It’s hard to remain indifferent to a great thriller because it keeps audiences on the edge of their seats and evokes a wide range of strong emotions with its twists and turns. Furthermore, considering the universal themes they tackle, the thriller genre is one of the most compelling and thought-provoking in the film industry. It’s far from difficult to understand the appeal of suspenseful storylines. Inevitably, some manage to stand out more than others.
While countless iconic movie thrillers have captured the attention of viewers, some are overshadowed by their greatness, whether because they’re international or simply were not marketed enough among mainstream audiences. To celebrate the lesser-known flicks that also deserve your attention,we look back at 10 of the most underrated thrillers, ranking them by greatness.
10’The Last Seduction' (1994)
Director: John Dahl
John Dahl’s American neo-noir witherotic thriller elementsstarsLinda Fiorentino, who delivers one of her best performances and even earned widespread critical acclaim. The story follows a seductress who hides with her spouse’s illicit funds and seeks refuge in a small town, where she encounters the ideal pawn for her next con.
With analluring femme fatale depictionat its center, Dahl’sThe Last Seductionhas earned a cult following over the years despite not being a huge box office hit, with many people rediscovering it and considering it an essential for its captivating storyline and Fiorentino’s central efforts. Even though it gathered generally positive reviews,The Last Seductionis often overshadowed by other pictures of its timeand is not as widely recognized as other popular thriller movies.
The Last Seduction
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9’Headhunters' (2011)
Director: Morten Tyldum
Based on the novel of the same name byJo Nesbø,HeadhuntersstarsGames of Thrones' starNikolaj Coster-Waldauamong other talented actors. The story follows a successful corporate recruiter (Aksel Hennie) who leads a double life as an art thief. When he learns that a former mercenary owns a valuable painting, he schemes to steal it.
While it is a popular movie in Scandinavia that has gathered plenty of positive feedback, the genre-bending and engrossingHeadhuntersoftendoes not get the appreciation it deserves all across the globe. Although, despite its limited exposure, theMorten Tyldumfilm has been rediscovered by audiences over time,Headhuntersis still an underrated picture that will appeal to anyone who enjoys thrilling narratives and dark humor.
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Director: Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet’s crime thriller follows two brothers (Ethan HawkeandPhilip Seymour Hoffman) in need of extra cash who scheme the robbery of their parent’s jewelry store. However, the job goes incredibly wrong when an accomplice ignores the rules, triggering a series of events with disastrous consequences.
Although it did not become popular immediately following its release, gathering limited mainstream attention instead, the masterfully directedBefore The Devil Knows You’re Deadbenefits from great cinematography, amazing acting efforts, and a truly engrossing premise that keeps audiences invested. Dealing with themes of greed and dysfunctional families and featuring great direction,this underratedSidney Lumet flick— and his last before his passing — is certainly worth the attention of cinephiles who are into the thriller genre.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
7’A Simple Plan' (1998)
Director: Sam Raimi
Sam Raimiisknown for his work in the horror and superhero genres. However, he was also the mind behind one of the most compelling, even if overlooked, thrillers of the 1990s.A Simple PlanstarsBillPaxton,Billy Bob Thornton(who received an Academy Award nomination), andBridget Fondaand is set in rural Minnesota. The story focuses on brothers who discover a plane with $4.4 million in cash, each going to great lengths to keep their secret a secret.
The psychologically complexA Simple Planis an intriguing examination of deceit and loyalty, providing an interesting illustration of greed and how it can corrupt us. Although technically a critically acclaimed picture,A Simple Planremains an often overlooked movie in the thriller genre, with many movie enthusiasts agreeing that it is still a hidden gem that deserves more love than it gets.
6’Mother' (2009)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Before winning the Best Director award for Best PictureParasite,Bong Joon-hohad already delivered one of the best neo-noir thrillers of the 2000s. InMother,Kim Hye-japlays the titular character, who sees herself struggling to find the true killer after her intellectually disabled son is accused of the murder of a young girl.
