As the weather gets colder and a chill strikes fear into people’s hearts, it’s the perfect environment to watch an equally chilly thriller.
Streamers like Paramount+, HBO Max and Netflix have a fantastic selection of thrillers to watch within their content libraries, and Watch With Us has our finger on the pulse of the best thrillers around.
Our top three picks include Zodiac, a gripping account of the search for the elusive Zodiac Killer, and the infamous Brian De Palma adaptation of Scarface.
Read on to see the full list.
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
In the late 1960s and early ’70s in San Francisco, fear grips the Bay Area as a serial killer taunts authorities and remains uncaught. Sending messages, items of bloodstained clothing and cryptic puzzles to the police, the Zodiac eludes capture by investigator Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo). A young cartoonist named Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) joins the case, becoming fixated with solving the Zodiac’s puzzles. Alongside reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the three men journey into the dark abyss of the Zodiac crimes.
Atmospheric, brooding and genuinely quite scary at times, Zodiac is a thrilling crime procedural narrative that manages to adhere well to the real-life facts of the case. Featuring some career-best work from Gyllenhaal, Ruffalo and Downey, some fans of director David Fincher consider the film to be his magnum opus.
Stream Zodiac now on Paramount+.
‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)
Diamond District jewelry shop owner Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is having the most stressful week of his life. In the midst of a thorny separation from his wife, Dinah (Idina Menzel), he’s being harassed by his brother-in-law’s (Eric Bogosian) goons for the money he owes. His priceless Ethiopian black opal is currently being held hostage by Kevin Garnett, and his mistress, Julia (Julia Fox), might be cheating on him with The Weeknd. But a make-or-break bet stands to save Ratner’s skin.
High-octane, anxiety-inducing but also completely hypnotic, Uncut Gems is not just a powerhouse showcase for the dramatic acting chops of Sandler but also a character-driven crime drama of epic and disorienting proportions. Watching Uncut Gems is like riding on a rollercoaster that you want to get off but can’t, and it makes for an awesome movie-going experience.
Stream Uncut Gems now on HBO Max.
‘Scarface’ (1983)
Ex-con Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) touches down in Miami in 1980 after getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a government official. Once he stakes his claim in the United States, he sets his sights on the drug trade, becoming the most powerful drug lord in all of Florida. But as Tony’s cocaine-fueled paranoia heightens, he becomes encircled by authorities and warring cartels, who wants to put Tony out of business — for good.
As controversial as it is iconic, Scarface has cemented itself in cinema history in large part due to the legendary all-timer performance from Pacino as Tony Montana. Directed by the king of high-art sleaze, Brian De Palma, the crime thriller also boasts stylish direction and cinematography, and a captivating script that pulls no punches.
Stream Scarface now on Netflix.
