7 Twisty Thrillers to Watch If You Enjoyed ‘Seven’ (1995)

David Fincher’s Seven (1995)changed the way in which everyone looks at thrillers…and boxes. What’s in the box?! Heck, even at a birthday party, there’s a slight uneasiness whenever someone brings out the cake in a box, with the brief pause and consideration that it might be somebody’s decapitated head inside.

Seven establishes itself as a nonstop nailbiter that never gets old, even after it’s seen 700 times later. But what about expanding the horizons and viewing options? Well, if someone is in the mood for the thriller, it’s tough to quench the thirst for twists with Shrek or Frozen. But what about a movie that fits into the same box as Seven? Oh, dear. There’s the talk about boxes all over again…

Copycat (1995)

In Seven, Kevin Spacey’s John Doe orchestrates his murders based on the seven deadly sins. Jon Amiel’s Copycat also gives its antagonist a theme, as this mysterious serial killer takes inspiration from notorious murderers from the past, such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. In the movie, it’s up to Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) – who also happens to be agoraphobe after an attack – to help the authorities track down the culprit and figure out why they’re copying other killers. However, Helen and the authorities aren’t alone in their quest as they reach out to Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.), a killer who previously attacked Helen.

Copycat blends elements of Seven with The Silence of the Lambs to keep everyone on the edge of their seats and in constant suspense. Much like always, Weaver doesn’t know how to give a bad performance, while Connick delivers a career-best turn as the maniacal Cullum. Watch Copycat on Paramount+.

Gone Girl (2014)

Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) vanishes, and all signs point to her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), being behind her disappearance. Gone Girl unravels the complex nature of the couple’s relationship and how it all fell apart, showcasing how Nick is a pretty terrible husband. Yet, while Nick is a bad partner and a possible mooch, the question remains: Is he Amy’s murderer?

David Fincher directs this film based on Gillian Flynn’s novel and the director brings his majestic touch to the proceedings. He masters the art to showcase just enough of the story to plant doubt in the audience’s mind but not the full picture, letting other parts of the movie fill in the blanks. Both Pike and Affleck bring their all to Gone Girl, which only gets wilder and more unpredictable as the plot progresses. Watch Gone Girl on Amazon Video.

Zodiac (2007)

Yeah, it’s safe to say that David Fincher is the king of psychological thrillers at this point. He cements his status in 2007’s Zodiac, which boasts an all-star cast including Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Brian Cox. In this film, the story follows the hunt for the infamous Zodiac Killer across several years as various individuals try to piece together who this mysterious figure really is.

Zodiac doesn’t turn into a giant jumbled puzzle, though, as Fincher presents the concise information gathered and the nature of the crimes. In addition, he showcases the other side of the coin here, and what the obsession of finding the killer does to the characters. Not only does the Zodiac destroy the lives of the victims, but also the homes of those who hunt him down. Watch Zodiac on Paramount+.

Kiss the Girls (1997)

Based on the James Patterson novel of the same name and directed by Gary Fleder, Kiss the Girls features a familiar face from Seven: Morgan Freeman. The actor plays Dr. Alex Cross who searches for his missing niece and a group of girls. At the same time, Dr. Kate McTiernan (Ashley Judd) is abducted by a masked assailant known as Casanova. Kate manages to escape from Casanova’s lair and becomes pivotal in Alex’s mission to find his niece and other missing women. 

Kiss the Girls might not have been universally beloved when it was released, holding a 34% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it aged like a fine wine and goes down like a twisty treat today. Freeman and Judd sizzle in the film, while the whodunit angle keeps everyone wondering about the true identity of Casanova. Watch Kiss the Girls on Paraount+.

Arlington Road (1999)

Mark Pellington’s Arlington Road unnerves throughout its entire running time, testing the stress levels of the viewer. The story follows history professor and terrorism expert Michael Faraday (Jeff Bridges) who becomes suspicious his new neighbors, Oliver (Tim Robbins) and Cheryl Lang (Joan Cusack), are terrorists. Michael attempts to convince the authorities to investigate the Langs, but they believe him to be paranoid until it’s too late.

Like Seven, Arlington Road concludes with a shocking ending. It’s the type of film that will have the viewer screaming at the screen and asking why the others didn’t listen to the main character from the get-go. It’s also one of the quintessential ’90s thrillers and a must-watch movie for anyone who loves a gripping story.  

Prisoners (2013)

Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners is a story about a parent’s worst nightmare. After two girls are abducted, one of the fathers, Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), takes matters into his own hands. The police, led by Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), attempt to figure out the identity of the kidnapper after letting a suspect loose, but Keller appears convinced he knows who the culprit is and does his own “investigation” and interrogation.

Prisoners puts the audience through the emotional meat grinder as well as a race against the clock. It forces the viewer to question everything they believe to be true several times throughout the film, while also making them understand Keller’s pain and helplessness in the situation. Honestly, Jackman was robbed of a Best Actor nomination after his heart-wrenching performance. Watch Prisoners on Max.

Insomnia (2002)

Detectives Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan) head out to Alaska to help authorities with an investigation of a murdered teen. Dormer himself, though, is being investigated by Internal Affairs and Eckhart is prepared to provide testimony in return for immunity. Under heavy fog, Dormer and Eckhart chase the suspect, but Dormer accidentally shoots and kills Eckhart. Knowing how suspicious it looks because of his pending investigation, he blames the suspect and struggles with insomnia because of his guilty conscience. However, matters take another turn when the killer contacts Dormer, informing him that he knows what he did and offers a trade.

Director Christopher Nolan captures both Dormer’s internal and external struggles in Insomnia. He showcases a desperate man who is unsure of what to do as he grapples with his conscience. It’s a story not only about justice but also the truth. As per usual, Pacino puts on a master class in acting and he’s sensationally supported by the late Robin Williams, who once again proved he was never strictly a comedic actor. Watch Insomnia on Amazon Video.