tense backdrop

Movies with tense vibe

Barely Lethal

1981. Barely Lethal

Action Comedy Adventure Romance Awkward Comedy
5.4

20151h 38min

United States

Director: Kyle Newman

A 16-year-old international assassin yearning for a "normal" adolescence fakes her own death and enrolls as a senior in a suburban high school. She quickly learns that being popular can be more painful than getting water-boarded.

Themes

Deception and performance, Dual identities, Mentorship and control, Longing for normal life, Popularity as risk, Obedience versus autonomy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

She's Funny That Way

1982. She's Funny That Way

Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy High-Concept Comedy
6.2

20151h 33min

United States, Germany

Director: Peter Bogdanovich

On the set of a playwright's new project, a love triangle forms between his wife, her ex-lover, and the call girl-turned-actress cast in the production.

Themes

Exploitation and agency, Deception in performance, Infidelity and ambition, Art-world negotiation, Marriage and temptation, Public exposure and stigma

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Age of Adaline

1983. The Age of Adaline

Romance Fantasy Drama Passionate Romance Time-Rule Fantasy
7.2

20151h 52min

United States

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Frozen at 29 for decades, a woman lives in a beautiful prison of forged identities, fake stories, and constant goodbyes. When she finally falls for someone who makes her want a real life, she must decide whether to keep running or let her ageless secret destroy everything around her.

Themes

Identity under disguise, Secret self-preservation, Immortality versus aging, Romance across decades, Cost of perpetual youth

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Peacock Premium
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

My Mother

1984. My Mother

Drama Family Drama
6.8

20151h 46min

Italy, France

Director: Nanni Moretti

Margherita, a director in the middle of an existential crisis, has to deal with the inevitable and still unacceptable loss of her mother.

Themes

Identity and belonging, Caregiver burden, Loss and motherhood, Medical ethics and care, Chosen family, Secrets and disclosure

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Survivalist

1985. The Survivalist

Drama Science Fiction Thriller Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Survival Thriller
6.4

20151h 44min

United Kingdom

Director: Stephen Fingleton

In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in forest. When two women seeking food and shelter discover his farm, he finds his existence threatened.

Themes

Trust and betrayal, Isolation vs community, Coercive bargaining, Forest shelter, Pregnancy under scarcity, Survival ethics under scarcity

Available on

Kanopy
Fandango At Home
Philo
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Desierto

1986. Desierto

Thriller Drama Survival Thriller Tragic Drama
6.1

20151h 28min

Mexico, France

Director: Jonás Cuarón

A group of Mexican emigrants attempts to cross the Mexican-US border. What begins as a hopeful journey becomes a harrowing, bloody and primal fight for survival when a deranged, rifle-toting vigilante and his loyal Belgian Malinois dog chase the group of unarmed men and women through the treacherous borderland. In the harsh, unforgiving desert terrain, the odds are stacked firmly against them as they discover there’s nowhere to hide from the unrelenting, merciless killer.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Vigilante justice, Family obligation, Survival under threat, Border violence, Desert as adversary

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Spooks: The Greater Good

1987. Spooks: The Greater Good

Thriller Action Political Thriller Spy Action
6.2

20151h 44min

United Kingdom

Director: Bharat Nalluri

During a handover to the head of counter-terrorism of MI5, Harry Pearce, a terrorist escapes custody. When Harry disappears soon after, his protégé is tasked with finding out what happened as an impending attack on London looms, and eventually uncovers a deadly conspiracy.

Themes

Institutional corruption, Political intrigue, Insider betrayal, Disobeying orders, Covert operations, Conspiracy dynamics

Available on

Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Harvest

1988. The Harvest

Horror Thriller Mystery Psychological Horror Investigation Mystery
6.1

20151h 44min

United States

Director: John McNaughton

After becoming orphaned, a lonely girl moves in with her grandparents and tries to befriend a sick, bed-ridden boy next door, despite his mother’s strong objections. Her persistence leads to a friendship, but during secret visits, she uncovers dark secrets in the boy's home.

Themes

State violence and fear, Class oppression through policy, Collective punishment of peasants, Family resilience under duress, Displacement and hopeful migration, Women-led revolt

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Kill Me Three Times

1989. Kill Me Three Times

Comedy Thriller Mystery Dark Comedy Investigation Suspense
5.8

20151h 30min

United States, Australia

Director: Kriv Stenders

While on a seemingly routine job, a jaded hit man discovers that he's not the only one with his target in the crosshairs.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Money as motive, Mistrust and suspicion, False alliances, Greed and opportunism, Insurance fraud dynamics

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Longest Ride

1990. The Longest Ride

Drama Romance Passionate Romance Relationship Drama
7.0

20152h 8min

United States

Director: George Tillman Jr.

The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man as he reflects back on a lost love while he's trapped in an automobile crash.

Themes

Loss and resilience, Memory and legacy, Family desire vs career, Art versus sport worlds, Wealth through art, Intergenerational romance

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.