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1950's
Rear Window was a key psychological thriller from the 1950’s, directed my Alfred Hitchcock. After breaking his leg photographing a racetrack accident, professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (James Stewart) is confined in his Greenwich Village apartment, using a wheelchair while he recuperates. His rear window looks out onto a small courtyard and several other apartments. During a summer heat wave, he passes the time by watching his neighbors, who keep their windows open to stay cool. -
Period: to
History of Psychological Thrilers
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1960's
Psycho, directed again by Alfred Hitchcock, was a highlight of the 1960’s. The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes to a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter. This film has included one of thrillers greasiest scenes, this would be the shower scene, where we see Marion murdered to death by a shadowy figure. -
1970's
Night Flight from Moscow is a French thriller made in 1973. It was produced and directed by Henri Verneuil. The main plot entails: In this convoluted spy thriller, a Russian ambassador places his life on the line when he steals classified documents and defects to the U.S. The papers he carries could rock the free world. Unfortunately, the C.I.A. must first prove that they are real. -
1980''s
Dead Ringers is a 1988 psychological drama film starring Jeremy Irons in a dual role as identical twin gynecologists. This was a highlight film of the 1980’s, directed by David Cronenberg. The Mantle brothers are both doctors - both gynecologists - and identical twins. Mentally however, one of them is more confident than the other, and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he's tired of his current partner, she is passed on to the other brother - without her knowing. -
1990's
Stir of Echoes was a supernatural horror-thriller with aspects of a psychological thriller. The movie was directed by David Koepp and the plot is: After being hypnotized by his sister in law, a man begins seeing haunting visions of a girl's ghost and a mystery begins to unfold around her. -
2000's
The Mist was amongst one of the best rated films of the 2000’s, directed by Frank Darabont. A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives. -
Present
Some of the most popular psychological thrillers include:
- Black Swan
- Fight Club
- Zodiac
- Psycho
- Inception
- The Sixth Sense
- Secret Window
