10 Thriller Recommendations to Keep You On The Edge of Your Seat This Autumn

Hello, lovely readers. With the nights getting longer and the days getting darker, we are now in Autumn, finally! The colder seasons are my favourites, and with spooky October fast approaching, I thought now would be the perfect time to recommend you 10 of my beloved thriller films to keep you on the edge of your seat.

1.      The Call (2013)

This film follows a 911 operator who causes a call with a kidnapping victim to go fatally wrong. Now, when another girl is kidnapped, she must redeem herself. What I really enjoyed about this film is that it maintains such a high level of threat and danger from beginning to end. Most of the film also feels very realistic, adding to the scare factor. It is a desperate race against time, with the bond between two women at its centre. The only thing I don’t like about the film is the way the situation is resolved at the end, but that is an issue of personal preference rather than objective fault. Overall, I think this film is very underrated and deserves a lot more appreciation.

2.      Fall (2022)

Following a death, two young women seek adventure by climbing a 2000-foot TV tower. Their mission goes majorly wrong when the ladder breaks and they get stuck right at the top. This film is actually terrifying if you are afraid of heights. It feels too real, like they really will fall and die any moment. When I watched it, I could feel the fear in my body as if I was there myself, at this unfathomable height with no signal and barely any space. Visually, the film is very impressive, and I love the directions the plot took. I’d highly recommend this if you feel you can handle the realism.

3.      Flight Plan (2005)

This is one of my favourites, about a woman travelling by plane with her daughter. They fall asleep, and when the woman wakes up, her daughter is missing. But to make it stranger, none of the passengers recall ever seeing her, and the crew haven’t accounted for her being on the plane. It is one of those classic, ‘is she crazy, is she not?’ plots that I honestly love, because you’re never quite sure of the truth (until it is revealed at the end). I like narratives that manipulate the viewer, I like to be confused and taken by surprise. For me, it makes the experience of watching the film much more interesting and easy to be invested in. Definitely give it a watch if that sounds good to you!

4.      The Guilty (2021)

Another film following a 911 operator, except this one is much less dynamic. We follow a man struggling to help a caller in grave danger. He pretty much sits in the same room for the entire film and yet it is absolutely riveting. Honestly, I found this film and its many revelations pretty scary even though what we actually see is very limited. Jake Gyllenhaal was perfect for this role. His faultless acting makes the story so credible and engaging. A uniquely shot thriller, I really recommend giving this one a go. There is a high chance it’ll surprise you.

5.      Man on Fire (2004)

This film does a phenomenal job of balancing high stakes action with endearing characters. At the centre of the story is the deep bond between a man who is hired as a bodyguard for a wealthy family, and the family’s little girl. When she is kidnapped, he makes it his mission to avenge her and bring her back home. Despite the violence and darkness of the themes, it is a really heart-warming, emotional story which definitely tugs at the heartstrings. If you like a thriller with depth and darkness, this is the one for you.

6.      Nerve (2016)

A teenage girl takes part in an online game of truth or dare for money, but the game escalates when the dares start threatening her life. This is potentially my least favourite of the films on this list, perhaps because the characters are a little lacking, but overall this is a fun, exciting film that will definitely keep you hooked.

7.      Panic Room (2002)

For me, this is the scariest film on this list, largely because one of my biggest fears is home invasion, and that is exactly what this movie is about. A mother and daughter move into a new home, and on their first night, the home is broken into by three men searching for money that is rumoured to be in the house. Upon being broken into, the girls lock themselves in the panic room, without realising that that is where the money is. The film is a fight for safety and survival, and truly it has completely petrified me. The camera work also does an excellent job of highlighting both the claustrophobia of the house and its size, all the places the intruders could hide. Although this film is very scary, I think it is fantastic. It is also a rare example of a scary movie whose protagonists actually make smart decisions. So, if you’re someone who is usually frustrated by scary films, give this one a go.

8.      Prisoners (2013)

This is the film I’ve watched most recently out of the movies on this list. The story follows a man grappling with the disappearance of his daughter and her friend. He and the lead detective on the case disagree on how to solve it, so the man takes matters into his own hands and seeks revenge. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the film was less scary than I expected. While its themes are dark, the film shies away from showing the extent of the violence it implies. This is definitely worth the watch: phenomenal acting, gripping storyline, packed with threat and high stakes, but I did find the ending a bit dissatisfying and there were a few too many red herrings for me. Again, personal preference issues. You may love it. Don’t get me wrong, though, I really enjoyed this film and the plot twist got me.

9.      Red Eye (2005)

This is the story of a woman who is held hostage on a plane and blackmailed by a terrorist. It is gripping and exciting and action-packed but not quite as scary as it sounds so if you are younger, this may be the one for you. This film is easy to watch, well paced and the acting is great. I appreciated the small moments of comedy and tenderness as well. It is not perfect by any means but it is a nice one to escape into if you're looking for some easy entertainment.

10.  Sleeping With The Enemy (1991)

This story follows a woman after she flees her abusive husband and begins a new life in a small town. It has that comforting, 90s, slow-paced vibe to it, whilst also being quietly unsettling throughout. The climax is also excellent, the film's creeping build-up making it extra satisfying. There are such sweet, heart-warming, tender moments of romance in this film too. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of both romances and thrillers because this film blends the two genres perfectly.

Happy watching!