With 1999’s Fight Club, Novelist Chuck Palahniuk and director David Fincher helped bring a new sensibility to dramas and thrillers, taking an established formula and adding a psychological bent. A number of movies in its wake have sought to emulate this brand of surrealism, emphasizing inner-monologues and alternate personalities.
These traits lead the viewer to question what they’re watching at all times, wondering if what they’re seeing is in fact real, or a manifestation of our protagonist’s troubled mind. This off-kilter style of narrative has been used effectively in a number of genres, including drama, action, thrillers, and suspense. While this has produced some mixed results, it’s also enhanced certain films, bringing an added layer of depth and intrigue.
10 Diabolique (1996)
This psychological thriller features an all-star cast including Sharon Stone and Kathy Bates, with some top-notch writing wrought with twists and turns. The movie is actually a remake of the 1955 French film, Les Diaboliques, offering a darker and more modern take on that classic.
Diabolique takes place at a harshly-governed Catholic school, as the plot involves two women conspiring to do away with the abusive schoolmaster named Guy. Director Jeremiah Chechik captivates throughout its 107-minute runtime by way of building suspense and throwing curveballs to keep its audience guessing.
For awhile, it’s unclear just who should be trusted, and this uncertainty carries all the way to the shocking climactic ending.
9 The Platform (2020)
This example proves far more twistedly dystopian and grim than even the likes of Fight Club. Still, this Spanish film has a similar air of surrealism and uneasiness throughout – with a thick atmosphere of nihilism to boot.
The premise is simple at its core while being symbolically profound and ambiguous. The movie takes place in a massive, towering vertical prison, which lowers a platform full of food each day. The kicker? Each of the countless dozens of levels only gets to gorge on the remaining scraps from the higher levels. This naturally leaves the lower levels, deprived, crazed, and often radicalized.
The metaphors hit hard in this one – as does the glum, gritty imagery throughout this psychological trip to the depths.
8 Split (2017)
Fans of the cult-hit Fight Club often renown the film for its jaw-dropping revelations centered around split personalities. Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is undeniably practiced in the art of shocking viewers with twist endings as well. Though the Fight Club parallels don’t end there when it comes to this cerebral thriller from 2016.
Split‘s underlying concept is somewhat akin to Fight Club on steroids – coupled with the sensibilities of a heart-pounding slasher. It features a mentally troubled man sporting a whopping 24 personalities. Somehow, Shyamalan manages to elevate this already epic premise to another level with an amusing revelation at the conclusion.
7 Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Dramas can often entice by conveying an ambiguity that keeps viewers curious throughout. This is largely the case in Fight Club, and it’s certainly true in Adrian Lyne’s dark cerebral horror, Jacob’s Ladder. Like Fincher’s drama, this film captivates with a deep look into the human mind, coupled with a surreal aura that spirals further into bizarre territory as it plays out.
The film centers around a mentally marred soldier trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered psyche as he resumes his post-war life. The twist in the final act is a gasp-inducing revelation that truly elevates the entire film.
6 Joker (2019)
Todd Phillips’ Joker has a number of overlaps with Fincher’s Fight Club from two decades earlier – namely the up-close-and-personal focus of a mentally unstable antihero. Beyond this though, Joker also adheres to a gritter, darker sensibility – providing a unique intrigue on a cinematic and narrative level. This sense of nihilism works in keeping the viewer on edge, as it’s unknown just what twisted event may transpire next.
Just as Edward Norton and Brad Pitt brought life to Fight Club‘s leads, Joaquin Phoenix adds a sense of both depth and uneasiness with his emotional portrayal of this classic villain.
5 Donnie Darko (2001)
In 2001’s Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly excels in combining the elements of ethereal science fiction with the boundless nature of the human psyche. This, coupled with Jake Gyllenhaal’s intense performance, sets the stage for a thriller that’s unsettling and thought-provoking.
Along with the standout performances, the film has been regarded for its unique sense of tone and its compelling narrative. It features a troubled protagonist who must cope with the prospect of an apocalyptic event, as he’s given creepy, prophetic signs.
This is one of those impressionable rides that’ll have viewers pondering it long after its two-hour runtime concludes.
4 The Gift (2015)
With 2015’s The Gift, Australian filmmaker and actor Joel Edgerton taps into that Fight Club quality of ambiguous, dual characters who viewers aren’t quite sure about. This sets the stage for a series of unexpected events and surprising twists that few will see coming.
The movie involves a couple who has moved into an LA suburb. They run into a peculiar man who seemingly has an interesting history with one of the leads (Jason Bateman). Edgerton truly keeps watchers guessing as this clever plot unfolds, featuring one curveball after then next.
3 The Invisible Guest (2017)
Spanish screenwriter and director Oriol Paulo takes a mystery-suspense romp and makes it his own with this gripping crime caper, adding a psychological twist of uncertainty.
The film hones in on a businessman, who’s been accused of the murder of his lover. What begins as a seemingly simple incident and conviction cascades into an enthralling, complex plot that almost demands multiple views to fully absorb. The Invisible Guest marks a truly creative, dynamic spin on the classic “whodunit.”
2 Identity (2003)
This 2003 film sets the scene with a seemingly typical murder mystery premise. Thanks to some intense action scenes and skin-crawling scares, this would be sufficient enough. Yet, the revelation in Identity‘s third act manages to elevate this thriller to new cerebral heights.
The film centers around ten distinct strangers who end up stranded at a desolate Nevada motel in a rainstorm. This leads to a series of murders and ensuing heart-pounding chaos.
1 The Game (1997)
It’s perhaps fitting that a film with FightClub‘s director is at the top of this list. Yet, Fincher’s The Game really does capture much of that same feel, with a similarly off-the-wall premise that’s sure to surprise.
The film features Nicholas, a well-off banker who gets far more than he bargained for while partaking in an action-packed game to bring excitement into his life. This game, put together by a company called CRS, proceeds to throw a slew of chaotic happenings and trials his way, spiraling out of his control.
Like Fight Club, the viewer experiences every bit of Nicholas’ heart-pounding, turbulent journey as he’s left to find leads and solve this complex real-life puzzle.
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