Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese
A psychological thriller adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name, the film uses Alfred Hitchcock’s noir style to keep the audience guessing throughout. Leonardo Di Caprio goes to Shutter Island, Ashecliffe hospital (an asylum for the criminally insane) to investigate the case of a missing prisoner. Special effects are used cleverly in order to transit between reality and the protagonist’s alter world. The location where the film has been shot depicts the much-needed coldness in such a suspense thriller. An incredible plot, stunning acting by Leonardo Di Caprio, a good ensemble cast and an unexpected twist in the ending makes it a must watch.
The Prestige
Christopher Nolan
One of the trademark movies of Christopher Nolan, in which he uses his non-linear style of story telling in an effective manner, it showcases the rivalry between two magicians and the sacrifice one has to make in order to make it big. The intensity of the rivalry increases when one of them comes up with a unimaginable illusion called The Transported Man. Strong dialogues, a strength of Nolan’s is deployed effectively in order to provide the much needed maturity.
Fight Club
David Fincher
A psychological thriller starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt the film is based on the 1996 novel of the same name. It is about an insomniac who has a usual job and to get rid of his sleep problems joins groups where the members have worse problems. He meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and they form a fight club which attracts a lot of men. What happens further and the climax are the reasons why it is a cult movie.
Batman The Dark Knight:
Christopher Nolan
“When you are good at something never do it for free” says the Joker. This movie is about how a lunatic clown escapes Asylum and wants to destroy Gotham City. Unlike any other super hero film this one has a strong plot, a well supported background score by Hans Zimmer and not to forget Heath Ledger’s Oscar winning performance as The Joker. Portrayal of chaos couldn’t be any better. The twist in the climax makes the movie a complete watch.
Inception
Christopher Nolan
A sci-fi thriller set in the world where there is a possibility of entering the human mind through dreams. Cobb played by Leonardo Di Caprio is a thief who steals ideas from the human mind, but after having lost everything he is given the tough task of planting a new idea in the mind. Ariadne (a character in the movie) is cleverly deployed so that audience find the movie easier to understand. An awesome science fiction and a totally new concept involving dreams told in a befitting manner the film ends with an emotional and ambiguous climax.
Those that almost it
Indian: S. Shankar
The Social Network: David Fincher
Megamind: Tom McGrath
Memento: Christopher Nolan
Zodiac: David Fincher
Back To the Future: Robert Zemeckis
Surya Vinayakam is a student of Mechanical Engineering at SRM University. He loves watching thrillers.