15 Psychological Thriller Movies That Will Make You Think

Parasite describes the struggles of the Kim family, who live in a low-income neighborhood. Ki Woo is given the opportunity to work as a tutor in a Mr. family one day. Park is extremely wealthy. After being accepted, Ki Woo intends to send his impoverished family to work with the Parks.

Finally, the Kims attempt to work with the Parks by carrying out their plan. Eventually, the entire Kim family moved into the Park family’s home and experienced the rich atmosphere.

Usually, Asian movies get less attention in the international world. However, Parasite is quite different. It managed to get extraordinary awards and appreciation from the international world. At the prestigious 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite managed to win 4 trophies through the Original Screenplay, International Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Picture categories.

Watch Parasite on Hulu | Netflix

2. Inception

Some people say that dreams can make people cross multi-dimensional boundaries. Be it past, future, or another world. Others believe that dreams have their own meaning.

Have you ever had a dream where you felt you had control over the dream? You feel aware of everything you do and say. This event is called a lucid dream.

Inception tells the story of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) a con artist who is an expert in entering dreams and taking other people’s ideas. This unique ability makes it possible to perform an extraction.

A man named Saito (Ken Watanabe) offers Cobb a deal. Cobb will be brought back to America if he is able to complete the task of carrying out the implementation of ideas in a person’s head, which is called inception.

I am sure that the ending of this film will leave a lot of question marks for the audience. Me too, but try to watch without thinking about the plot and try to relax, then you will get a little enlightenment in every scene.

I highly recommend this film to watch in your spare time, but if you are stressed I don’t recommend it, other than that you will definitely be very satisfied watching this film.

Inception was directed by Christopher Nolan and won 4 Oscars and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music Score, and Best Production Design.

Watch Inception on HBO Max | Amazon Prime | Netflix

3. Ex Machina

The title of this film is like a twist from the Latin term, “Deus Ex Machina” which literally means “God of Machines” to Ex Machina.

The film tells the story of a programmer named Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) who wins an employee raffle at the company he works for and is entitled to a prize for living a week in a super isolated house with his billionaire boss, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the creator of the most popular search engine in the world. world, Bluebook (or you can say Google Ex Machina version).

Nathan takes Caleb to his house to test his newest creation, an artificial intelligence android (AI) named Ava (Alicia Vikander) to see if he has created anything more than a machine. For that he needs someone, to do a special exam, in computer science this exam is known as the “Turing Test”.

Caleb then becomes decisive in this test through a conversation with Ava who is the object of the test, which in the story of this film will be carried out for seven days.

The film is clearly allegorical, an interesting story about AI, whose main theme is the philosophy of artificial intelligence. This is not for those who want spectacular action or CGI, this film is for people who like to think, rather than wait passively to be entertained.

Watch Ex Machina on HBO Max | Amazon Prime | Netflix | Hulu

4. Arrival

Arrival does not tell the story of the invasion by the aliens to rule the Earth. This film takes another point of view; the language they use and how humans and aliens can communicate using symbols.

On an unexpected day, the Montana sky saw a very large alien object. Montana is one of 12 other places around the world to experience this. Confused about this and worried at the same time, a team was formed. Louise, who works as a linguist, is then appointed as an alien language translator.

Arrival (2016) is quite different compared to other films about aliens. So far, we are treated to stories about invasions by aliens with the intention of taking over the Earth. Here, you don’t find that, but instead will be emotionally drawn in because the aliens named Abbott and Costello don’t threaten humanity’s very existence. They just want to offer weapons.

The offer is interpreted differently by the officials in this film. Ignorance is accompanied by prejudice, leading them to think that aliens are dangerous. The riots that occurred in many countries, especially after photos of aliens were spread, further strengthened this. Humans sometimes do not know anything, but instead, prioritize prejudice which results in self-destruction.

For fans of time travel theory, Arrival is not just an ordinary alien film, it also tests the speed of thinking, especially about events in the future and what is happening now. Curious and want to participate in interpreting the theories in this film?

Watch Arrival on HBO Max | Amazon Prime | Netflix | Hulu

5. Snowpiercer

The Snowpiercer film is very unique with a narrative made with imagination and high intelligence. For 126 minutes, you will watch a genius mix of dystopian scenarios set in the post-acopoliptic second ice age. Of course, it is dominated by the reflection of conflict in the social strata of society that triggers your emotions and thoughts.

