The last couple of weeks, I’ve been diving into thriller books and TV series. What’s the best thriller film out there? Let us know what you think and a couple key reasons or details. They can be old or new and in any language. Even better if you can add a link where it’s streaming.
Thanks in advance for your viewing recs! Below, I’ve put trailers of a few of my favorites.
*Trigger warning: Dumplings (the last video) deals with abortion and fetuses (related to the China One Child Policy). The other films - by nature of being thrillers - of course have triggers, but not right front and center in the trailer like this one.
Lady From Shanghai by Orson Welles. Bizarre, and somewhat incoherent. It features Welles doing his best Irish accent. Although his performance isn’t the only distinctive one. One of my favorite Welles movie. The ending in the house of mirrors is great (would’ve been better if the studio hadn’t made Welles cut a lot of it). I will have to rewatch this again soon.
I had never heard of this film until a couple of years ago. I watched it while infected with Covid, and maybe it was the effect of the fever but I found it incredibly creepy.
Also, great opening titles with a creepy/sensual soundtrack by Henry Mancini.
I like the paranoia thrillers “All The President’s Men” and “The Parallax View.”
The Watergate movie is interesting because it’s based on the Woodward and Bernstein book, but the book about the real life events has little of the creepy paranoid atmosphere. The director Alan Pakula used film technique to layer that into the story.
In other words, the book isn’t really a thriller but the movie is, even though the details of the story are mostly kept intact.
That really interesting the way they changed the genre int he film version. It’s amazing how cinematography/music/etc can change the whole feel of a story. Thanks for some great selections. Do you know if Zizek got the name for his book from that film?
I don’t know, and hadn’t heard of the book and was only vaguely aware of Zizek. (In fact, “vaguely” is giving myself too much credit.)
A quick look at Wikipedia didn’t turn up any mention of the movie, and apparently the theme of the book is applying the concept of parallax to perception about events and concepts. So, it seems that he may have borrowed the title, but the wiki people writing about the book apparently weren’t aware of this, if so. Could be just a coincidence, or if not, it could be because most people reading him, or reading that book, don’t know that film, which isn’t that well remembered at this point. It’s a classic, though, one of the best of its type.
"The Usual Suspects" popped straight into my mind - you've got it covered! How about "Klute" 1971. Fonda and Sutherland, dream team. Also "The Day of the Jackal" 1973 with Edward Fox. I haven't seen the remake but the original was perfect. Last but not least, "The French Connection" 1971 with Scheider and Hackman. They shot a high speed car chase through NYC without asking the permission of the authorities. If it happened now they'd all have gone to jail! Great article and thanks for sharing The Dialectic x
I haven’t seen those three. So excited to check them out! I see (from Notes) you are also multitasking during the coronation haha. I am enjoying the drone shots of the architecture though. And the HATS
Very perceptive Dr Waller! Eyes being torn back and forth between the telly and The Matterhorn! (The music has been fantastic. Bryn Terfel singing in Welsh was something to hear).
The police line up in The Usual Suspects is one of my favourite ever scenes. Benicio del Toro was marvellous in it. And that shot where Spacey is walking away and stops limping. The genius of that little tell that reveals the baddie. Oh how I love the movies!
Love Rear Window and all those old Hitchcock-ian thrillers; Vertigo as well. There's no better way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon than cozying up with an old movie like that!
Lady From Shanghai by Orson Welles. Bizarre, and somewhat incoherent. It features Welles doing his best Irish accent. Although his performance isn’t the only distinctive one. One of my favorite Welles movie. The ending in the house of mirrors is great (would’ve been better if the studio hadn’t made Welles cut a lot of it). I will have to rewatch this again soon.
Oh I saw this ages ago and was intrigued but confused! Thanks for a great rec. will watch again soon as well.
Yes. The plot is confusing. But I’m the sort that can look past stuff like that sometimes.
Yes me too! This is why I want to go back. For me plot is often secondary. Probably not the best part of my writing either ha :)
Yeah, I don’t relate to that with my writing at all. ;) “What is this plot you speak of?”
Trying to avoid "the usual suspects," I'll go for "Experiment in Terror" by Blake Edwards.
https://ok.ru/video/3742856579790
I had never heard of this film until a couple of years ago. I watched it while infected with Covid, and maybe it was the effect of the fever but I found it incredibly creepy.
Also, great opening titles with a creepy/sensual soundtrack by Henry Mancini.
I’ve got to check it out! Thanks!
I like the paranoia thrillers “All The President’s Men” and “The Parallax View.”
The Watergate movie is interesting because it’s based on the Woodward and Bernstein book, but the book about the real life events has little of the creepy paranoid atmosphere. The director Alan Pakula used film technique to layer that into the story.
In other words, the book isn’t really a thriller but the movie is, even though the details of the story are mostly kept intact.
That really interesting the way they changed the genre int he film version. It’s amazing how cinematography/music/etc can change the whole feel of a story. Thanks for some great selections. Do you know if Zizek got the name for his book from that film?
I don’t know, and hadn’t heard of the book and was only vaguely aware of Zizek. (In fact, “vaguely” is giving myself too much credit.)
A quick look at Wikipedia didn’t turn up any mention of the movie, and apparently the theme of the book is applying the concept of parallax to perception about events and concepts. So, it seems that he may have borrowed the title, but the wiki people writing about the book apparently weren’t aware of this, if so. Could be just a coincidence, or if not, it could be because most people reading him, or reading that book, don’t know that film, which isn’t that well remembered at this point. It’s a classic, though, one of the best of its type.
And I am only “vaguely” aware of the film! So perhaps if I see the film or you read the book, we can get some answers and add it to Wikipedia.
Zizek has some wild writing. Really fascinating stuff. Always makes me think a lot...
Then we can both be in the tiny demographic that’s familiar with both!
Has to be Shutter Island. Genuinely creepy and doesn't go the way you think it might!
Nice one! Leo and Ben Kingsley at their best.
"The Usual Suspects" popped straight into my mind - you've got it covered! How about "Klute" 1971. Fonda and Sutherland, dream team. Also "The Day of the Jackal" 1973 with Edward Fox. I haven't seen the remake but the original was perfect. Last but not least, "The French Connection" 1971 with Scheider and Hackman. They shot a high speed car chase through NYC without asking the permission of the authorities. If it happened now they'd all have gone to jail! Great article and thanks for sharing The Dialectic x
I haven’t seen those three. So excited to check them out! I see (from Notes) you are also multitasking during the coronation haha. I am enjoying the drone shots of the architecture though. And the HATS
Very perceptive Dr Waller! Eyes being torn back and forth between the telly and The Matterhorn! (The music has been fantastic. Bryn Terfel singing in Welsh was something to hear).
The police line up in The Usual Suspects is one of my favourite ever scenes. Benicio del Toro was marvellous in it. And that shot where Spacey is walking away and stops limping. The genius of that little tell that reveals the baddie. Oh how I love the movies!
Also: I think with my high school hangout crew, we probably watched The Usual Suspects twenty times. Never gets old
Great!
Love Rear Window and all those old Hitchcock-ian thrillers; Vertigo as well. There's no better way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon than cozying up with an old movie like that!
They’re so fun! good post in The Dialectic on Hitchcock recently --
https://open.substack.com/pub/juliadpickering/p/celluloid-visions-the-world-of-alfred?r=rtf40&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post