10 Most Disturbing Psychological Film Thrillers

3. Don't Look Now

Prisoners movie
British Lion Films/F.A.R International Films

Nicholas Roeg’s Venice-set thriller is best known for two things: a sex scene that remains remarkably frank nearly 50 years later, and an ending that still remains one of cinema’s most audacious of all time. These are two vital elements of the film, but between that is a unique, chilling, and even touching movie about loss and denial.

Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie star as a grief-stricken couple who have recently lost their daughter. When a job opportunity arises in Venice, they see it as a chance for a fresh start, but when a clairvoyant gives them hope that their daughter may still be alive, things quickly turn sinister amid the canals.

The fiercely artistic Roeg takes some conventional tropes - a serial killer, ghostly rumblings - and turns them inward, creating a pervasively sinister film that forces the viewer to venture further into the unknown along with the characters. Little is given away; Don’t Look Now features twists and turns that you simply couldn’t guess without prior knowledge.

Thematically rich and beautifully shot, Don’t Look Now expertly combines grubby goings-on with class and gloss. A one of a kind film.

Contributor
Contributor

Yorkshire-based writer of screenplays, essays, and fiction. Big fan of having a laugh. Read more of my stuff @ www.twotownsover.com (if you want!)