10 best thriller movies of 2024

2024 was an interesting year for action movie films. With the exception of a few classic films, almost all of the year's best thrillers are best described as belonging to some other genre. Some of the best films of 2024 are thrillers, but few are traditional thrillers. The evolution of filmmakers' sensibilities is apparent because genre hybrid thrillers may have been around forever, but the best thrillers of the 2010s are generally more conventional. 2024 was not the year for thrillers with wild and strange endings, and the year's thrillers use dramatic tension to explore social realities.

Thrillers create thought-provoking and anxiety-inducing circumstances to take viewers on a journey of introspection and contemplation. Pacing is the defining characteristic that determines the extent of discomfort the audience feels. The faster the pace, the more anxious they become, but this is not always the perfect choice, especially if a thriller aims to make viewers uneasy by making them uncomfortable instead of immediately jumping to the film's next baffling revelation. The other definitive element is uncertainty, as the characters' circumstances lead viewers to introspect about how they would have reacted in the same situations.

10

Trap (2024)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

With the exception of a few brilliant films, M. Night Shyamalan's entire filmography is a demonstration of how average execution can generate new and clever ideas. Trap has all the ingredients of another quintessential Shyamalan film in that regard, but is surprisingly a cut above the rest, managing to hold the viewer's attention as he meanders his way through his journey to determine which generic convention - comedy, crime, music, should be fully committed to. . to. THE Chaotic mix of genres makes for a fascinating, if confusing, thriller only Shyamalan could do it.

The most disappointing detail about Trap it's the absence of Shyamalan's signature final twist, the game-changing revelation that makes viewers reevaluate the entire film, which is a surprisingly consistent element in his films. However, there's no shortage of twists and jokes in the silly crime thriller, led by a satisfying performance from Josh Hartnett as a flawed character who does his best for his daughter.

9

Continuation (2024)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

While Orphan without a doubt it remains his best work, Jaume Collet-Serra Continue is the second best in his filmography. This impressive return sees him return to his familiar genre of high-concept location thrillers. After some disappointing box office hits for Disney and Warner Bros., the director returned with a mid-budget action film for Netflix, and it worked out for the best. Continue is elevated by Collet-Serra's stylistic direction, delivering a Christmas thriller worth watching.

Continue It's practically a remake of Die Hard 2but better. Taron Egerton walks through the airport in a scene reminiscent of Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible film and Jason Bateman finally plays a serious character after a long time, this time as a practically omnipresent sociopathic villain. Of course, there is also a metaphor for how the traffic department and the transient nature of airport activities reflect the transitional period in Egerton's character's life. Tonal inconsistencies aside, the infectious action makes Continue it is worth it.

8

Rebel Ridge (2024)

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier

Aaron Pierre's latest action thriller proves why James Gunn made the right decision by casting him in the DC Universe Green Lantern series as John Stewart. Filled with social commentary about racism in the United States law enforcement system, Rebel Ridge Lacks Saulnier's usual atmospheric directing styleas in Green Room or Blue Ruinbut this allows you to achieve the sense of realism necessary for the commentary to land.

Rebel Ridge reopens the always relevant dialogue between abstaining from violence and lethal retaliation against corruption. However, the policy is not memorable, and what really stands out Rebel Ridge it’s the action choreography and cinematography. The blocking and framing of Pierre's stunning action will keep viewers' eyes glued to the screen, in awe of his physicality and technical skill.

7

Civil War (2024)

Directed by Alex Garland

Alex Garland continues to be a divisive filmmaker whose films attempt to explore the harsh realities of a potential apocalypse. Even a film in which a group of fictional journalists invest in clicking images of a terrible civil war, especially the execution of the president, Civil War tries to make the most of its premise with strong performances and a clear cinematic vision, but it never truly commits to the believable strangeness of these characters.

The director had achieved something similar with Men before Civil war. Despite being a cold, detached exploration of the steely-eyed, vulture-like photojournalists who prioritize business above all else while putting themselves in danger for their work, Civil War is sometimes indulgent with its presentation of gore. The best example of this is Civil Warcontroversial use of real images.

6

Juror #2 (2024)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood was almost 20 when the courtroom drama masterpiece 12 angry men was released. Nearly seven decades later, at age 94, he made his own version of the film, and while it's not as compelling as the 1957 film, its exploration of guilt and gray morality is as powerful as it gets. Nicholas Hoult's moving performance as the protagonist complements Eastwood's patient direction to create the sense of anguish it provides. the perfect setting for the main character's emotional growth throughout the film.

With a captivating premise that pits the titular second juror against every other jury member who is convinced that the man on trial is guilty, the film adds a personal interest to the character, making him more anxiety-inducing than the knockoffs that 12 angry men inspired over the years. The last decade of Eastwood's career focused on exploring the moral ambiguity of powerful people in positions of social responsibility and on an ambiguous courtroom drama film like Juror #2 it is the definitive setting for such a story to be told.

