Few movie genres enthrall viewers as much as the thriller. There is nothing like sitting in a theater and experiencing the roller coaster of suspense. The wide variety out there allows audiences to experience different types of thrills. For example, an action thriller ratchets up the suspense with tense fight scenes while a psychological thriller provides twists and turns that tend to mess with the audience.
The thrillers that were released in 2014 are a great example of this variety. In order to demonstrate this, here is a countdown of ten of the best thrillers to come out in 2014.
Under The Skin
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin is about an alien woman who hunts men in the streets of Scotland. However, she begins to make realizations about her own humanity, to tragic results.
This is one of the more controversial films on the list. It tanked at the box office and audience members who did see it are divided on its quality. However, critics largely hailed this film as a masterpiece. It is definitely weird and slow, but therein lies its greatest strength as Under the Skin builds tension.
The movie premiered in 2013, but it was released theatrically in 2014.
John Wick
John Wick follows an assassin who is brought out of retirement when the son of a mob boss steals his car and kills his dog. Starring Keanu Reeves as the titular character, John Wick is noteworthy as a solid entry in the action thriller genre.
Fans and critics alike praised the film's tense action scenes and direction. As a result, John Wick was a surprise hit that started a new franchise. Its simple revenge story allows the film to provide edge-of-your-seat thrills from start to finish.
A Most Wanted Man
Based on a John le Carré novel of the same name, A Most Wanted Man follows a taskforce led by Philip Seymour Hoffman's Gunther Bachmann as they track an illegal immigrant with suspected ties to a terrorist group. As tensions mount, they must determine who this man really is and what his true intentions are.'
A Most Wanted Man was hailed as one of the best thrillers of the year when it was first released. With its slow burn pacing and compelling narrative, it does hold up as a quality espionage thriller. Hoffman's performance alone makes this one a worthwhile watch.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past
X-Men: Days of Future Past continues the adventures of Charles Xavier and his team of mutants as they send Wolverine back in time to prevent an apocalyptic future from occurring. In order to do this, Wolverine must team up with younger versions of the X-Men in order to take down a powerful government official.
Days of Future Past was embraced by critics and audiences as one of the best entries in the X-Men franchise. Its perfect mix of the sci-fi, comic book, and political thriller genres made this a one of a kind superhero film. The impressive action sequences and human conflict work together to make this a truly suspenseful ride.
Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl tells a story about a woman's mysterious disappearance. As the investigation progresses, her husband becomes suspect number one.
Gone Girl was a critical and commercial success due to Fincher demonstrating his strengths as a director. He showed once again with this film that he knows how to make a stylish movie that is at once beautiful and dark. Featuring wonderful performances from its stellar cast, this thriller is at once chilling and thought provoking.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
A followup to the previous Captain America film as well as the first Avengers flick, Captain America: The Winter Soldier sends Steve Rogers on the run after the death of SHIELD director Nick Fury. As Rogers finds himself at odds with powerful government organizations, The Winter Soldier quickly goes from standard comic book fare to something more akin to a political thriller.
Receiving more praise than its predecessor, The Winter Soldier became a blockbuster hit. Its tight pacing, grim tone, and tense action scenes made it a welcome departure from previous MCU entries. The fact that it has remained a favorite among Marvel fans proves that directors Anthony and Joe Russo did solid work on this film.
The Imitation Game
Based on a true story, The Imitation Game tells the story of Alan Turing. Turing was a brilliant mathematician who was tasked with leading a team in cracking Nazi codes during World War II.
At the box office, The Imitation Game became the most successful independent film to be released in 2014. Critics and audiences praised the film, especially Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Turing. Despite criticisms for the artistic license it takes, The Imitation Game is still viewed as one of the great dramatic biopics.
Locke
Locke stars Tom Hardy as a construction manager who takes a call that threatens to unravel if his life as he now knows it. Set almost entirely inside the titular character's car, the film revolves around a series of phone calls as Locke tries to keep his life together.
Locke was a critical darling. Critics noted how Hardy carries this entire film on his shoulders and does so while giving one of his greatest performances. Thanks to this performance, Locke provides a literal thrill ride.
The Guest
Starring Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens, The Guest features a family who welcomes an army buddy of their deceased son into their home. But, when people begin to die, one member of the family starts to question who their new house guest really is.
Critics praised The Guest as a tight thriller with a sense of inevitability that essentially makes it a horror thriller. This is due to the film's smart script and excellent directing. Combined with Stevens's performance, this film is a crowd-pleaser for thriller genre fans.
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler follows an aspiring photographer as he tries to make a name for himself photographing murder scenes for local news stations. His drive to become a success send him into a downward spiral as he becomes more and more willing to get his hands dirty.
Nightcrawler was praised for its dark tone and the performance of Jake Gyllenhaal as the main character. It is an intense, character-driven thriller that comes together to give the audience a powerful story with a wickedly disturbing protagonist.