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Even though comedy is universally loved, suspicion is an underrated hero. Characters are forced to their individual films’ climaxes by a sense of loss, sadness, death, or worse. Having fear is like falling into a hole. The promise that suspense strives to fulfil—and audiences love — is one of fear or dread. Horror and thrillers are two of the most fear-inducing genres. Netflix is well aware of the audience’s fondness for suspense and horror, as seen by the popularity of programs like Strangers things, Squid Ga, and The Haunting of Hill House. They provide a variety of stressful thriller and horror movie titles to arouse and frighten their viewers.
On the other hand, Suspense is a tactic, not a genre, and it’s a tactic that relies on causing anxiety in the audience. The genre and the creator determine the level of horror the characters and the viewers face. You may be kept in suspense, but you can also be held hostage in fear. A book’s cover and title aren’t always enough to tell you what’s within. The following is a list of Netflix films that excel in delivering suspense via tension, dread, and fear.
Gerald’s Game:
Year: 2014
Director: Patrick Brice
Stars: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice, Katie Aselton
IMDB: 6.4/10
Runtime: 1h17m
Synopsis:
Gerald’s Game is a Stephen King story that writer/director Mike Flanagan once thought was impossible to film—channelling the single-room horror of Psycho. It’s also not difficult to understand why. The plot revolves around a lady chained to the bed of her isolated lake cottage after her spouse died of a heart attack while playing a game. The bulk of the action takes place in her head and recollections. Still, Flanagan gave it a go, and the effect is just as suspenseful as the original material. Carla Gugino gives an outstanding performance as Jessie. As her husband Gerald, Bruce Greenwood is sufficiently evil, while Carel Struycken is superb as the frightening apparition Jessie sees in the shadows of her chamber at night. But be warned: there are some dark and unsettling scenes in this one.
Hush:
Year: 2016
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: John Gallagher Jr., Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan, Emma Graves
IMDB: 6.6/10
Runtime: 1h22m
Synopsis:
Hush by Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel is a good suspense-thriller elevator pitch because it’s a simple, scary story. Siegel plays Maddie Young, a successful horror author who is deaf and can’t speak. She lives alone in a house in the woods and works alone. Because she can’t hear him, Maddie is very afraid as she fights to keep the killer out of the house – even though she can’t see him. It has the same level of sound-based survival suspense as A Quiet Place, but it’s a lot less scary. When a pantomime says “behind you!” at the right time. However, the Siegel-Flanagan is the key to Hush; When Netflix made The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, the married couple worked together. Gerald’s Game was also made with them. Siegel and Flanagan wrote their first screenplay together, “Hush.” It’s scary, but not in the wrong way. She puts everything she has into her performance as Maddie, dealing with this terrifying, violent threat almost as if it were happening right now. She balances her vulnerability with her primal courage. It’s the most exciting “what if” you’ll see in a long time.
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I Am Mother:
Year: 2019
Director: Grant Sputore
Stars: Luke Hawker, Rose Byrne, Maddie Lenton, Hazel Sandery, Summer Lenton, Tahlia Sturzaker, Clara Rugaard
IMDB: 6.7/10
Runtime: 1h53m
Synopsis:
You can’t tell what robots are thinking because you don’t know what they are starting to think. Throughout the sci-fi world, we’ve heard this over and over again. Grant Sputore’s futuristic mystery, about a girl being raised by an android in a bunker, is no different. Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, and Rose Byrne star in this movie, and the suspense comes from the black background and unbreakable gaze of Mother, the robotic caretaker in question. When a stranger shows up, the movie goes into overdrive.
1922:
Year: 2017
Director: Zak Hilditch
Stars: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Kaitlyn Bernard, Neal McDonough, Tanya Champoux, Brian d’Arcy James, Bob Frazer
IMDB: 6.2/10
Runtime: 1h42m
Synopsis:
In 1922, a man’s pride was in his strength and ability to be in charge of things. There are three people who play the James family: Molly Parker from “Deadwood,” Molly Jane from “Horns,” and Thomas Jane from “The Mist.” The land that Parker got from her father is used by the two families that are split up. People aren’t happy with her plan to sell off the land and move to a new town so she can start a dress shop in the middle of the city. When Jane and Schmid show up on stage to play Wilfred and Henry, they want to stop her. They want to use any means they can to do that. Short-sighted cruelty leads to tragedy and consequences that they didn’t think about. They’re haunted by guilt and trauma from their actions, which they didn’t think about. The film is as intense as an ocean sleeping bag, so it’s not very light. The tension is in stark contrast to the beautiful scenery. It looks like beautiful skylines and action-packed photos because of the rich colours and warm lighting. For all of its dark parts, it’s lovely. Zak Hilditch’s adaptation of Stephen King’s short storey is one of the best King remakes Netflix has made so far.
