Thrillersmay be some of the most popular films ever made, and when we explore the subgenres in the thriller universe, we find much more than just standard variations of the basic rules. This exploration is a fascinating journey into the land of white-knuckle movies that will always keep you on the edge of your seat.
Conspiracy thrillers are unique in comparison with other thrillers because they usually center on the ambitions of antagonists and their causes. Writers tend to get really creative with them, and in the case of the following thrillers, they will keep you trying to guess the truth of what’s happening, even though you’ll likely never be able to fully unravel their mysteries before they are revealed in the final act.
Arlington Road
Mark Pellington’sArlington Roadtells the story of college professor Michael Faraday, whose specialty is terrorism. When he meets his new neighbors, a seemingly perfect family, he suspects they may be hiding a nefarious agenda, and when he does his best to find the truth, things take a very dark turn for Faraday and his family.
One of the Best Twists in Modern Cinema
Tim Robbins starsalongside Jeff Bridges in a twisty thriller that’s not afraid to end things on a bleak note. Its reveal is a powerful moment in the genre that, due to Bridges’ super performance, is really hard to forget.Due to today’s intensely divisive political climate,Arlington Roadis all the more relevant than ever.
9’The Conspiracy' (2012)
The Conspiracy
InThe Conspiracy, filmmakers Aaron and Jim decide to make a documentary about a local conspiracy theorist, Terrance G. who can only be described as a madman. When Terrance goes missing, the filmmakers must go deeper and explore an organization that may be responsible for his disappearance.
The Found Footage Film You Didn’t Know You Needed to See
The Conspiracyis one of themost underrated found footage filmsof all time. This Canadian mini-feature surfed around the festival circle, but it vanished from the public perspective too quickly. It holds an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an encounter with the film’s terrifying secret organization in the third act will leave you shaking.
You can streamThe Conspiracyon Tubi.
10 Gritty American Crime Thrillers That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
If you’re into thrillers, check out the following list of American-made gritty films that will surely keep you hooked from start to finish.
8’The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956)
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Man Who Knew Too Muchfollows Ben, Jo, and Hank McKenna, a family vacationing in French Morocco. They meet friendly people during their trip, but things go berserk when they witness a murder, and young Hank gets kidnapped. Ben and Jo then begin their harrowing quest to recover their son, but apparently, an assassination plot is set to happen and the McKennas are right at the center of it.
Hitchcock’s Most Underrated Thriller
Without question,The Man Who Knew Too Muchisone of Hitchcock’s finest films, even if it’s not often hailed as such. A remake of his own previous films, Hitchcock’sThe Man Who Knew Too Muchis perfectly paced and led by James Stewart during the peak of his collaborations alongside Hitchcock. The scene at the Royal Albert Hall is a masterful exercise in editing.
7’Nick of Time' (1995)
John Badham’sNick of Timetells the story of Gene Watson, a young accountant in Los Angeles who finds himself in a pickle when his daughter gets taken in the middle of the day, and there’s only one way to get her back: Watson must kill the governor of California.
One of Johnny Depp’s Best Films
Not ascritically acclaimed as some other thrillers,Nick of Timewas panned by critics who didn’t connect with Johnny Depp’s portrayal of a desperate father. What most people remember about it, and this is a really important aspect of the film’s narrative, is that it takes place in real-time.
6’Red Eye' (2005)
When Lisa Reisert is about to take a trip back home to Miami, she meets the charming, handsome, blue-eyed stranger Jackson Rippner, and they hit it off. When they find out their seats are next to each other, their flirting continues. The problem is that Jackson reveals that he’s planning to assassinate a government official and, because the official is staying at the hotel where she works, Lisa becomes an asset in the plot.
Wes Craven’s Experiment Is a Wonderful Thriller
Weirdly,star Cillian Murphy doesn’t think much of it, but conspiracy thrillerRed Eyeis a very tense film that mostly takes place in the claustrophobic cabin of an airborne plane. Rachel McAdams is perfect as the helpless victim who’s forced to make a stand in order to prevent a murder. It’s probably Wes Craven’s most underrated studio film.
