The psychologicalthrilleris one of the most revered branches of cinema. A subgenre of the wider thriller narrative structure, it often focuses on psychologically stressed characters, accentuating their fluctuating mental perceptions and dwelling on their complicated (sometimes toxic) bonds with malicious or obsessive characters. These movies can also incorporate elements of mystery, drama, horror, and action.
Psychological thrillers might make you sad, but they are guaranteed to leave you in a reflective mood, wondering what’s wrong with the world. They also serve as cautionary tales, warning us about what not to do when in certain kinds of situations. FromVertigotoTaxi Driver, there is no shortage of great movies belonging to this subgenre. However, if you’re looking for fresh releases that aren’t getting talked about enough, here’s what you should watch.
These are the most underrated psychological thriller movies of 2025.
10’Locked'
Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgård) fromLockedhas grown tired of living hand-to-mouth. Worse still, he is behind on child support and car repairs. He thusbreaks into a luxury SUV, unaware that its owner, William (Anthony Hopkins), a terminally ill physician, has rigged it to trap any thief inside. Eddie thus endures extreme temperatures, deafening music, and a terrifying remote-controlled high-speed drive.
Hopkins at His Villainous Best
Directed by David Yarovesky and scripted by Michael Arlen Ross, this dark, tense silent film, which feels like a wilder, extended version of thatPenguin scene fromBatman Returns, capturescomeuppance in all its immediacy and gloom. Watching Eddie drink his urine after suffering from dehydration will make you uneasy. You’ll feel the same way while listening to his desperate plea to William. You’ll love this battle of wits, which won’t end well for one of the two parties.
9’Sugar Mama'
Sugar Mamais no libido-boostingAmerican Pie-style movie as the title might suggest. In it,cash-strapped college student Mike Sheppard (Jibre Hordges) decides to work as a paid male escort via an app. Things get fascinating when the wealthy investor, Veronica King (Latarsha Rose), hires him. She doesn’t want sex.She wants him to take her dead son’s place, and she won’t take no for an answer.
Creepy but Fun
Even though it seems basic on the outside,Sugar Mamatakes the kinds of twists that can leave Hitchcock clapping in his grave.you’re able to sense some of the menace coming from miles away, but the ‘who’ is what catches you by surprise. For a low-budget movie, the cinematography is also excellent. Above all, the movieexcels while dissecting the Oedipal complex and the mental challenges that stem from grief.
8’Die My Love'
Die, My Love
Die My Lovefollows Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and her husband Jackson (Robert Pattinson) after theyrelocate from New York to rural Montana, seeking some form of fresh beginning after the birth of their child. Unfortunately, postpartum depression, loneliness, and marital challenges lead to hallucinations, violence, and erotic illusions.
A Marriage Falling Apart
The dark film is one of the most atmospheric thrillers of the modern era,exuding a near paranoiac tensionwhile making us sympathize with the main character. Taking inspiration from some of the mostcritically acclaimed psychological thrillers, director Lynne Ramsay lovinglypaints a portrait of quotidian routines that slowly morph into bizarre actions requiring intervention. As always, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson do a magnificent job.
10 Gripping Thrillers That Take Place in Real Time
A good thriller that unfolds in real time can create an electrifying viewing experience and a gripping and relentless sense of urgency.
Violet (Meghann Fahy) fromDropis considering dating again after the death of her violent husband. One day, she heads to a restaurant to meet a man she met on a blind date. However, her evening starts getting spooky when shereceives messages from an unknown, hooded figure, threatening to kill her sister and son if she doesn’t kill her date.
Meghann Fahy with an Oscar-worthy Performance
See Meghann Fahy’s charisma at its height in the incomparableDrop. The actress has been inplenty of great productions lately, andshe shines again here, playing a woman who desires happiness but keeps being handed a heavy blow by fate. You might fear online dating once the credits start rolling, but you’ll be left appreciating howthe film cleverly uses modern technology to instill dread.
6’Both Eyes Open'
Both Eyes Open
Both Eyes Openfollows Ally (Gail Bean),an emotionally distraught domestic violence survivor, eager to get past her trauma. Unfortunately,hallucinations of her abusive ex-husband keep haunting her, and she is soon convinced that someone may be watching her. Is she right, or is she just imagining things?
