From Collider · Safwan Azeem · · 3m
6 Forgotten Thrillers That Rival 'Gone Girl,' Ranked
Six movies that make you complicit before fear sets in, ranked by how they rival Gone Girl.
In brief
Six movies that make you complicit before fear sets in, ranked by how they rival Gone Girl. Six forgotten thrillers where ordinary instincts curdle into dangerous choices, rivaling Gone Girl's psychological tension. Originally reported by Collider.
Quick answers
- What Makes a Great Thriller?
- The best thrillers make you complicit before they make you afraid. You understand the lie. You can see why somebody tells it.
- What is the key takeaway from 6 Forgotten Thrillers That Rival 'Gone Girl,' Ranked?
- Six forgotten thrillers where ordinary instincts curdle into dangerous choices, rivaling Gone Girl's psychological tension.
What Makes a Great Thriller?
The best thrillers make you complicit before they make you afraid. You understand the lie. You can see why somebody tells it.
Gone Girl's Psychological Edge
Gone Girl forces a decent person to stand three decisions away from becoming someone they would have hated.
6 Forgotten Thrillers Ranked
These six movies rival Gone Girl by making ordinary instincts curdle into dangerous choices without relying on a single twist.
Calibre (2018)
Calibre follows lifelong friends Vaughn and Marcus on a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands where a catastrophic accident leaves them responsible for two deaths.
Calibre's Psychological Trap
Vaughn is horrified by what they did. Marcus finds practical reasons why telling the truth would destroy their lives. Locals notice inconsistencies and a missing boy becomes impossible to ignore.
The Gift (2015)
The Gift follows married couple Simon and Robyn after they move to Los Angeles and reconnect with Gordo, a socially awkward man from Simon’s school days.
The Gift's Hidden Threat
Gordo’s increasingly intrusive gifts and visits expose a version of Simon Robyn has never known. Simon’s confidence looks less innocent as details about their shared past leak out.
Side Effects (2013)
Side Effects follows Emily Taylor, a woman struggling with depression after her husband returns from prison, whose sleepwalking appears to cause a horrifying act.
Side Effects' Psychological Depth
Dr. Jonathan Banks investigates Emily’s case, realizing the story around her does not behave as it should. Rooney Mara’s performance shows Emily’s shifting states without announcing which version deserves belief.
Arlington Road (1999)
Arlington Road follows Michael Faraday, a widowed professor who teaches domestic terrorism courses and becomes suspicious of his new neighbors Oliver and Cheryl Lang.
Arlington Road's Unstable Trust
Michael’s obsession sounds paranoid even to those closest to him. Tim Robbins makes Oliver terrifying through friendliness, hosting barbecues while making Michael look dangerous.
A Simple Plan (1998)
A Simple Plan follows brothers Hank and Jacob Mitchell and their friend Lou after they discover a crashed airplane containing over four million dollars in cash.
A Simple Plan's Greed Test
Hank begins with rules: no spending, waiting, telling nobody. But every person involved becomes a variable as greed changes how their brother looks at life.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead follows brothers Andy and Hank Hanson after Andy proposes a low-risk robbery of their parents’ jewelry store.
The Real Horror of the Robbery
The crime barely tells the story. The real horror is watching people who already love one another discover exactly how much damage that love can survive before turning into something else.
At a glance
Six forgotten thrillers where ordinary instincts curdle into dangerous choices, rivaling Gone Girl's psychological tension.