Once on July 1, 2014, the problem of global warming (global warming) has been solved by a number of scientists with a formula called CW7 which is said to be able to make hot weather cool. Then CW7 is released into the atmosphere. The result: heat is solved, but the earth freezes. Life on earth is almost extinct.

Humans who survive – as well as a number of species – ride the last vehicle of mankind called the Snowpiercer or icebreaker, in the form of a train with a powerful engined locomotive capable of pulling dozens of carriages at once with a route around the world who knows how long.

Snowpiercer is a science fiction film made by Bon Joon-ho, as well as being the first work by a Korean director who almost entirely (about 85% of this film) uses English. The term ‘Snowpiercer’ (read: Snow Breaker) itself refers to a super-sophisticated carriage with an eternal engine that humans live in; that is the background of the events of this film.

The focus of this film is the struggle to restructure the system and order of life in the train led by the main protagonist, Curtis Everett (played by Chris Evans).

Watch Arrival on Amazon Prime | Netflix | Roku

6. Get Out

Being a producer or director of a horror movie is really tricky. On the one hand, there is a demand to make a scary and tense story. However, often many horror films are too concerned with a jump scare or sadism but forget about other important aspects.

That’s why it’s pretty common that horror movies are huge successes at the box office, but fail miserably in the eyes of critics. Well, it turns out that there are also horror films that do the opposite. Get Out is an example. This horror film managed to make big profits at the box office and also received a positive response from critics.

This anti-mainstream horror story begins with a black photographer named Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) who has been dating a white girl named Rose (Allison Williams) for 5 months. Leads to a serious relationship, Rose invites Chris to meet his parents. Chris knows that it will be difficult because Rose has not told her parents about her interracial relationship. In the end, Chris agreed to meet the Rose family. Chris’ visit was not as beautiful as imagined because he would experience events that would have never been thought of before.

Well, not only Chris who will experience unexpected things, you will also feel the same way. Get Out really has a completely unpredictable story. From the very beginning, this film will invite you to wonder about what really happened and what will happen next. You will also feel curiosity and confusion for 1.5 hours until this film reaches its climax. This film is full of puzzles like a puzzle. You have to structure it so that you understand the whole premise.

Watch Get Out in Amazon Prime | Apple TV

7. The Platform

The Platform tells of a strange feeding system in a vertical prison. The film, written by David Desola and Pedro Rivero, tells about human greed and social inequality in prisons. This film is packed with vile, dirty, and vulgar scenes.

Social inequality can happen anywhere. Even in prisons filled with criminals, this can happen. Like in the film The Platform, which last March joined Netflix. This Spanish film, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, depicts a brutal experiment on social conditions in a vertical prison.

This psychological thriller genre film tells about the eating system in a vertical prison. It is said to be vertical because there are many floors, filling 2 prisoners per floor.

The food distribution system turned prisoners into starving animals. A pulpit full of food will come from the top floor or floor 0 and will stop at every floor. This is why I say social inequality, because the lower the floor, the less food that comes. And the character of the residents is getting fiercer.

The story is packaged by David Desola and Pedro Rivero in an interesting way. They are not interested in connecting the spinning wheel of life with human greed. In the film, the lucky inmate is upstairs stupidly devouring the food and even soiling it. Almost every day, those below eat food that has been stepped on or has even been mixed with urine from the occupants above. Even though they realized that in the following month they might be placed on the bottom floor.

Watch Get Out on Roku | Netflix

8. Knives Out

Knives Out is about Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who investigates the death of Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) but on the one hand, he is also confused about who asked him to investigate Harlan’s death.

Harlan Thrombey is a rich mystery novel writer. On his 85th birthday, he mysteriously died. Harlan’s family who came together are now suspects.

They are suspected by the famous Detective Benoit Blanc who came to investigate this incident. To solve the mystery of Harlan’s death, the detective begins to talk to the whole family and find out who is behind the murder of the famous novelist.

Knives Out will be easily liked by all audiences. In addition to popular casting, enjoying the storyline is also light. The thing that might be an obstacle is the perceptions that are built from the cast. Strong memories of Daniel Craig as James Bond, or Chris Evans as Captain America can help build the premise that appears in the minds of the audience. Maybe that’s what Rian Johnson wanted.