Anyone who enjoys genre-bending films is likely to want to giveMothera try, as it combines elements of drama, mystery, and thriller with captivating results.Another reason why this under-watched film deserves audiences' attention is the universal themes it examines, including motherhood and social injustice, shedding light on how far a mother is willing to go to stand up for her child. Furthermore,Motherfeatures an outstanding central performance that helps cement it as one of the best of its genre.
5’Burning' (2018)
Director: Lee Chang-dong
Based on the short storyBarn BurningfromThe Elephant Vanishesby the acclaimed authorHaruki Murakami,Burningis a psychological thriller centering around a young deliveryman (Yoo Ah-in). When he runs into a childhood friend (Jeon Jong-seo) and she asks him to look after her cat while she’s on vacation, he can’t help but agree. Things get interesting when Shin Hae-mi comes back with a mysterious young man named Ben (Steven Yeun) who confesses his unconventional secret hobby.
WhileLee Chang-dong’s movie was generally well-received by critics, it can still be considered an underrated thriller on a bigger scale when compared to other popular films in the category. Outside of Letterboxd users' circles,Burningis still an underseen picture that is definitely worthwhile, particularly for those who like slow-burn stories. Its ambiguous storytelling leaves out much to interpretation, inciting audiences into wanting to get to know more. Additionally, the characters are also layered and complex, effectively adding dimension to the story.
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4’The Guilty' (2018)
Director: Gustav Möller
Although aJake Gyllenhaal-led adaptation was released just a few years after, the originalNordic noir essentialis still the superior take on the absorbing story. The crime drama follows a police officer (Jakob Cedergren) who enters a race against time when he answers an emergency call from a kidnapped woman.
It’s not surprising thatThe Guiltywas Denmark’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards; despite its limited exposure, this underratedGustav Möllerpicture was generally well-received by critics. Nonetheless,The Guiltyhasn’t reached the same level of popularity as other equally great movies in the genre, particularly American ones.The Guilty’s minimalist storytelling, cinematography (the film takes place in a single location), and poignant social commentary about the intense situations that law enforcement often find themselves dealing with make it a memorable watch.
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3’Cure' (1997)
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Directed byKiyoshi Kurosawa,Cureis regarded as a landmark inJapanese horror mediadue to its flawless execution of psychological horror and atmospheric tension. The story centers around a frustrated detective (Koji Yakusho) who investigates a string of brutal murders committed by people who have no idea of what they have really done.
This Kurosawa thought-provoking picture is a must-see thriller even if not widely known by mainstream audiences. Meditating about alienation, identity, and the anxieties in Japanese society during the ’90s,Cureis a disturbing though equally entertaining picture that has left a strong mark on Japanese and worldwide cinema. As such, it deserves to be properly cherished by global audiences — particularly those who love to cuddle up with a great thriller.
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2’Woman in the Dunes' (1964)
Director: Hiroshi Teshigahara
Based on the renowned novel byKōbō Abe,Woman in the Dunesis a highly influential Asian movie nominated for two Academy Awards and praised for its innovative visual style. StarringEiji OkadaandKyôko Kishida, this film focuses on a Tokyo-based entomologist who finds himself trapped by local villagers into living with a woman who shovels sand for them.
Dealing with existentialist themes like isolation, loneliness, and identity, thisHiroshiTeshigaharapicture remains a milestone in cinema, even if not as popular among global audiences.Woman in the Dunesis most certainly an underrated thriller that more cinephiles should checknot only for its undeniable impact but also for its arresting storyline that keeps the intrigue throughout.
Woman in the Dunes
1’The Vanishing' (1988)
Director: George Sluizer
Originally titledSpoorloos, the chilling and hauntingThe Vanishingis aGeorgeSluizerpsychological thriller that centers around a man’s obsessive search for his girlfriend following her disappearance at a gas station three years prior. After no sign, Rex (Gene Bervoets) begins to receive mysterious letters from her abductor.
Considering how realistic and incredibly unsettling it is, Sluizer’sarthouse mystery movieis easily able to send shivers up audiences' spines, and the unexpected turn it takes is one of the reasons why it remains such a popular movie among cinephiles and film scholars. Still,The Vanishingis not a mainstream picture nor has it attracted mainstream audiences, remaining a bit overshadowed by other movies in the category despite its incredible quality and influence.