You can streamRed Eyeon Prime Video.
5’Mercury Rising' (1998)
Mercury Rising
Mercury Risingis the story of a former field agent named Art Jeffries who decides to guard a boy’s life with his own. Nine-year-old Simon is a boy with autism who has a special ability to solve puzzles. The problem is that he solves a puzzle the government doesn’t want solved, and becomes a threat.
The One Not Many People Remember But Should
Starring Bruce Willisand young ‘90s star Miko Hughes, this wonderfully absurd thriller (because what government doofus would put such a delicate puzzle in a book that can be bought by anybody?) was a solid conspiracy thriller that not many people saw becauseTitanicwas still grabbing all the attention. Nevertheless,when it comes to Willis’ best action thrillers, this one stands out.
4’Flightplan' (2005)
Flightplan
Flightplansees recently widowed Kyle Pratt boarding a plane to the United States with her daughter, Julia, and her husband’s body stowed in cargo. When Kyle wakes up from a nap, Julia is nowhere to be seen. Visibly panicked, she asks everyone about the child, but they all say she boarded the plane by herself, and she suddenly has no evidence of Julia’s existence. Could it all be related to her suspicions about her husband’s death, or is it all a figment of her imagination?
How Does a Child Disappear On a Plane?
Flightplanis one of those films thatmakes you think before boarding a plane. Jodie Foster’s compelling performance as Kyle is all you need from this edgy thriller that slowly unravels its premise but doesn’t rush in confirming anything important. Do yourself a favor and disregard the plot holes and its 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and watch this very underrated conspiracy thriller.
3’Jacob’s Ladder' (1990)
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s Laddertells the story of Jacob Singer, a war veteran living in New York City who’s still suffering the effects of a heavy case of PTSD. Jacob’s trauma is fueled by visions which include his dead child. When he has an episode, and instantly wakes up in another reality, confusion sets in. As viewers, we begin questioning Jacob’s reality, and the truth is even darker than we realize.
A Chilling Take on Conspiracy Themes
One of the best films thatshow the hardships of PTSD, Adrian Lyne’s psychological horror thriller reveals its conspiracy element right at the ending, but we won’t spoil that for you. Instead, take a trip down the rabbit hole of Jacob’s wrecked mind, and meet his war-stricken demons. This is a devastating film with a bleak conclusion that will give you nightmares.
The 17 Most Underrated Psychological Thrillers Ever Made
Despite legendary camerawork, an adherence to structure, and dedication to building suspense, these psychological thrillers never got enough love.
2’Missing' (1982)
Ed and Beth Horman are the father and the wife of Charlie, an American journalist who has recently gone missing in Chile during a military coup. Ed and Beth don’t exactly get along because of their political views, but Charlie’s disappearance brings them together and forces them to join efforts in trying to solve the conspiracy that may have ended Charlie’s life.
Based on the True Story of Charlie Horman and the Quest of His Family to Solve His Disappearance
Starring Jack Lemmon inone of his best movies,Missingis the most lauded film on this list. It won a single Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but it was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. While it doesn’t name any names,Missingis a jarring depiction of what took place in the early 1970s in Chile when the United States was involved in the military coup that produced many casualties, Horman among those.Missingisn’t available to stream at the moment.
1’Vantage Point' (2008)
Vantage Point
InVantage Point, the President of the United States, Henry Ashton, is attacked during a visit to a city in Spain. The plot to assassinate the president is then “put together” as the film shows different vantage points from those who were there, and as expected, each perspective reveals mysterious bits about the assassination attempt.
The Most Underrated Film on This List
A great ensemble castwasn’t enough to makeVantage Pointa more prominent film in 2008. Critics were harsh with their reviews and accused it of trying to be a modern version of Kurosawa’sRashomon. Yes, it’s gimmicky, but it’s nowhere as bad as many said it was. The most underrated conspiracy thriller on the list has a fantastic cast that includes William Hurt, Forest Whitaker, Matthew Fox, Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Zoe Saldaña, among others.