Natural dialogues and comics are also interesting textures in this film. Not everything is important, and sometimes as a distraction. However, their existence as well as their musical background is a sign of the contemporary aspect of this classic genre of cinema.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix

9. Upgrade

Upgrade is a sci-fi, psychological thriller, with a cyberpunk theme directed by the brains behind the Saw franchise (2004-2017), Leigh Whannell. Of course, we expect a gripping sci-fi film in his hands. Lots of advanced technology is displayed that seems to be realized in the near future. In addition, this film displays a lot of interesting things to see.

In a future that seems not far from today, technology governs almost all aspects of human life. But not with Gray who is not very interested in technological advances. Suddenly his life is changed because of a heartbreaking event, and his only hope lies in the computer chip implanted in his body.

Predictions of the future as depicted in these films can happen if humans who hold technology do not have good morals, surely the technology in their hands will be used for bad things. There is truth in the words of a national scientist, “Science must be accompanied by faith.”

Because without faith and piety, the morality of a human being will be blurred. From there, dehumanization and moral depravity in human life can emerge. In films of this type, good and bad characters are always in the gray line, or at least we know which side he is on as the film nears the end.

Although Upgrade’s story ideas are not original, such as combining the TV series The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978) with Death Wish (1974), and not as good as Ex Machina (2014) in presenting a psychological thriller story in a cyberpunk world, the concept offered is quite down to earth. and acceptable to the audience and quite entertaining with humorous action scenes.

10. Tenet

Tenet is a film released in 2020 by a super-genius director (he said) who else if not the one and only Christopher Nolan. Nolan seems to have physics syndrome. He doesn’t get bored with talking about the physics theory of space and time. Ranging from parallel (sentimental) worlds such as interstellar to “upside down” worlds such as Tenet.

Tenet tells about how the world will be if the past is erased, for example, if you time travels to the past, and you kill your parents before they meet, then what will happen to you? There can be no future without the past. Nolan this time makes it easy for the audience.

The plot of Tenet runs linearly with the use of two-time settings. The way to distinguish the present setting from the past is the working mechanism of nature. In the view of people who visit the past, the object will move backward due to the entropy of the object in the laws of physics, also they have to use oxygen aids brought from the present.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix | HBO Max

11. Shutter Island

Even though it has been released for more than 10 years, Shutter Island is still interesting to watch. In addition to having a cool story premise, this film with a duration of almost two hours presents the famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio as the main star.

Well, if you are a fan of the psychological thriller genre film, Shutter Island can be a fun spectacle reference to watch on the weekends.

Set in 1954, Shutter Island tells the story of a police officer named Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is assigned to solve a mysterious case at the Mental Hospital where prisoners with mental disorders are located on a remote island called Shutter in Boston Harbor. , Massachusetts.

Together with his partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Rfallo), Daniel tries to investigate the disappearance of a patient named Rachel Solando who was arrested for the murder of his three children. Before being known to have disappeared, Rachel herself had left a note that read “THE LAW OF 4 WHO IS 6”. This then becomes a mysterious clue for Teddy and his partner, Chuck.

The presence of this psychological thriller which was released in 2009 has indeed caught the attention of world audiences. Shutter Island is a film adaptation of the popular novel of the same name by Dennis Lehanne in 2003. Lifting the story of a hidden crime, this film can indeed make the audience immersed in the storyline while thinking about various possibilities that may occur.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix | Roku

12. Se7en

All religions teach the concept of reward and sin. The concept is intended to suppress bad deeds that may be done by humans and invite humans to do good. By being a good human being, the essence of religion can be achieved. Therefore, the concept of reward and sin has been instilled from an early age so that the boundaries of the two can be distinguished.

In Christianity, there is the concept of the seven deadly sins or the seven main sins. These sins can encourage people to commit other sins. In the film Se7en, there is someone who tries to realize the concept of the seven main sins by killing.

Lieutenant William Somerset is a detective who is about to retire. He found a new partner in the police service, namely David Mills who had just moved to the city where Somerset lived. Mills then introduced his wife, Tracy, to Somerset. Somerset and Tracy begin a friendship.

Tracy told Somerset she was pregnant but hadn’t told Mills. The reason was that Tracy wasn’t happy in her new city and felt it wasn’t the right place to raise a child. Somerset understands the condition because he and his ex-girlfriend have experienced something similar. He also suggested that Tracy tell Mills about the pregnancy news.

