The crime movie genre is incredibly compelling, but often includes dark and gritty films that really leave an impression on any who watch them. This is particularly impressive because the crime genre is so broad, including everything from supernatural thrillers to incredible true-crime documentaries. There is a lot of ground to cover, and some of the darkest entries in the genre do it best.
These movies do well for a variety of reasons, including the brutality of the story, the shock value, the uniqueness of the plot, and the quality of the writing. Sometimes, there are even compelling relationships between the characters, with some of the best detective duos making these stories even stronger. Even though films like Killer Joe and Longlegs can sometimes be difficult to watch, they leave the viewer with the impression that there is more lurking just beneath the surface.
10
Killer Joe (2011)
Matthew McConaughey Stars In One Of His Strongest Roles
Starring the iconic Matthew McConaughey in what is an incredibly strong performance, Killer Joe revolves around an estranged family and an insurance scam. When the family of a woman named Adele decide to kill her and collect on her hefty life insurance policy, they contact тιтular detective and part-time contract killer “Killer Joe” Cooper to do the deed. However, the plan starts to go wrong when the family begins turning on one another.
Killer Joe is based on the 1993 play of the same name, which was written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts.
Though the film is dark and twisted, mostly in its depiction of familial violence and Joe’s character in general, there is more than a fair share of comedy sprinkled throughout the movie’s script. This, paired with the film’s brutality, offers a polarizing experience that goes from one extreme to the other. The complete disruption of this one family leaves the viewer wondering if this could happen to their own family, as Killer Joe shows that family conflict never really goes away.
9
Blue Ruin (2014)
This Crime Thriller Began As A Kickstarter Campaign
Originally beginning as an early Kickstarter campaign, Blue Ruin is a movie with revenge baked into its core. The film follows the journey of a man named Dwight Evans, who has been living out of his car. When he discovers that the man who killed his parents has been released from prison, he goes on a mission to find him and finally return the favor, killing him for good.
Another movie that heavily features trauma within the family, Blue Ruin slowly uncovers its secrets over the course of the film. What starts as a seemingly simple plot takes a sharp turn once Dwight believes he has completed his quest, but that is only the beginning. The secrets revealed are mᴀssive and best experienced through watching the film itself, leaving viewers satisfied with what this amazing breakout film accomplished.
8
I Saw The Devil (2010)
A South Korean Action-Thriller Masterpiece
I Saw the Devil is another gritty entry into a long line of incredible South Korean crime films, centered around another desperate attempt at revenge. When an NIS agent’s fiancée is murdered by a notorious serial killer, he not only attempts to bring him to justice, but end his life in the process. Notably, the film stars Lee Byung-hun, who famously played the Front Man in the hit South Korean Netflix series, Squid Game.
An Indian and Hindi-language remake of the film тιтled Ek Villain was released in 2014.
While the serial killer’s different murders are shown in brutal fashion throughout the film, perhaps the most painful part of the film is its depiction of grief. The script does not hold back, and the actors’ performances throughout the film really hit on the true horror of losing a loved one. These performances stick with the viewer more than anything, reflecting the grief that is present in everyone.
7
Nightcrawler (2014)
Jake Gyllenhaal In His Most Unsettling Performance
Instead of following the traditional crime-thriller story of a detective or someone who has been personally wronged, Nightcrawler instead chooses to depict the life of a stringer, or rather a journalist who sells breaking news and crime footage to news stations. This man, a criminal named Lou, takes this job up when he cannot find a job anywhere else as a convicted criminal. As the film goes on, he takes bigger and more dangerous risks, breaking into crime scenes and capturing increasingly horrifying footage.
The lengths that Lou goes to throughout Nightcrawler are what make the film worth watching, making it a tense watch that lingers after viewing. Perhaps even worse is the fact that it is incredibly believable, as it is easy to see someone following in Lou’s footsteps and doing something like this in real life. This, coupled with Jake Gyllenhaal’s unsettling performance, make Nightcrawler a perfect film for any viewer looking for something unique and oddly terrifying.
6
Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese’s Thrilling Classic Continues To Excite Audiences
Often considered among the best movies of all time, Taxi Driver is a thoughtful film about mental health and what it means to be a good person and a model citizen. Starring Robert De Niro as taxi driver and Vietnam War veteran Travis Bickle, the film begins and subsequently spirals as Travis’ disgust with the state of society grows out of control. He eventually decides to take the law into his own hands, acting as a vigilante and killing criminals in the streets.
