10 Thriller Movies That Are Nearly Perfect

Near-perfect thriller movies tend to perfect either the thrills or thematically, leaving the other missing. The best thriller movies of all time strike a balance between the two, providing audiences with stories that are nerve-wracking but convey something greater than what’s literally happening on screen. However, some titles cannot join the best thriller club because they miss one or several narrative or stylistic elements, possibly ruining the effect of the movie with too much unnecessary violence and jump scares.

Thriller movies that are worth rewatching are often so because they require the audience’s undivided attention to piece together the filmmaker’s intentions. On the other hand, the most confusing thrillers go too far in this direction and fall into perfection, because no one will find it without help. yet Many near-perfect thrillers are still worth watching because of all their better parts, And the discussions they provoke about what could be done better.

10

Emily the Criminal (2022)

Emily The Criminal’s filmmaking style is a bit blonde

Emily the criminal Is just a little lacking in the style that would make it a truly effective thriller. The filmmakers probably deliberately chose a simplistic approach to immerse the audience in the character’s everyday life, where they are just trying to get by, and regular financial troubles lead them to a life of crime. The script could have possibly used one or two more comments to drive its themes, which seem to be about its protagonist realizing she is suited for dangerous criminal activity and feeling empowered by it.

A few small improvements like this would have further enhanced what is already a deep thriller. Emily the criminalIts biggest strength is its depiction of the main character who is trapped in student debt and her inability to get out of it through any law enforcement means due to a competitive job market and her criminal record. Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi give strong performances, and the final scenes are an understated but powerful end to a good psychological thriller.

9

fair game (2023)

Fairytale is an intense drama but the ending is beautiful

Nice game Got a lot of attention after its impressive debut at Sundance, starring Netflix mega-star Phoebe Dynevor alongside the equally talented Alden Ehrenreich. Some critics bestowed nothing but praise on the film. Indeed, the intensity of a thriller emphasizes the strained relationship when the balance of power changes. The consensus is that Nice game is an electric thriller that illustrates terrifying gender politics When Emily is promoted over her fiance Luke.

however, Nice gameThe ending is most likely why it did not completely escape negative reviews, like few movies. Among their other complaints about the movie, including opinions about the performances that conflict with other reviewers, Hannah Strong (via Little White Lies) and Wendy Ide (by The Guardian) both imply that the final act is the weakest, possibly because Luke assaulting Emily is unnecessary. Nice game Would be just a little better if it would stop, as Ide calls it, its “Isly calculated cool” In the final stretch.

8

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

Gunpowder Milkshake could have been a great feminist action movie

Gunpowder milkshakeThe biggest weakness is that it underuses the power trio of Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino, All cast as supporting characters whose sole purpose is to aid Karen Gillan and Lena Headey with any character development of their own. If Gunpowder milkshake Wanted to be an amazing feminist action movie, it should have done a better job of highlighting and comparing the experiences of different women, establishing a motif of the obstacles they face in the underground espionage setting. However, the narrative is reserved for Gillan and Headey’s characters.

When some of the action sequences seem to drag on, it would have been too easy to give the supporting cast more dialogue. on the other hand, Gunpowder milkshake Interestingly draws connections to famous female authors And the villain has the beginning of a compelling monologue that reveals the psychology of the opposing side, but the response of the main character is missing. Gunpowder milkshake is a movie with seriously wasted potential but still features a great cast and aesthetic.

7

Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler could have benefited from a different ending

It is possibly a way for the audience to get the satisfaction of seeing the villainous protagonist punished in Nightcrawler While implying that the toxic work environment depicted is still a problem. Nightcrawler Follows a con man Louis Bloom as he begins to work as a freelance crime journalist on the scene and abuse his employee and business partner. It’s a psychological thriller that delves into Lou’s psyche and what he’ll do to succeed – which is pretty much anything. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance rivals some of the best movie supervillains.

however, NightcrawlerIts ending doesn’t quite resonate with the rest of the movie. A story that was just going to be about evil triumphing should have been more dramatic, though More ambiguity would be appropriate Nightcrawler. The thriller features strong performances from Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed and a compellingly disturbing main plot. However, his ending feels like the writers aren’t sure what else to do with the main character.

