Plenty of people everywhere have been captivated while watching a thriller movie only to look up the reviews online and be surprised by how poorly it was received by critics. It can make you question if you got the same thing out of the film as the professionals. The opposite can also be true through.
There are thrillers out there that were considered major successes by critics, leading to high Rotten Tomatoes ratings, only for casual audiences to score them much lower on IMDb. It doesn't mean the film is bad at all but it's further proof of how mixed the reception can be for these flicks.
Vivarium (2019) - RT: 72%/IMDb: 5.8
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Some psychological thrillers are meant to really make you feel unsettled and want you to walk away from the story thinking about it for a while. That's kind of what Vivarium does as the entire thing feels creepy as soon as it begins.
The film follows a couple (Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg) who get trapped in an empty neighborhood with no way out and are forced to raise a child that might not be entirely human. It's a bit of a confusing movie filled with upsetting scenes so some viewers didn't like it even if critics did.
Personal Shopper (2016) - RT: 81%/IMDb: 6.1
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While she may have just earned her first Academy Award nomination, Kristen Stewart has been delivering fantastic performances for several years now. After leading the maligned Twilight series, Stewart shined in a bunch of indie movies, including Personal Shopper.
This supernatural thriller sees Stewart star as Maureen Cartwright, an American woman working as a personal shopper for a celebrity in Paris and while there, she tries to communicate with her dead twin brother. Critics loved this and it was a hit at Cannes (with Stewart winning Best Actress) but audiences have been lukewarm on it.
Swallow (2019) - RT: 88%/IMDb: 6.5
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Another unsettling psychological thriller is Swallow which can be very hard for some people to watch. It's difficult to sit and see someone willingly swallow inedible objects ranging from batteries to thumbtacks and almost everything in between.
The body horror aspect could be part of why the film doesn't have the highest rating on IMDb. It is also a slow-burn, which doesn't always appeal to casual audiences. Regardless, critics found it to be a well-told story and praised Haley Bennett's leading performance.
The Invitation (2015) - RT: 89%/IMDb: 6.6
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There are cases where a seemingly normal event is happening but there's something about it that just feels completely off. That's how things go in The Invitation which is meant to just be a gathering of friends at a dinner party.
Will and Kira are invited to the home of Will's ex and her new boyfriend David for the party but something about David has Will suspicious and makes for a tense thriller. Again, there's a slow build here that can take some viewers out of things, though reviews really appreciated that setup.
Kimi (2022) - RT: 91%/IMDb: 6.3
Stream On HBO Max
The most recent thriller to see this kind of split is KIMI, which comes from one of the most versatile directors in Hollywood, Steven Soderbergh. This is the kind of film that feels like it could be a Black Mirror episode due to how it uses technology as part of its theme.
The movie follows Angela Childs (Zoë Kravitz), an agoraphobe who overhears a violent crime while reviewing a smart speaker at work. It seemed tailor-made for audiences as the world loves to see a character do the right thing in these situations though they were far less positive about it than critics were.
Super Dark Times (2017) - RT: 90%/IMDb: 6.6
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There are some tremendous thrillers out there that you might've never heard of due to them being indie flicks. Super Dark Times is among them as it didn't even make $50,000 at the box office but was met with rave reviews from critics.
Super Dark Times focuses on a group of teens who descend into chaos, paranoia, and madness after a kid gets stabbed in the neck with a katana and they cover it up. The atmosphere and performances were praised and while viewers also enjoyed it, they don't seem to consider it truly great.
Knives & Skin (2019) - RT: 69%/IMDb: 5.2
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On paper, Knives and Skin is another film that seems like audiences would totally be behind it. The premise centers around the disappearance of a high school girl in a small town and how it unexpectedly impacts the community.
Stories about missing people usually captivate casual moviegoers but they couldn't get into Knives and Skin. Some of the trippy aspects didn't seem to click with those who watched it but critics found the disturbing nature to actually be a positive.
No Sudden Move (2021) - RT: 92%/IMDb: 6.5
Stream On HBO Max
Once again, Steven Soderbergh is at the helm of one of these movies. This time around, it's No Sudden Move, which like KIMI premiered on HBO Max. This is more of a crime thriller than anything relating to supernatural forces or psychological terror.
Led by strong performances from Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, and Julia Fox, No Sudden Move was something critics appreciated. The story of two criminals who must deal with the aftermath of a plan gone wrong didn't fully pull in audiences though, given the slightly above average rating on IMDb.
I Am Not A Serial Killer (2016) - RT: 92%/IMDb: 6.2
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Based on a 2009 novel of the same name, I Am Not A Serial Killer has an interesting setup. The protagonist is a teen who is obsessed with serial killers and has been diagnosed as a sociopath but who works hard to never become one.
Critics were big fans of the story as they watched the teen do everything to control his urges. Others were into that as well but they may not have liked the twist of a monster coming into the story as it kind of changes the tone of the entire thing.
She Dies Tomorrow (2020) - RT: 84%/IMDb: 5.1
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The premise of She Dies Tomorrow centers on a woman who has a huge sense of dread that she is indeed going to die the following day, which is contagious and infects those around her, including her good friend.
The film features a solid cast including Katie Aselton, Olivia Taylor Dudley, and an appearance from Michelle Rodriguez. Reviews praised the filmmaker and said it was provocative but casual audiences were much harsher on IMDb.