4 Psychological Thrillers That Will Make Your Head Explode

Shutter Island

A U.S. Marshal, Edward Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, visits the remote Shutter Island to investigate the strange disappearance of a patient in a mental hospital on the island. As soon as he arrives, however, something appears to be deeply wrong; the doctors and patients act strangely, and Daniels soon begins suffering from terrible migraines coupled with nightmares of his deceased wife. 

While Daniels continues his search for the missing patient, he is also desperate to uncover the true nature of the asylum and its patients, before it’s too late. The story is easy to follow and primarily linear, but offers plenty of psychological dilemmas that will leave you reeling — no matter how many times you’ve seen it. 

Memento

When a film has Christopher Nolan’s name attached to it, you already know it’s going to be life-changing. Memento follows the story of a man who has anterograde amnesia, making him unable to create any new memories. The man, Leonard, developed the condition after being attacked by a man who killed his wife. 

He aims to seek revenge on his mystery attacker by leaving himself notes, photographs, and even tattoos of clues and names that will help him — but both Leonard and the viewer have no memory of who can really be trusted. 

This is a film that demands a rewatch (or three) because of how Nolan utilizes multiple timelines to unveil the story in a way that feels as though we, the viewers, are also experiencing Leonard’s condition.

Mother!

Abstract and odd, the world of Mother! starring Jennifer Lawrence presents a deep psychological mystery that the viewer will desperately want to unravel. The film begins in a peaceful country home, where Lawrence’s character — known only as Mother — enjoys an idyllic life alongside her husband, who is a renowned poet. Strange visitors soon arrive to the house, however, and quickly begin to disrupt Mother’s home, along with her relationship. 

The film has one foot set in the real world and another set in what feels like both a dream and a metaphor for something much bigger. Reminiscent of classics like The Yellow Wallpaper, Mother! will undoubtedly leave any viewer questioning what, exactly, they just watched. 

Black Swan 

Black Swan is a classic psychological thriller — one many people first think of when they think of the genre itself. It follows Natalie Portman as a young dancer named Nina, who secures the titular role of playing both the White Swan and Black Swan in her ballet company’s upcoming production of Swan Lake. As Nina becomes more and more desperate to successfully exhibit the role of the Black Swan, whose darker and less innocent nature eludes her, she soon begins spiraling. Viewers will also lose their grip on reality the further the story goes, but might just experience the same desperate drive that Nina has to complete the final performance of Swan Lake.