'll enjoy it.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDennis WeaverJacqueline ScottEddie FirestoneA business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.Another one I'm not sure ranks as an unknown but if you don't know it don't hesitate on this one. It's brilliant! Don't be put off by it's age, this one is definitely timeless.
- DirectorNicholas TomnayStarsDavid Hyde PierceClayne CrawfordNathaniel ParkerAn on-the-run convict looking for temporary cover finds it at the house of a very colorful character.DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER!! This is one hell of a surprising movie. MUST SEE!!!
- DirectorBrett A. HartStarsLuke GossLance HenriksenDee WallaceEddie finds himself being forced at a gunpoint, by an unseen assailant, on a dark and brutal journey through the harsh terrain of the Mojave desert. His nemesis is Jimmy, a man with an aberrant agenda; armed with a rifle, a scope, walkie-talkies and a truck, he has organized a series of ambushes and mantraps designed to push Eddie to the limits of his humanity and beyond.Not the best of the bunch, goes on too long, script needed work & the ending may not be as surprising as they think, but I've included it because it's so very unique & does have some great suspense & plot points. It's also got some of the most beautiful panoramic footage of the Mojave desert. This has some nasty sadistic moments and wont be for everyone.
- DirectorSteven C. MillerStarsRyan HartwigFabianne ThereseRay WiseFour heavily armed hitmen and two unusual teenagers go to war over $500,000 of stolen cash.Another one that has it's problems and I've mostly included for it's novelty value as well as some terrific acting from the young lead. One for those of you who like movies involving bad kids!
- DirectorDavid TwohyStarsMilla JovovichSteve ZahnTimothy OlyphantTwo pairs of lovers on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.I cant say enough good things about this flick. I absolutely love it and have watched it several times! Great tropical location too. The lead actor is the dude from Justified (tv series). Watch it!
- DirectorAdam GreenStarsShawn AshmoreEmma BellKevin ZegersThree skiers stranded on a chairlift are forced to make life-or-death choices, which prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death.Not the Disney animation & unlike the rest of this list (bar one) it's not a story about crime, just a suspense thriller about nature. This is an interesting film for it's one location setting (in a chair lift) and it's reliance on great acting to maintain interest and build tension. The cast suffered real extreme conditions to pull this one off!!! Highly recommended.
- DirectorAnthony WallerStarsMarina ZudinaFay RipleyEvan RichardsA mute make-up artist working on a slasher movie being shot in Moscow, is locked in the studio after hours. While there, she witnesses a brutal murder, and must escape capture.Very good movie that deserves more attention than it's received. A fave of mine.
- DirectorCarlos BrooksStarsBriana EviganCharlie TahanGarret DillahuntA thriller centered on a young woman and her autistic little brother who are trapped in a house with a ravenous tiger during a hurricane.Another movie that's not really based around a crime but is more focussed on a natural enemy. Wonderfully directed & filmed and happily not at all reliant on CGI - they used a couple of real tigers to create this edge of the seat gem!!