When the Past Keeps Coming Back
We’ve all seen a movie likeBoth Eyes Openbefore. Even so, the familiar plot never seems like a cliché. Instead, itadds gravity to the realization that such an agonized woman, played with utmost dedication by Gail Bean, can be anywhere near us. She could even be your next-door neighbor. Here, too, lieplenty of well-thought-out twists. Some will leave you frustrated. Others will make you glad.
5’Animal Within'
InAnimal Within, Tom (Anthony Boyle) and Ani (Gaïa Weiss), a couple,choose to spend the summer at the home of Ani’s uncle. Tom is recovering from a broken leg, while Ani is planning on how best to impress at her new internship. But who are thestrange “Officials” secretly monitoring them via CCTV?
Prying Eyes
Animal Withindelivers appropriate amounts of dread while sufficiently addressing the stifling surveillance culturethat we are forced to endure in the modern world. Workplace harassment also spills into the discussion, and through it, we see how home life can be affected. Beyond that,the two lead actors do a great job of channeling both innocence and curiosity.
4’Hurry Up Tomorrow'
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Hurry Up Tomorrowfinds pop superstar Abel Tesfaye (The Weekndplaying a fictionalized version of himselfin a terrible state. He isnavigating an exceedingly awkward stage in his career, full of doubts and confusion. A talented but exceedingly gawky, he confronts a world that doesn’t seem to understand him. Things get even worse whena mysterious fan kidnaps him after a concert and binds him in a hotel room.
A Vanity Project Worth Watching
Some commentators rubbishedHurry Up Tomorrowas nothing but an extended music video, but we bet they only said that because it was made by a singer who doesn’t usually venture into this space. In truth, this knowing, keenly observed psychological thriller is a subtle charmer, capturing the uncertain, strenuous, often bewildering struggles that stem from fame. The tale feels so personal that you will fail to believe it’s all creativity inspired by Stephen King’sMisery. Able support also comes from Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega.
Ayo Edebiri stars inOpusas Ariel Ecton, a young music journalist whoaccepts an invitation to the secluded desert home of legendary pop icon Alfred Moretti(John Malkovich). He disappeared from the spotlight 30 years ago but is planning a comeback album, so Ariel sees this as the perfect scoop. However, onceshe encounters a cult-like community that enforces strange rituals. How will it go?
Another Weird Star
Opusconveys a vivid sense of confusion, and director Mark Anthony Green draws out uniformly fine performances from his cast, particularly Malkovich and the cult members. Thankfully, allthe dread is leavened with soothing scores and marvelous visuals. While watching, you can’t help but sense it will only get worse for the protagonist, but things are so interesting that you cannot hesitate to take the next step with her.
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Ashfollows Riya (Eiza González), an astronaut whoawakens on a strange planet after her crew gets massacred. Plagued with amnesia, she wonders whether to trustBrion (Aaron Paul), a man who has shown up out of nowhere and claims he has been sent to rescue her.
Lost in Space
The filmrests squarely on González’s shoulders, and her shaded, spirited, and deeply felt performance makes everything tick. Her Riya speaks little, so we only get to understand her through her frustrations and facial expressions, as she tries to get out of her situation. Meanwhile,Aaron Paul brings a remarkable calm, cheerfulness, and sinister attitude to his role. No surprise. Heplayed a similar character inBlack Mirror.
1’Bring Them Down'
Bring Them Down
Bring Them Downis the story of Michael O’Shea (Christopher Abbott), wholives a lonely life with his dad, still grieving a car accident that killed his father and badly injured his ex.A feud with a neighboring farmer soon emerges when two rams disappear.
Things Getting Out of Hand
Farm conflicts are common in movies.Bring Them Downcharts the same path but goes deeper,examining one man’s fruitless attempts to juggle wavering emotions and fresh misfortunes. Truejoy lies in the impromptu actions that the characters choose to take to get back at each other. Beyond that, the film’s use of a nonlinear narrative is guaranteed to make you dizzy, so prepare yourself for that before you click the play button.
