It’s Halloween, the season of killers, thrillers, and tooth fillers. So, grab some popcorn and gather some friends to binge these 10 blockbuster hits that are bound to send shivers up your spine — just don’t forget to lock the door before the marathon begins.
1. Knives Out (2019)
In the aftermath of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey’s death, the infamous Detective Benoit Blanc must unweave an intricate web of lies and red herrings to uncover the complex secrets of Harlan’s heirs — all of whom are suspects. If fast-paced, character-driven murder mystery hits the spot, this title is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat.
2. Crooked House (2017)
Agatha Christie never fails to deliver gripping stories, complex characters, and jaw-dropping plot twists. In her most twisted tale of all, a spy-turned-private-detective is lured by his former lover to catch her grandfather’s murderer before Scotland Yard exposes dark family secrets.
3. Murder On The Orient Express (2017)
It’s another Agatha Christie classic. Her 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express has seen numerous film adaptations, because it’s that good. In this iconic murder mystery, the ingenius Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, finds himself travelling on an upper-class train from Istanbul to England. His vacation plans are in vain however, as chaos begins to unfold in the aftermath of a shocking murder onboard. In this startling masterpiece featuring one of cinema’s most profound plot twists, Poirot must uncover the dark secrets of the passengers aboard the Orient Express.
4. Enola Holmes (2020)
Enola Holmes sets off on an adventure following the disappearance of her mother, proving herself an expert sleuth as she outwits her fabled brother and unravels a dangerous scandal surrounding a charming, teenaged Lord. Here is a Netflix hidden gem that is bound to surpass all expectations. Be it action, romance, or mystery, this underrated title checks all the boxes.
5. A Simple Favor (2018)
You’ll never expect the twists and turns in this scandalous, comedic thriller starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding. Stephanie, a single mom and parenting vlogger, befriends Emily, a secretive upper-class woman whose kid attends the same school as Stephanie’s. Following Emily’s disappearance, Stephanie’s choice to investigate leads to shocking discoveries surrounding Emily and her husband.
6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
In this M. Night Shyamalan thriller, little Cole Sear is able to see the dead. You’ve either seen this movie or heard of it before, because it still gives us the chills despite being released approximately two decades ago. It features a range of cinematic devices that evoke horror, thrill, and utter shock. The Sixth Sense is a must-watch.
7. Se7en (1995)
In this crime thriller starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, homicide detectives David Mills and William Somerset join forces in a desperate hunt for a serial killer who justifies his crimes as absolution for the world’s ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. The seasoned but jaded Detective Somerset researches the Seven Deadly Sins in an effort to understand the killer’s modus operandi as the bright but impulsive Detective Mills scoffs at his efforts to get inside the mind of a killer. Se7en is the oldest title in this list, but it has stood the test of time for good reason. You will not regret taking a chance on this one.
8. Get Out (2017)
In this thriller, Chris and his girlfriend Rose travel upstate to her parents’. Chris first perceives their excessive, over-accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to handle their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could never have imagined. From Chris’s simmering uneasiness about their reception of him, to the shocking secrets that unfold, Get Out is a psychological roller-coaster that is guaranteed to raise hairs.
9. Murder Mystery (2019)
OK, this one’s for the horror haters. In this comedic, modern whodunit, a New York City cop and his wife become the prime suspects in the murder of the aged billionaire, Malcolm Quince, on a long-promised European trip that lands them on a superyacht for a gathering of the dead man’s heirs. It’s a guarantee that you’ll get a few laughs out of this one.
10. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
In this 3-part horror-thriller, the tale of Sarah Fier is explored across multiple generations, featuring countless iconic murderers that each bring a unique, horrific element to the film. You’ll be invested in no time — this Netflix binge is absolutely movie marathon material. From serial killers to the Salem Witch Trials, Fear Street is the Halloween heart-stopper of 2021.
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OK, detectives and demon-hunters — let the movie marathon begin.
By Karran Kumar