5

Monkey Man (2024)

Directed by Dev Patel

Dev Patel clearly loves action thrillers and has put his heart and soul into it. Monkey Man to create a chaotic and passionate action blockbuster. It does away with the smooth, polished style that recently enchanted Hollywood with John Wick and takes the action back to the days of elaborately messy sets filmed with a shaky camera. The intriguing clash between the emotionality of Patel's eyes and facial expressions and the physicality of his imposing frame creates the perfect canvas for him to paint his preferred form of action-thriller sensibility.

A lack of visual polish is its own form of flavor in Monkey Manwhere the decadent settings contribute to the complicated characterization of the protagonist, who exploits suffering and sadness to spread more suffering and sadness, without realizing that he is becoming selfish in his quest by surrendering to his anger. Patel also attempts to ground the character and his surroundings in political, religious and geographic contexts, but the exploration of politics and spirituality is always done in service of the character and nothing more.

4

Love Bleeding Lies (2024)

Directed by Rose Glass

Uncompromisingly strange and strange, Love is bleeding is a fun and intense cross between whirlwind romance and crime thriller. The sizzling chemistry between lead actresses Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian imbues all of their shared scenes with a frenzied sexual tension that builds in the form of explosive, destructive expressions of pent-up energy in the moments when a life of crime threatens to catch up. for them. O'Brian's imposing physicality clashes with Stewart's carefully composed but barely restrained criminal personality to create the cacophony of generic conventions that elevate Love is bleeding to levels above your contemporary crime thrillers.

Like a rollercoaster of emotions united by the romantic adventures of two lesbians running away from one of their parents, Love is bleeding it's refreshingly raw. It stylistically combines the neo-noir conventions of dark, polished visuals and gritty protagonists with the despicable, rough-edged characterization of exploitation crime thrillers. The body and mind become metaphors for sites of visual and emotional experimentation, such as Love is bleeding treads the usual narrative beats of an anxiety-inducing thriller, pushed forward by unbridled sexual energy before delivering an unforgettable climactic image of bodily triumph.

3

The Substance (2024)

Directed by Coralie Fargeat

Coralie Fargeat's engagement with feminist discourse continues with her latest film. Like this Revenge (2017) employs the female gaze in the sexploitation genre to create a revisionist rape-revenge narrative, The substance uses a feminist lens and conventions of the body horror genre to address the monstrosity of body politics in the film and modeling industries. With a haunting premise that is relatable for its simplicity, devoid of any technical complexities, it explores body image issues in an actress the industry considers to be past her prime.

Fargeat does not hesitate to create shocking metaphorical images for his reflections on the role of bodily presentation in an industry that profits from the parade of bodies in the name of creating art. She provides Demi Moore the platform to deliver the best career performanceespecially in the unforgettable makeup scene. Margaret Qualley is as attractive as ever, commanding attention with her impressive stage presence. Unfortunately, the film, in its attempt to criticize sexualization and bodily fragmentation in the media, sometimes runs the risk of participating in the use of the very gaze it opposes.

2

Conclave (2024)

Directed by Edward Berger

The Pope's death inspires malicious and dramatic infighting among the cardinals of the Catholic College. With this premise, Berger creates a small-scale thriller in Conclave who is admirably aware of its large-scale consequences. The holy, pious men are deconstructed to their confused, selfish cores, each of whom is simultaneously struggling with the pain of loss and the potential to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming Pope.

The sharp contrast between the visuals, comprising traditional settings and costumes, and the characterization defined by modernist perspectives and behavioral patterns creates a tension that transforms the dark drama into a thriller. The use of sacred themes to explore the characters' dispositions, especially the concept of predetermination, makes Conclave particularly exciting because the conclusion is clear from the beginning, but the path to that ending is absolutely uncertain.

1

Anora (2024)

Directed by Sean Baker

Almost the entire execution time of the anora it feels like a deceptive stunt by the director to ensure viewers can't predict the emotional weight of the final scene that will inevitably pull the rug out from under their feet. Sean Baker uses a premise suited to a beautiful woman-esque story, but instead creates an intensely hilarious adventure of misadventures that are equal parts scary and funny. The protagonist's tender characterization is a hallmark of Baker, whose films consistently destigmatize sex work.

Thus the climactic deconstruction of a carefully and meticulously constructed persona appears to be the final shocking twist that establishes anora like a action movie beyond any doubt. Mikey Madison's layered performance and palpably withdrawn portrayal of a bold, outspoken character keep audiences glued to the screens as she takes them on a wild ride, just as her husband did with her, disappearing when troubles arose. While anora may not offer anything new to the comedy-thriller genre, the ending elevates itself to a level where its Palme d'Or win feels deserved.