6

Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

Don’t worry dear has the foundation of a movie that could have carried some very sophisticated gender politics commentary. However, the whole plot amounts to a kidnapping conspiracy that is obviously bad but does not develop into any larger themes. Don’t worry dear Needed some of the inspiration that drove Barbie Or even Nice game To elevate the psychedelic concept of the virtual world in which women are imprisoned.

what Don’t worry dear Must Have is a new take on a classic sci-fi premise and an amazing cast, Including Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine and Gemma Chan. The 1950s suburban setting has a creepy feel throughout, but the offhand comments and interactions in this world don’t have as much bearing on the movie’s meaning as they should. The aura of this movie is wonderful; It just needs better dialogue and unspoken implications.

5

Bird Box (2018)

Sandra Bullock’s A Quiet Place is missing an emotional component

No one missed the similarities between the Netflix thriller Bird Box And the last beat A quiet placeAs it uses essentially the same premise except that humans must avoid looking at the aliens rather than alerting them with sound. Sandra Bullock is always excellent, and Sarah Paulson is a strong addition to any horror movie, though Bird Box Arguably underuses the latter. Despite its unoriginality, Bird Box Has a well-framed and non-linear narrative And awesome thrills in the dangerous journey that the main character undertakes with two children.

However, the movie’s emotional storyline is ham-fisted. Mallory is so emotionally cut off that she calls her children “boy” And “girl,” While the story seems like it wants to imply that the alien invasion forced you to change for the better. She considered giving her child up for adoption, but was prevented from doing so by circumstance; It awkwardly implies something valuable in Mallory being forced to become a mother. If Bird Box If a better bow had been invented for her, it would have had less of a money-grabbing feel.

4

I’m Thinking About Ending Things (2020)

I think about ending the themes of things are there but all over the place

Like some other modern horror movies, I am Thinking of endless things leans in the direction of commenting on women’s autonomy, But doesn’t quite follow through on it. The female protagonist finds herself in the uncomfortable situation of meeting the parents of a boyfriend she is about to break up with. It is implied that his flirting with her and her not feeling like she could so bluntly reject him ruined her relationship with another partner.

This theme is confused with the movie’s other motif of a fear of aging. The dinner party changes ages and clothes between shots, apparently as an illustration of aging rapidly in the blink of an eye. I’m thinking of ending things is a whirlwind of strange moments that are doubtless meant to represent something greater, But take some time to process. Ultimately, it seems like the movie is missing one beat to tie it all together.

3

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Now You See Me 2 adds to the weaknesses of the first movie

The first Now you see meThe biggest problem is that not all magic tricks are explained. When a few of them are broken, the audience wants to know how the horsemen did all the others, which certainly looks like real magic. Some character motivations are also hard to buy when they play their undercover roles so well. however, Now you see me is a big movie of glam and thrills, so things are tolerable. But they are becoming hard to ignore Now you see me 2.

in the sequel, Lizzy Caplan is a strong addition to the main cast, replacing Isla Fisher after her exit from the franchise. There are just as many mind-bending and delightful magic tricks in the service of the Horsemen’s Robin Hood picture, with the spectacular cast shining as they always do. It’s exactly what fans wanted from a Now you see me Sequel. However, the believability of the magic and the plot pushes the envelope, leaving some people behind the relatively easy to understand first installment.

2

Tenet (2020)

Tenet is an intriguing but notoriously confusing time travel movie

Tenet Not generally considered one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies but has some dedicated defenders. His take on time travel is like nothing ever seen before, relying on the characters physically moving in reverse as they go back in time. There are some satisfying twists involving an anonymous figure who has been someone important all along, and The main trio of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki have great chemistry.

The most common complaint about Tenet is that it is too confusing, With the trajectories of characters moving in different directions through time folding over each other several times. Tenet is also mildly lacking heart, with a point of all this does not completely come through. Although audiences doing the work to understand the plot is arguably a stimulation of the genre, Nolan could have better emphasized the importance of the protagonist protecting Kat and taking down her husband.

1

Last Night in Soho (2021)

Last night in Soho resolves the conflict as quickly as it began

Admittedly, most of Last night in Soho is amazing. Like a kind of horror version of Midnight in Paris, Last night in Soho A young fashion student in London is haunted by visions of an aspiring singer decades earlier, Witness how her life in the city quickly became a nightmare. Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith and Diana Rigg are all perfect in their respective roles. The movie exhibits some unnecessary gore, but conveys the terror of the two young women living in the city.

The one thing that would have done Last night in Soho Better would have been a stronger parallel between Eloise and Sandy. Eloise may feel out of her element in London, but she’s never in danger like Sandy is. The ending twist also undermines any potential theme of Eloise and Sandy being acquaintances. however, Most people will call Last night in Soho a great movie, As is the case with most thrillers that got *almost* everything right.

Source: Little White Lies, The Guardian