Somerset and Mills are assigned to investigate a murder case that attempts to realize the seven main sins. There have been two murder victims. The first victim was a man who was tied to a chair and forced to eat to death. On the wall of the room is the inscription Gluttony.

The second victim was a prosecutor who died after being forced to cut flesh from his own body. On the room carpet, there is the word greed or greed.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix | Peacock TV | HBO Max

13. Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue is a Japanese animated film (anime) by Satoshi Kon which was released in 1997. This film is arguably Kon’s best work which is still included in the list of the best anime films to date.

For those who are not fans of anime, Perfect Blue is guaranteed to still give an impression because its storyboards are seriously designed like Hollywood psychological thriller films. This anime film has the same vibe as Black Swan (2010) and Shutter Island (2010).

Mima Kirigoe is an idol from a group called CHAM! Wanting to change her image as an adult woman, she decided to leave the group and start a career in acting and modeling. However, Mima’s career transition turned into a situation that shook her mind and soul.

The situation gets worse when he realizes that he has a stalker and the emergence of various sadistic murder cases that are strangely related to him.

Not only psychological problems that are already complicated, Mima also has to face various strange murder cases around her. Not only contains vulgar and sensual scenes, Perfect Blue (1997) also features some gore scenes that are quite painful. There are also some violent scenes.

Overall, Perfect Blue is a fictional anime film with references based on relevant facts of all time. This anime is an iconic one because of the story and aesthetics that are displayed visually, regardless of all its limitations. Perfect Blue is arguably the best work by Satoshi Kon that must be watched.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Roku | Apple TV

14. Nightcrawler

When an alien from the planet Krypton becomes an innocent reporter for the daily “Daily Planet,” the story of Superman is born. When a mutant goes public as a geeky photographer for the daily “Daily Bugle,” the Spiderman story is born. But what if a psychopath chooses to become a freelance journalist? The Nightcrawler movie was born.

Broadly speaking, Nightcrawler tells the story of Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young man who finds it difficult to get a job. Fate brings him together with Joe Loder (Bill Paxton), a freelance journalist who specializes in supplying “bloody” video news, whether about traffic accidents or about crimes that occur in the city of Los Angeles.

It was from Joe that Lou got the idea to make money by selling field coverage to television stations. Armed with a simple camcorder that he got by selling stolen bicycles, Lou started his career from scratch as a freelance journalist. He recruits Rick (Riz Ahmed) as his assistant. This journalism business leads Lou to meet Nina (Rene Russo), the person in charge of the morning news broadcast of a private television station.

Lou’s obsession with achieving success in the field of criminal journalism was welcomed with open arms by Nina, who wanted to be the number one supplier of morning news in Los Angeles. Both are drunk by the desire to succeed to the point of forgetting the ethics and journalistic code in delivering news.

Without going too far, Nightcrawler tells viewers about the importance of keeping track of the track records of public officials. Do not let a psychopath transform into a news provider, for example, or a supplier of policies and decisions in parliament, in parties, or in government.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix | Roku | HBO Max | Disney+

15. Interstellar

A team of scientists is sent into space to answer the call of the possibility of finding a planet that could host the next human life.

Penetrating the wormhole, they intersect with the relativity of time when they must carefully determine every step before humanity on Earth is wiped out due to dust storms and food shortages.

Interstellar is an epic sci-fi film by Christopher Nolan that presents a science fiction story with a fairly accurate approach to science about astronomy and physics, this film stars Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

In 2067, Earth is hit by a sandstorm and crop pests that make food scarce. Joseph Cooper, a former NASA pilot turned corn farmer, lives with his two children, Tom and Murphy, and his father-in-law, Donald.

After a sandstorm hits, Cooper finds an oddity in Murphy’s room that is a variation of gravity and then translates it into coordinates. Together with Murphy, Cooper headed for the coordinates that turned out to be the secret NASA headquarters led by Prof. John Brands.

The professor explains their mission to save humanity, which is to find a location on another planet to live on. Since the appearance of a wormhole around the planet Saturn 48 years ago, they immediately sent 12 volunteers to search for the planet.

Of course, Interstellar is one of the best sci-fi films brought to you by one director with a very extraordinary vision. In addition to the endless tension and visual beauty, we are also invited to squeeze our minds to try to understand what is shown, even though it is still very difficult for us to digest.

Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime | Netflix | Roku

Related: