Psychological Thrillers
Are you looking for some psychological thrills and intense scenes starring characters with complicated characters? Then psychological thrillers should be the genre for you. Movies like Escape Room have gained a lot of popularity lately and if you’re on the hunt for similar titles, you’re in luck.
Here are 40+ psychological thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat:
The Prestige
The Prestige is an intense psychological thriller created by director Christopher Nolan that was released in 2006. This gripping story examines the secrets, passions and rivalry between two competing magicians. Both men are willing to take drastic measures beyond ethics or morality to outwit and discredit each other. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, and Michael Caine and explores the complexities of ambition.
As their eternal competition intensifies over time, the boundaries between illusion and reality blur until one of them reaches a deadly conclusion. If you’re looking for a movie filled with nail-biting suspense, deviously clever plot twists, and psychological trickery that will leave you guessing until the end, The Prestige will not disappoint.
Shutter Island
Shutter Island is a psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and Mark Ruffalo as Daniels’ partner Chuck Aule.
The movie follows Teddy and Chuck as they are sent to investigate the disappearance of a patient from an isolated psychiatric ward on Shutter Island in Boston Harbor. As the two explore the institution and interview the staff, they uncover dark secrets that cause them to doubt their own sanity. The twist ending is sure to leave many viewers shocked and in disbelief but leaves no doubt as to why this movie is considered one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made.
Se7en
Se7en is a 1995 psychological thriller following two detectives – a retiring veteran and a rookie – as they investigate a series of horrific murders, each one inspired by one of the seven deadly sins, committed by an enigmatic serial killer. In their pursuit of the unidentified killer and his ultimate motives, the detectives must explore the darkest corners of the criminal mind and their own emotional thresholds.
The ensemble cast features Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey. Se7en combines mystery and suspense with intense psychological realism to make for a gripping story that will leave you pondering moral questions long after watching it.
Horror
Horror movies have the power to terrify us, shock us, and even make us squirm in our seats. We all have that one horror movie that we wish we never watched, yet still can’t look away from. If you can relate, then this article is for you.
Whether you loved Escape Room or are looking for something else in the horror genre, you will find some films that will have you on the edge of your seat.
The Shining
The Shining, released in 1980, is a classic horror movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. The story follows Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic whose job is to take care of the Overlook Hotel during its off-season. His young son, Danny, has a psychic gift called “the shining” through which he can see past and future events.
As time passes at the hotel, Danny begins to realize that there may be sinister forces at work and his father slowly spirals into madness.
The Shining has been praised for its suspenseful storyline and acting. It won two Saturn Awards in 1981 including “Best Supporting Actor” for Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of tortured soul Jack Torrance. It has become an iconic horror movie and its influence is evident in genre films today.
If you’re looking for a horror classic that will leave you with chills down your spine, The Shining should be at the top of your list!
The Babadook
The Babadook is a 2014 Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. Starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, and Hayley McElhinney.
The story follows a single mother who is struggling to raise her troubled 6-year-old son when a sinister creature begins to haunt them both. To make matters worse, it soon becomes clear that the creature known as “The Babadook” can only be vanquished through facing one’s darkest fears in order to fight back against it.
Critically acclaimed, The Babadook has earned numerous awards and nominations since its release including the AACTA Award for Best Direction and Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Film. Regarded as one of the scariest psychological horror films of all time, this thriller is sure to send chills down your spine with its:
- spine-tingling suspense
- shocking plot twists
- harrowing plot elements
The Descent
The Descent is a 2005 British horror film. Directed by Neil Marshall, this psychologically-charged movie is about a group of six women who decide to go on an adventure in the Appalachian cave system. As the movie progresses, the women traverse further and deeper down into the underground labyrinth and make some shocking discoveries along the way.
The Descent not only contains suspenseful action sequences and heart-pounding intensity but also manages to be thoughtful with its exploration of psychological terror. It’s sure to leave you feeling unnerved and more than a little disturbed. If you’re looking for an emotional story that will keep you on edge, then The Descent might just be what you need!
Adventure
Are you looking for an escape? A thrilling adventure to take you away from the ordinary? There are plenty of gut-wrenching movies with great adventure elements that offer just that. From horror to science fiction and action, these movies will transport you to a world of excitement and intrigue.
We have compiled a list of the best ones to get you started:
The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner, released in 2014 and directed by Wes Ball, is a science fiction thriller based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner. The movie follows Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), a teen who wakes up in a giant maze with no memory of his past and is forced to complete dangerous challenges with his fellow captives. Together, they must find their way out of the mysterious maze before it’s too late.
The Maze Runner adopts many elements from the Escape Room genre such as traps, puzzles, and hidden secrets that need to be uncovered to escape this mysterious world. The movie also features an impressive cast including Kaya Scodelario (“Pirates Of The Caribbean”) as Teresa, Aml Ameen (“Babylon”) as Alby, Will Poulter (“We’re The Millers”) as Gally and Thomas Sangster (“Game Of Thrones”).
The Maze Runner builds tension through its thrilling action sequences and has plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing until its intense finale. Fans of this genre may also enjoy other adventure films similar to The Maze Runner such as:
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
- Zathura (2005)
- Life After Beth (2014)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997).
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games (2012) is a dystopian science-fiction adventure film series based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The first installment of The Hunger Games was released in March 2012 followed by two sequels, Catching Fire (2013) and Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 (2014).
The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the dangerous Hunger Games. She is thrown into an arena full of other teen combatants where they fight to the death for survival and tribute for their districts. With strength, survival skills, and courage, Katniss finds she possesses qualities needed to get out alive.
The Hunger Games series may not have any escape rooms specifically meant for frustrated gamers, but its intense plot twists, scary AI character designs, thrilling action sequences and emotional story arcs make it a great choice when looking for movies like Escape Room. The film series has already become one of the highest grossing franchises in history so there’s no doubt that it will surely be given a place among other popular adventure films!
The Martian
The Martian is a 2015 science-fiction adventure film starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars. The movie chronicles his struggles to survive and find a way home. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was met with both critical and commercial success. With intense action, a thrilling story line and unforgettable characters, this movie will keep your blood pumping throughout its 140-minute running time!
Following an exploration mission gone wrong, astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) finds himself all alone on the planet Mars with limited resources and no way to contact Earth. Placed in life or death scenarios while doing anything he can to survive, both physically and psychologically, the stakes are high since he is hundreds of miles away from home. Along the way he discovers new information about Mars that could potentially save not just him but everyone living on Earth!
The Martian follows Watney as he fights against all odds to make it back safely with secret knowledge that could change humanity forever.
Sci-Fi
Are you a fan of escape rooms and looking for more films like Escape Room? If yes, then you’re in the right place! Here, we have compiled a list of sci-fi movies with a similar escape room concept to the 2019 hit movie Escape Room. So, get ready to be transported to a world of thrilling and mind-boggling adventures!
Inception
Inception is a 2010 sci-fi movie directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The concept for the film was initially written by Nolan at the age of 16, and has since been developed over time. It tells the story of Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), an experienced thief adept at extraction – stealing valuable secrets from the subconscious mind while people dream. He assembles a team to perform the impossible “inception” task – to plant an idea in someone’s mind without them knowing it wasn’t their own. With their lives on the line, they fight through a maze of dreamscapes, physical danger and their own inner demons in order to succeed.
In addition to containing complex science fiction elements such as lucid dreaming and dream architecture, Inception differs from most science fiction films in its cerebral nature, which challenges viewers to ponder what they perceive while watching. It is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Cinematography and Sound Mixing categories.
Other gut-wrenching movies like Inception that explore similar themes include:
- Ex Machina (2015)
- The Matrix (1999)
- Minority Report (2002)
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Source Code
Source Code is a science fiction-thriller movie released in 2011 by Summit Entertainment. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, it was a modest box office success and received largely positive reviews.
The film follows the story of Army helicopter pilot Captain Colter Stevens, played by Gyllenhaal, who wakes up on a train bound for Chicago with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon discovers that he has been sent back in time through a top secret program known as the Source Code, which gives him the power to inhabit another person’s body for eight minutes at a time in an effort to prevent a terrorist attack from happening.
As Stevens’s jumps back into this “Source Code” prove increasingly difficult, he begins to piece together events from his past that may help him get to the bottom of this situation and save hundreds of lives. With an exciting mystery twist and emotional ties throughout its plot points, Source Code is one of the fingernail-biting sci-fi movies like Escape Room than you don’t want to miss out on!
Ex Machina
Ex Machina (2014) is a psychological science fiction thriller film written and directed by Alex Garland. The story follows the life of a young programmer, Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), who wins the chance to spend time at a retreat owned by the reclusive CEO of his company, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). After Caleb arrives at Nathan’s isolated mountain estate, he gradually comes to discover that Nathan has chosen him to test an artificial intelligence prototype – Ava (Alicia Vikander).
The two find themselves engaged in what evolves into an intellectual battle between man and machine. As their relationship progresses, events take a darkly unexpected course as deep secrets are revealed about this enigmatic robot Ava. In the end, all three characters must confront their innermost desires that challenge their definition of humanity. Ex Machina plays with existential questions of how technology changes our perception of our own humanity and poses many interesting moral questions about power dynamics within relationships with AIs.
Mystery
Are you looking for an escape? If so, mysteries are the perfect way to do just that. From psychological thrillers to edge-of-your-seat suspense tales, these 40+ gut-wrenching movies like Escape Room will have you on the edge of your seat and ready to begin the thrilling journey.
Let’s dive in and explore all these mysterious stories together:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 psychological thriller directed by David Fincher. It is based on the novel of the same name, which was originally published in 2005. The film follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist as he investigates the disappearance of a young woman, Harriet Vanger, under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, another woman with a mysterious past and extraordinary skills, Lisbeth Salander, helps him solve the case.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo features complex characters and seamless storytelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its dramatic conclusion. This mystery thriller dives deep into:
- technology
- family secrets
- forensic crime investigation
– all elements that are needed for gut-wrenching suspense. It’s sure to keep you hooked from start to finish!
Gone Girl
Gone Girl is a crime drama movie released in 2014, directed by David Fincher with a screenplay by Gillian Flynn. Based on her novel of the same name, the movie stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in two primary roles.
The story follows Nick Dunne and his wife Amy Elliott. Nick returns home one day to discover that Amy is missing. As time passes and the investigation into her disappearance intensifies, doubts are cast on his version of events, making it look like he might be responsible for her disappearance or worse, her death.
While searching for the truth behind Amy’s disappearance we are presented with several twists and turns that are just as shocking as they are gripping. The film was critically acclaimed upon its release and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. If you’re looking for a suspenseful mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, Gone Girl is an excellent pick!
The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects (1995) is an acclaimed neo-noir mystery film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie that follows the interrogations of five criminals who are intricately linked to a mystery surrounding the murder of a police officer.
The narrative involves interlocking plots and dark twists, requiring the characters to continuously analyze their surroundings and investigate possible suspects. The ensuing visuals, dramatic climaxes and intense interrogations interweave throughout the film in a way that keeps the audience guessing about who’s responsible for the heinous crime.
The movie stars Kevin Spacey as Roger “Verbal” Kint – a criminal trying to save his own life by explaining his involvement in various unsavory activities – as well as Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite and Kevin Pollak. Together they make up an ensemble cast so memorable they were awarded Best Acting by the Academy Awards.
The movie incorporates thrilling chase scenes, heart-pounding interrogations and plenty of suspense; in many ways The Usual Suspects demands re-viewing to catch every subtlety or coincidence that could potentially link each character together under suspicion.
If you’re looking for something just as suspenseful as Escape Room with dimension of dark twists similar to Shutter Island or Inception then The Usual Suspects is for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are some gut-wrenching movies like Escape Room?
A1: Some movies like Escape Room that are sure to leave a lasting impression and make you think include: Saw, The Descent, The Mist, The Strangers, The Cabin in the Woods, The Conjuring, Don’t Breath, Insidious, You’re Next, and The Babadook.
Q2: Are Escape Room and Saw similar?
A2: While both movies involve horror elements, Escape Room is more of a suspenseful thriller, while Saw is more of a psychological horror movie.
Q3: Is Escape Room suitable for children?
A3: No, Escape Room is rated PG-13 and contains some intense scenes and themes that may not be suitable for children.