10. Black Swan (2010)
'Black Swan', from 'Requiem for a Dream' (2000) director Darren Aronofsky, is sort of like the female version of 'Fight Club' (1999). That may be an oversimplification, but in this film, there is certainly more to our protagonist, the ballerina Nina, than meets the eye. A great movie with an amazing performance from Natalie Portman, who won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2011.
9. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
From the brilliant mind of director Stanley Kubrick, we have his 1999 showpiece, 'Eyes Wide Shut', starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Kubrick once again leads us down a path trying to differentiate between real world and the subconscious. Sadly, 'Eyes Wide Shut' was to be Stanley Kubrick’s final film, being released just few months following his death.
8. The Conversation (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola proved again that he is a great filmmaker, after the 'Godfather' trilogy. 'The Conversation' is still well and truly classified as one of the definitive films from the 70s, The fantastic Gene Hackman ingeniously plays the paranoid, neurotic, freelance surveillance expert, Harry Caul. There are also superb performances by John Cazale, Harrison Ford and an electrifying cameo from Robert Duvall. It is a haunting thriller that lingers long in the mind.
7. Blue Velvet (1986)
Blue Velvet is a chilling, uncomfortable viewing and with scenes of sadomasochism, violence and drug abuse, it’s a dark and disturbing experience. Nevertheless, it’s a brilliant, compelling piece of cinema that should not be missed. From the director David Lynch, starring Kyle McLachlan, Laura Dern, Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini, it should come as no surprise that this is a dark, sinister and extreme film.
6. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Mia Farrow produces the performance of a lifetime in Roman Polanski’s brilliant psychological horror. Released in 1968, this truly terrifying film effortlessly stands the test of time, being the most acclaimed movie from Polanski's 'The Apartment' trilogy.
5. Memento (2000)
Despite the fact that the movie is a psychological one, to make things even more confusing, the film is told through black-and-white and color sequences, and it’s not clear to the audience which comes first chronologically. It’s also unclear which characters Shelby can trust. It's Christopher Nolan's breakthrough movie after his debut with 'Following' (1998).
4. The Shining (1980)
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation is regularly cited as as one of the most iconic films ever made. One of the most influential horror films of all time, 'The Shining' is also an exhausting psychological thriller, both in the dramatic drop in Jack Torrance's, played by Jack Nicholson, sanity, and in the audiences understanding of it.
3. Prisoners (2013)
A morally dubious film, and one in which a number of characters suffer altered states of mental well being, Denis Villeneuve's 'Prisoners' is one of the best psychological thrillers of recent years, full of great performances, and, like many of the films on this list, complete with a finale that heaves one final level of psychological strife upon its protagonist.
2. The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
A classic of the genre, Jonathan Demme's multi Oscar winning 'The Silence Of The Lambs' has seen its status slightly reduced over the years. Despite this, it's still one of the purest psychological thrillers ever made, led by an iconic Anthony Hopkins performance.
1. Vertigo (1958)
In what can only be described as the ultimate psychological thriller, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic involves more than a psychological thriller. It’s a masterpiece. With a fantastic backdrop of San Francisco, this fable of romance and obsession is a stunning piece of work that should be ranked as highly in another 50 years’ time, as it is today.
Other great psychological thrillers: 'Se7en' (1995), 'Jacob's Ladder' (1990), 'The Usual Suspects' (1995), 'The Sixth Sense' (1999), 'Mulholland Drive' (2001), 'Zodiac' (2007), 'Fight Club' (1999), 'Shutter Island' (2010), 'American Psycho' (2000), 'Taxi Driver' (1976), 'Mystic River' (2003), 'Requiem for a Dream' (2000), 'Mr. Brooks' (2007), 'The Butterfly Effect' (2004).