The ending of Taxi Driver can be interpreted in several ways, leading the viewer to come to their own conclusions. Does Travis die by the end of the film, or is the entire thing just a delusion created in Travis’ mind? The ending gives the viewer much to think about, so much so that even decades later there is still debate on the subject.
5
Longlegs (2024)
Nic Cage’s Thriller Leans More Into Horror Than The Traditional Crime Drama
Terrifying from beginning to end, Longlegs shows FBI detective Lee Harker and her desperation in tracking down the serial killer that has been terrorizing the state of Oregon. However, what sets this film apart from the general serial killer stories that fill the crime thriller genre is the supernatural element of the story. Not only does Lee seem to have special powers, but the serial killer, Longlegs, also seems to be influenced by a sort of magic.
Longlegs was released to critical acclaim and currently holds a rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The terrifying use of this magic throughout the film leaves the viewers with more questions than it answers. Because of this mysterious element, Longlegs gives viewers a lot to think about when it comes to how everything in its setting came to be. Because of its unanswered questions and mystical atmosphere, the film really winds its way into viewers’ minds, begging for these questions to be theorized about.
4
Prisoners (2013)
Another Incredible Jake Gyllenhaal Crime Thriller
Being what is perhaps Jake Gyllenhaal’s definitive crime thriller performance, Prisoners takes an agonizing look into the lives of two families when a pair of young girls go missing. Gyllenhaal’s character, Detective Loki, is tasked with bringing these girls home safely. However, as he investigates the girls’ disappearance, the fathers of the missing children decide to take matters into their own hands, for better or worse.
While Gyllenhaal’s performance as the movie’s main detective is as compelling as it is emotional, Hugh Jackman’s performance as a grieving father pushed to his limit is what makes the film so inherently painful. It is clear that he would do anything to save his daughter, even pushing the boundaries of the law to do so. His performance leaves many wondering what lengths they would go to in a similar situation, making plenty truly identify with his character.
3
Sicario (2015)
This Action Thriller Explores Morality & Drug Cartels
Taking place in the midst of a drug cartel takedown, Sicario focuses on a joint task force between the United States CIA and a Sicario, or ᴀssᴀssin, named Alejandro. The film goes over their entire operation, rampaging through Mexico in the hopes of taking down the notorious drug lord Fausto Alarcón. In the process, the task force commits acts of violence that they continuously justify, leaving the morality of the operation’s tactics in question.
Sicario‘s gut punch of an ending is what really makes the film last so long in viewers’ minds, leaving them questioning the morality of the main character and of themselves. Once Alejandro locates Alarcón, he infiltrates his home and proceeds to kill his wife and children in front of him before executing the drug lord himself. It is horrible to watch and terrifying to think about, leaving an impression on anyone who watches the scene.
2
No Country For Old Men (2007)
This Film Is Based On A Cormac McCarthy Classic
Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men is an engaging movie about a hit man and his run-ins with the law. When ᴀssᴀssin Anton Chigurh is tasked with grabbing a mᴀssive stash of money, he faces a variety of different obstacles, including his own selfishness. The film is both tense and exciting throughout its entirety, leaving many wondering what Anton could possibly do next.
The film is largely faithful to the novel, but instead of focusing on Sheriff Bell, the film instead focuses on Anton and the details of the story.
No Country for Old Men has a divisive ending, one that is mired in death and ambiguity. The final note of the film ends with the dreams of Sheriff Bell, explaining his own feelings of guilt. However, there is still hope amidst the tragedy and chaos, allowing the themes to resonate even stronger than they would if they were simply negative emotions.
1
Se7en (1995)
This Classic Is Emotional & Tragic In Equal Measure
Based on the writer’s experiences living in New York in the 1980s, Se7en follows a pair of detectives who are tasked with tracking down a terrifying serial killer. This killer uses the idea of the seven ᴅᴇᴀᴅly sins to terrify the people living in the city, killing in theme with those sins. While it is one of many films focused on hunting serial killers, Se7en is perhaps the definitive film in the genre, setting the stage for many of the movies that would come later.
With an all-star cast that gives their all in their performances, Se7en has long been famous for its numerous incredible scenes. The well-known “What’s in the box?” scene has become synonymous with film culture as a whole, with many knowing this scene without even seeing the movie. Se7en is a great crime thriller and an incredible mystery, making it worth a watch to unravel the film’s secrets.