Oxygen:
Year: 2021
Director: Christie Leblanc
Stars: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi, Laura Boujenah, Eric Herson-Macarel, Anie Balestra, Marc Saez, Catherine Cerda,
IMDB: 6.5/10
Runtime: 1h40m
Synopsis:
In Alexandre Aja’s film, Oxygen, a woman wakes up inside a freezing box and has no idea who she is or how she ended up getting there. The good part is: She can talk to the outside world through a robotic medical unit called M.I.L.O. She can do this because she can talk to the robot. The bad news is: Nobody she talks to is willing to tell her the truth, and her oxygen deposits are quickly running out. There are enough twists and turns in Christie LeBlanc’s screenplay to keep the storey moving along at an emotional pace. If you’re afraid of isolated areas, be careful. This movie won’t be fun for people afraid of isolated areas.
The Platform:
Year: 2019
Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Stars: Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, Emilio Buale, Alexandra Masangkay, Zihara Llana, Mario Pardo
IMDB: 7.0/10
Runtime: 1h34m
Synopsis:
Stacks of prison cells are built, one on top of the other with holes in the floor and ceiling. Each month, randomly-assigned levels move up or down. There is a platform of food that starts at the top and slowly moves down, getting less and less food as it goes down. Galder Gaztelu-The Urrutia’s Platform is a distressing sci-fi thriller with a lot to say about capitalism. The movie’s title refers to a “platform,” which is a place where people can work together. One of the few movies where both the idea and the execution are great, thanks to a great screenplay by David Desola and Pedro Rivero. It’s full of horror and suspense, making it one of the best movies. If you like movies like Saw or The Cube, this is worth watching.
The Clovehitch Killer:
Year: 2018
Director: Duncan Skiles
Stars: Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, Samantha Mathis, Madisen Beaty, Brenna Sherman, Lance Chantiles-Wertz, Emma Jones
IMDB: 6.6/10
Runtime: 1h49m
Synopsis:
The Clovehitch Killer doesn’t like movies about murderers that show blood and death. Instead, it is like movies that make you think and keep you guessing with suspense: Don Burnside, a small-town family man and leader in the community. Don’s son, Tyler, starts to look into his father after finding a strange box of pictures hidden under the family shed. He asks Kassie, a small-town sleuth, for help. Kassie is sceptical, but she helps with the investigation. Whether he’s guilty or not, McDermott is unpredictable and exciting to watch as the main suspect. The audience watches every word he says and every move he makes, along with Tyler and his friends. They try to figure out what’s going on behind the facade of this father. As scary as it is, the movie is about many people having problems with their identities and public personas, making it as relatable as it is scary.
The Power of the Dog:
Year: 2021
Director: Jane Campion
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Geneviève Lemon, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kenneth Radley, Kirsten Dunst, Sean Keenan
IMDB: 6.9/10
Runtime: 2h6m
Synopsis:
“The Power of the Dog” enjoys this stressful setting as much as Phil enjoys working with cattle over interacting with high society. Even though the film begins slowly, it quickly picks up. There’s a lot of layered desire, anger, and dominance to disrupt everyone’s uncomfortable balance. The battle of minds between Phil and everyone else is a compelling one to witness, and it’s just the type of end-of-the-year film to bring everything to a close on a high note.
Uncut Gems:
Year: 2019
Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Stars: Adam Sandler, Mesfin Lamengo, Sun Zhi Hua-Hilton, Keith William Richards, Tommy Kominik, LaKeith Stanfield, Deneke Muhugeta
IMDB: 7.4/10
Runtime: 2h15m
Synopsis:
Uncut Gems is one of the few films with a two-hour-plus length that can sustain suspense levels greater than most horror films, and it does it with grace. Howard Ratner, a motor-mouthed jeweller with an incredible talent for bullshitting and a dreadful run-up of gambling debt that he’s attempting to pay back in the riskiest ways conceivable, is the focus of the Safdie brothers’ criminal thriller. Daniel Lopatin’s dissonant soundtrack wonderfully complements the frantic, chaotic action. Before you walk in, make sure you’re ready for some really difficult watching.
