10 Amazing Psychological Horrors You've Never Heard Of
8. Piercing (2018)
Horror fans may recognise Christopher Abbot from his recent appearance in 2020’s Possessor, starring alongside Andrea Riseborough in the mind-bending psychological horror.
Another work you may have missed, however, is 2018’s Piercing, in which he appears as a wannabe-murderer named Reed.
Reed has an inner-drive to carry out some heinous murder, but at least has the sense to recognise that killing his own kid - whilst being easy - isn’t necessarily a great idea.
To expend that energy elsewhere he plots to restrain and murder a prostitute, but when his plans go awry the film takes an unpredictable, slightly confounding turn. The ensuing back and forth is darkly comic and works to add an unassumingly tense vibe to the film.
It puts a horror twist on what’s usually a comic trope of misunderstood communication and double-meanings. With Abbot starring alongside Mia Wasikowska in the main roles, it’s unsurprising that this film earned huge praise for its gripping performances.