Once in a while, it's fun to watch a thriller that thoroughly messes with your mind. Something that might leave you reeling by the time the credits roll, questioning everything you just saw unfold on the screen.
Suspenseful stories filled with fast pacing, clever writing, and stylish direction are the hallmarks of the thriller genre. Max is currently streaming excellent psychological thrillers for anyone seeking an adrenaline rush. Here are five that we recommend checking out.
Heretic (2024)
Hugh Grant is a sinister villain enthralled with religion in this unsettling film by duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, previously known for A Quiet Place and Haunt. Released in the fall of 2024, this A24 thriller places two Mormon missionaries directly into the path of a predatory older man who enjoys taunting them with rambling monologues and his personal philosophy on religion. Chilling stuff.
But it gets worse. Beyond being a certifiable creep and all-around mansplainer, Grant's character, Mr. Reed, is genuinely disturbed, forcing Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) to participate in a series of twisted challenges if they hope to survive.
Civil War (2024)
With our current political landscape as full of controversy and tension, as it is, there's no better movie to watch at this taut moment in history than Alex Garland's 2024 thriller Civil War. A few scenes in this movie are set on a knife's edge, so thick with tension you'll be perched at the edge of your seat, biting your nails until the explosive resolution.
One such scene features a truly menacing Jesse Plemons, who acts alongside his real-life wife, Kirsten Dunst. Civil War is set in a not-so-distant dystopian future where the states are divided into factions. It centers on a group of journalists making the perilous journey to Washington, D.C., where rebels are expected to invade.
Companion (2025)
Artificial intelligence is on the rise whether we like it or not, and Companion is one of the latest sci-fi thrillers to embrace the horrors of what it could mean were we ever to produce lifelike companion robots. Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is one such bot.
When her boyfriend (Jack Quaid) invites her for a weekend retreat with his friends, Iris thinks their relationship could be becoming more serious, unaware of the dark plans he has in store for her and how it will forever change how she sees the world.
Trap (2024)
How would you react to learning that a serial killer was in attendance at the same concert as you? Probably not well. But that's the exact "trap" the cops orchestrate in this M. Night Shyamalan thriller where Josh Hartnett is a deadly murderer taking his daughter to see her favorite singer, unaware that the entire thing is a set-up to catch him.
Trap often leans into humor, so it's not an overly dark movie, but it's plenty of fun to watch and features an excellent central performance from Hartnett.
Funny Games (1997)
Let me put it to you straight: this movie will f**k you up. There's no way around it. Funny Games is one of the most brutal and stomach-churning thrillers I've ever watched. While it isn't as gory or gratuitous as, say, Saw, the level of sadism and torture demonstrated by the central antagonists is far more visceral and realistic.
It is a well-made film, especially if you're someone who likes to push your limits. But it ranks among my list of "movies I only needed to see once." The story is simple but effective, centering on two men taking a family hostage and forcing them to participate in cruel games.