My favorite genre of movie is the mystery thriller. It’s just a combination of two other great genres, making movies both mysterious and thrilling. It’s a magic combination all right. One of my favorite in the genre is 8MM, which turned out to be a surprisingly good flick considering Nic Cage starred as the lead role. Apart from movies, the twilight zone is probably one of the best mystery thrillers when it comes to television. But in this article I’ll just be running through movies. Here are my top 10 best mystery thrillers of all time.
8MM (1999)
This film is incredibly dark and a little disturbing at times, but it is gripping throughout. It follows a private investigator who is hired by a wealthy old woman and given a very strange and specific task. The old woman discovers an old piece of video footage in her dead husbands possessions. The film appeared to show a woman being murdered on film. The old woman wanted to know if the film is real or not, and that was the job she gave to the investigator. She he goes deep into the dark world of the stuff film business in order to find out.
Fracture (2007)
Fracture is just one of many films featuring Anthony Hopkins as an evil mastermind. It tells the story of a clockmaker who murders his wife in a way the police can’t pin him on. This begins a rivalry between him and a local lawyer, determined to prove his guilt. But the evil man is ruled out as a suspect and declared innocent. Despite this, the lawyer continues in his attempts to find answers. It was instantly called one of the years best mystery thrillers of the year by critics, who seemed to love it.
Shutter Island (2010)
Shutter Island is one hell of a movie. DiCaprio starrs as a US marshal sent to a mysterious island with the aim of locating an insane criminal who escaped a high-security mental hospital on the island. On the island, the hospital guards demand his gun and act in mysterious ways. The longer he stays on the island, the more he feels like he’s losing his sanity. It soon becomes apparent that he needs to confront the demons of his past. He starts to believe the hospital officials are plotting to frame him as being insane and keep him there forever as a mental patient. But does he have time to escape?
Chinatown (1974)
So many of Polanski’s films have been names among the best mystery thrillers that it’s just ridiculous. But Chinatown really belongs on this list. It follows a private detective who is employed to spy on a man believed by his wife to be having an affair. All he aims to do is expose the man, but fate has other plans for him, as he incidentally finds himself involved in a web of criminality. It’s easily one of the films of the decade, which is why it was nominated for eleven Oscars. The film noir influence combined with modern production and unique techniques makes it a real gem.
The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
The Devil’s Advocate starred Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino as the two lead roles, so it was always going to be good. It tells the story of a talented lawyer in the process of making a name for himself in Florida. He is approached by an incredibly wealthy businessman and given the opportunity to work for him. He accepts, affording a new life of luxury for him and his lover. But the longer he works for his new boss, the more difficult his life becomes and the more stress piles onto his personal relationships – the opposite of what he was working so hard for.
Source Code (2011)
Source Code is quite a clever scifi about a man who wakes up to confusion, not even knowing who he is. Over the next few days, he learns of his participation in a military experiment in which he is responsible for identifying and preventing a terrorist from committing a murderous act. The movie brought in almost 150 million dollars at the box office. The film is noted for it’s originality and gripping writing. You never know what to expect next! It is rated at 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which is really high for a website known for having harsh judging standards.
Unknown (2011)
Unknown seems like it was written for it’s lead actor, Liam Neeson, as it feel rather similar to Taken. Both movies are some of the best mystery thrillers of the last 10 years. The film follows the story of a bloke who recently awoke from a deep coma. He sets out to continue his life in Germany, but that’s easier said than done. He soons finds his identity has been stolen and no one recognizes him. Not even his loving wife. So is he just imagining the whole thing? Is he still in a coma? Maybe he’s just crazy? Those are the type of questions you’ll be asking through the whole run time.
Secret Window (2004)
Secret Window is based on a novel by Stephen King, like so many other films are. The plot revolves around a successful writer who recently separated from his wife, so he lives alone in the middle of the woods. One day, a man approaches him and accuses him of stealing a story he wrote for a book. The man threatens him with physical violence unless he can prove the story wasn’t stolen from him.The writer hires a private investigator to help him, but the stranger grows incredibly aggressive. The film has a great plot twist at the end that hardly anyone expects – genuinely deserves the number three spot on our list of the best mystery thrillers.
The Interpreter (2005)
The Interpreter follows a female interpreter who works at the United nations. She was raised in a fictional African country for some reason, and the president of that country is possibly in line for being put on trial internationally. Amid the whole chaos, she learns of a secret plot to assassinate an official there. Because of this, she becomes a person of interest in the eyes of the American secret service. Because of the assassination plot, the UN facility is completely evacuated and all hell breaks lose. The whole situation just gets even more complex and mysterious from there.
Identity (2003)
Identity is the mother of all mystery thrillers. A man finds himself, and a group of others, trapped at a run-down motel in the middle of nowhere. Over time, members of the group are slowly murdered one by one. But no one knows who the killer is – it could be anyone. As their numbers swiftly decline, things start getting a little desperate. It has the best twist ending I’ve ever seen, and the plot is gripping from start to end. It’s a psychological one so prepare your mind for visual romance. I kinda feel like watching it right now actually, it’s been a while. It stars John Cusack as the panicking lead character, desperate to discover the identity of the murderer. And he finds out.