If you’re a fan of thrillers, then these hidden gems on Netflix just might be the perfect films for you. Here’s the top five you’ve probably never seen – but you should.
Every Netflix viewer has faced the daunting task of choosing what to watch on the streaming giant – the struggle is when you’re trying to avoid films you know off by heart.
With an overwhelming array of films and TV series at your fingertips, it’s all too easy to spend what feels like an eternity browsing rather than watching.
Even with Netflix’s nifty Top 10 section making things a bit easier, there are still plenty of under-the-radar jewels waiting to be discovered in the vast ‘Netflixverse’.
As someone who’s been sucked into that black hole of indecision more times than I care to admit, I’ve mustered up a list of top five thriller movies on Netflix that may have slipped below your radar.
For those who love nail-biting tension, intense suspense and moments so terrifying you’ll want to cover your eyes, these films could be right up your alley.
Prisoners
Featuring a dazzling cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis and Terrence Howard, Prisoners hit the screens in 2013.
This gripping film takes you on a journey with Keller (played by Hugh Jackman), a father whose desperation to find his young daughter and her friend, who vanish on Thanksgiving, knows no bounds, reports the Mirror US.
An official synopsis sums it up: “When the police take time to find Keller Dover’s daughter and her friend, he decides to go on a search himself. His desperation leads him closer to finding the truth and also jeopardises his own life.”
Currently, the flick boasts an impressive Rotten Tomato score of 87 per cent, with some viewers hailing it as an ‘Absolute thrill ride’.
For me, this movie was a captivating watch from the start, packed with unexpected twists and turns that catch you off guard.
Till Death
Thriller enthusiasts who don’t mind a splash of gore and action might find Till Death the film for them.
The plot centres on Emma (played by Megan Fox), whose seemingly stale marriage takes a shocking turn during a romantic retreat.
Expecting a celebration on their 10th anniversary at their secluded cabin, Emma is stunned by her husband’s mysterious plans.
But the morning after brings a sinister reality. The film’s synopsis reveals: “Emma wakes up handcuffed to her dead husband and finds out that every item in the house that can help her get free or escape is missing. Moreover, two assassins arrive to kill her.”
Stranded without a phone, car, or any means of defence and tethered to her deceased spouse, Emma is thrust into a desperate battle for survival.
Fractured
Fractured is my go-to recommendation for those in search of a film that keeps them second-guessing until the very end. It’s filled with ‘what’s going on’ moments that ensure you’re riveted from the opening scene to the closing credits.
This 2019 psychological thriller tracks Ray (played by Sam Worthington) as he frantically searches for his wife and daughter following their mysterious vanishing act within a hospital.
A gripping synopsis teases: “Ray and Joanne rush Peri, their daughter, to the nearest hospital after she fractures her hand in a fall. However, when the mother-daughter duo disappears, Ray struggles to find them.”
Without revealing too much, I can reveal that the film’s conclusion is quite the jaw-dropper.
The Woman in the Window
Tucked away on Netflix is another stellar psychological thriller from 2021, The Woman in the Window which features Amy Adams.
In the heart of Manhattan lives child psychologist Anna Fox (Amy Adams), who battles with agoraphobia—an anxiety disorder defined as “A fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong.”
This condition leads Anna to obsessively observe her new neighbours, theRussells. But the plot thickens when Anna becomes an involuntary witness to what she believes is the murder of Mrs. Russell by her husband.
The synopsis reveals: “Agoraphobic Dr Anna Fox witnesses something she shouldn’t while keeping tabs on the Russell family, the seemingly picture-perfect clan that lives across the way.”
Despite the police dismissing her claims, insisting the Russell family is fine, they doubt Anna due to her excessive drinking and medication use.
Undeterred, Anna takes it upon herself to surveil the family, determined to uncover the truth behind her harrowing observation that night.
Run
The gripping thriller Run was released five years ago and delves into the chilling dynamics of a mother-daughter bond.
Starring Sarah Paulson, the film takes viewers on a suspenseful journey as Chloe begins to question her mother’s motives upon discovering unassigned medication.
Her quest for answers leads her down a harrowing path shrouded in mystery and deceit.
The official synopsis sets the scene: “Chloe, a teenager who is confined to a wheelchair, is homeschooled by her mother, Diane. Chloe soon becomes suspicious of her mother and begins to suspect that she may be harbouring a dark secret.”
Critics and audiences alike have praised the film Run with its impressive Rotten Tomatoes score reflecting widespread acclaim.
One viewer even confessed to being so engrossed in the protagonist’s story that they felt as though they were holding their breath for the duration of the movie.
The above films are available to watch on Netflix now.