The Town:
Year: 2010
Director: Ben Affleck
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, George Carroll, Owen Burke, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite
IMDB: 7.5/10
Runtime: 2h5m
Synopsis:
Doug MacRayleads a gang of brutal and violent bank robbers and has no genuine friends save James, who is like a brother to him despite his volatile and lethal temper. When James momentarily kidnaps bank employee Claire Keesey, everything changes for Doug. Doug seeks her out after learning that she lives in the gang’s area, and he falls in love with her. As their relationship grows, he wants to leave his criminal past behind, but this might jeopardise Claire’s safety.
Hell or High Water:
Year: 2016
Director: David Mackenzie
Stars: Dale Dickey, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, William Sterchi, Buck Taylor, Kristin K. Berg, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham, Keith Meriweather
IMDB: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h42m
Synopsis:
In the opening shot of Hell or High Water, protestors marched across a wall say, “Three tours in Iraq, but no bailout for folks like us,” creating a striking tone for this novel spin on the cops and robbers narrative. The dual travels of two brothers proudly displaying banks to rescue their family’s farm and two Texas Rangers pursuing them down are depicted in this gripping neo-Western. It’s a thought-provoking, fast-paced investigation of who advocates and protects justice in today’s society.
Good Times:
Year: 2017
Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Stars: Chris Pine, Benny Safdie, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Buddy Duress, Taliah Webster, Jennifer Jason Leigh
IMDB: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h42m
Synopsis:
Good Time is an Incredibly Difficult wrong time is perhaps Robert Pattinson’s strongest performance. Under the bright fluorescents of New York City, it’s a glimpse into selfishness and self-destruction. This grainy criminal storey is elevated by stellar acting, vibrant lighting, and a scorching soundtrack. Pattinson and Benny Safdie, one half of the Safdie Brothers directorial partnership, are two individuals in their own right. Connie tries to keep his mentally undeveloped younger brother Nick under his surveillance and control as he plans and steals his way through life. Watching his greedy exploitation of anybody who dares to join him is upsetting and stressful. Uncut Gems depicts a similar cycle of self-destruction and stress, and it’s just as filthy. Prepare for tension, grief, and suspense with Good Time.
Looper:
Year: 2012
Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan,
Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels
IMDB: 7.4/10
Runtime: 1h59m
Synopsis:
The motto for Rian Johnson’s Looper says, “Haunted by your future, hounded by your present.” This time-travel thriller gives a sci-fi category that is usually more concerned with machines than men a unique sense of soulfulness. Johnson is concerned not just with the history and future of the hitman Joe but also with the painful present tense. A younger version, portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is concerned about the physical implications of his acts. In comparison, an elder version, played by Bruce Willis, is concerned about the emotional strain these same mistakes have taken. Johnson’s smart writing, which puts a novel twist on a classic scenario, has the greatest spectacular effects in the picture.
22 July:
Year: 2018
Director: Paul Greengrass
Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie, Jonas Strand Gravli, Jon Øigarden, Maria Bock, Thorbjørn Harr, Seda Witt
IMDB: 6.8/10
Runtime: 2h23m
Synopsis:
A far-right fanatic started firing at a Norwegian youth camp in 2011, killing 77 people and forcing blast waves across the nation. Bourne filmmaker Paul Greengrass does not steer away from depicting the severity of this horrific deed in detail, emphasising the horror and seriousness of the slaughter. When the film swings into the courtroom thriller genre, as the perpetrator’s sentencing becomes much more than just about one guy, it’s just as interesting to watch. It’s a chilling, ominous vision of a future in which those enraged by variety and culture grow empowered to perpetrate horrible acts of terror.
It Follows:
Year: 2014
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Stars: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi, Lili Sepe, Bailey Spry
IMDB: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h40m
Synopsis:
A young lady called Jay gets infected with strange bloodstream infection in It Follows. She’s then told that a creature masquerading as any random person is on the lookout for her. Only those infected before may see the entity as it stalks its scared target like Michael Meyers. Like 2018’s Possessor, It Follows seems like it lives outside of time. Although the world seems contemporary, there isn’t a single smartphone in sight. Colour and electric light add to the pleasant small-town Midwest ambience. It’s as vibrant as it is unsettling. Slow pans allow the viewer to search the video for possible predators, noting every droning figure. It’s like a game of Where’s Waldo, only Waldo keeps switching bodies and clothing as he marches towards your death.
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