tense backdrop

Movies with tense vibe

Catfish

2791. Catfish

Documentary True Crime Documentary
7.1

20101h 27min

United States

Director: Ariel Schulman

Nev, a 24-year-old New York-based photographer, has no idea what he's in for when Abby, an eight-year-old girl from rural Michigan, contacts him on Facebook, seeking permission to paint one of his photographs. When he receives her remarkable painting, Nev begins a friendship and correspondence with Abby's family. But things really get interesting when he develops a cyber-romance with Abby's attractive older sister, Megan, a musician and model. Prompted by some startling revelations about Megan, Nev and his buddies embark on a road trip in search of the truth.

Themes

Constructed identities, Online deception, Family manipulation, Artistic authenticity pressure, Trust breach

Available on

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

Devil

2792. Devil

Horror Mystery Thriller Supernatural Horror Locked-Room Mystery
6.3

20101h 20min

United States

Director: John Erick Dowdle

A group of people are trapped in an elevator high above Philadelphia, and one of them is the devil.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Supernatural interference, Mistrust and accusation, Suspicion among strangers, Confinement under threat, Paranoia in confinement

Available on

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

The Town

2793. The Town

Crime Drama Thriller Heist Relationship Drama
7.5

20102h 5min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Ben Affleck

Doug MacRay is a longtime thief, who, smarter than the rest of his crew, is looking for his chance to exit the game. When a bank job leads to the group kidnapping an attractive branch manager, he takes on the role of monitoring her – but their burgeoning relationship threatens to unveil the identities of Doug and his crew to the FBI Agent who is on their case.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Loyalty under pressure, Desire to exit crime, Family influence and addiction, Surveillance and suspicion, Violence and consequences

Available on

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

The Whistleblower

2794. The Whistleblower

Drama Thriller Crime Political Thriller Political Drama
7.1

20101h 52min

Canada, Germany

Director: Larysa Kondracki

Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac discovers a deadly sex trafficking ring while serving as a U.N. peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Risking her own life to save the lives of others, she uncovers an international conspiracy that is determined to stop her, no matter the cost.

Themes

Institutional corruption, International power dynamics, Whistleblower risk, Accountability vs immunity, Gender-based exploitation, Victims' testimony

Available on

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

Trust

2795. Trust

Crime Drama Thriller Con Artist Crime Psychological Drama
6.9

20101h 44min

United States

Director: David Schwimmer

A suburban family is torn apart when fourteen-year-old Annie meets her first boyfriend online. After months of communicating via online chat and phone, Annie discovers her friend is not who he originally claimed to be. Shocked into disbelief, her parents are shattered by their daughter's actions and struggle to support her as she comes to terms with what has happened to her once innocent life.

Themes

Online dating risk, Online predation and deception, Parental vigilance under strain, Digital harassment and doxxing, Teen trauma and recovery

Available on

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

Of Gods and Men

2796. Of Gods and Men

Drama History Historical Drama Historical Event
7.2

20102h

France

Director: Xavier Beauvois

A group of Trappist monks reside in the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, where they live in harmony with the largely muslim population. When a bloody conflict between Algeria's army and Muslim Jihadi insurgents disrupts the peace, they are forced to consider fleeing the monastery and deserting the villagers they have ministered to. In the face of deadly violence the monks wrestle with their faith and their convictions, eventually deciding to stay and help their neighbours keep the army and the insurgents at bay.

Themes

Loyalty under duress, Faith under pressure, Duty to neighbors, Peaceful coexistence under threat, Restraint in violence, Communal resilience

Available on

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

El Infierno

2797. El Infierno

Action Crime Western Comedy Drama
7.6

20102h 28min

Mexico

Director: Luis Estrada

After being deported back to Mexico, a man has no choice but to join the vicious drug cartel that has corrupted his hometown in order to survive.

Themes

Loyalty under duress, Deception within criminal networks, Cycles of violence, Family obligation under crime, Corruption and power, Survival in a border town

Available on

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

Reign of Assassins

2798. Reign of Assassins

Action Adventure Martial Arts Action Adventure Epic
6.8

20101h 57min

China, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Su Chaobin

Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk's remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.

Themes

Revenge and loyalty, False appearances, Pursuit and concealment, Identity masquerade, Power and possession, Transformation and reinvention

Available on

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

Machete

2799. Machete

Action Comedy Thriller One-Person Army Parody
6.6

20101h 45min

United States, Germany

Director: Robert Rodriguez

After being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.

Themes

Political corruption, Immigration policy pressure, Betrayal and revenge, Border vigilante conflict, Deception and false flag, Immigrant network resilience

Available on

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

In a Better World

2800. In a Better World

Drama Family Drama
7.6

20101h 58min

Denmark, Sweden

Director: Susanne Bier

The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Intergenerational conflict, Deception and loyalty, Duty versus family, Moral compromise under pressure, Bullying and protection

Available on

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