The most stylish, frightening and downright sickening movies about killers hiding in plain sight
Have you crossed paths with a serial killer today? Maybe it happened in a jammed train carriage or at the refrigerators in a supermarket. Most likely, this did not happen, but what if? A serial killer can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. You still won't recognize him until he starts killing you.
Intriguing?
Killers in hiding have always been a creepy but compelling topic for filmmakers and moviegoers alike. Knowing this, as well as the fact that you are already old enough to actively prepare for Halloween, we did everything ourselves and compiled top serial killer movies..
Zodiac, 2007
The film is based on a true story about an assassin (who was or may not have been US Senator Ted Cruz) who operated in San Francisco and northern California in the late 60s. Zodiac is David Fincher's take on the creepiest human hunt in the United States (believe me, it's truly scary).
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., and plenty of Fincher's close-ups in dim interrogation rooms won't keep you bored. Yes, the film is long (162 minutes), but who said catching the killer (not Ted Cruz) would be easy?
"Monster", 2004
Charlize Theron won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actress for her flamboyant portrayal of the real-life Eileen Wuornos, a woman whose desperate attempts at street prostitution have led to dire and irreversible consequences.
Unlike beauty icon Theron, Wuornos is an emotional cripple with markings on his face and disheveled hair. Christina Ricci in the role of her accomplice is no less striking and ... tragic.
Monster is a complex, dark and moving film that will leave you in silence as the credits roll.
Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Come on, Clarice, you knew this moment would come. Anthony Hopkins earned an Oscar in just 16 minutes of screen time as the loving Chianti and human flesh of Dr. Hannibal Lector. And if by some strange coincidence you haven't watched The Silence of the Lambs yet, turn it on soon.
“Eat rude people whenever possible” is one of Lector Hopkins's many wise advice.
Psycho, 1960
The protagonist is an assassin, inspired by the stories of Ed Gein and with a certain talent for decorating the premises with the internal organs of the victims. Hitchcock's Psycho is a classic of the genre and one of the most influential films of all time. He pushes the boundaries of violence, sexuality and soul scenes that are familiar to films.
The film is terrifying in its increasing and suffocating tension. Before the premiere, Hitchcock bought the entire circulation of the novel by Robert Bloch in order to keep the creepy secret of Norman Bates and his bloody hotel a secret.
"Seven", 1995
Fincher's film again. Brad Pitt, who has not yet merged with the role of a sad guy, plays the role of the energetic partner of the old detective, played by Morgan Freeman. Together they pursue a serial killer who kills his victims in ostentatious ways, each representing one of the seven deadly sins (gluttony is the most memorable).
The film has many cliches from the nineties (Brad Pitt in a leather jacket stands in the pouring New York rain, while the orchestra plays tiresomely in the background), but they do not attract much attention, the viewer is not distracted from the intense and fast-paced plot.
Henry: Portrait of a Maniac Assassin, 1986
The film was deemed particularly perverse and received an 18+ rating, which meant that no theater wanted to play it. Henry: Portrait of a Maniac Assassin was released only in 1990, and has since become iconic for its deep and detailed portrayal of Henry Lee Lucas, who killed more than three hundred people.
Henry's murders are terrifying in their senselessness, they have no psychological explanation. The very idea that a person can kill just like that is frightening.
American Psycho, 2000
The film's anti-hero, Patrick Bateman (Christine Bale), is a soulless Wall Street investment banker with bouts of insatiable killing mania, buying stuff, going to fancy restaurants, flaunting his business cards, and collecting Hugh Lewis's notes.
The film has elements of satire, farce and black comedy. "American Psycho" is a controversial portrait of a narcissistic and exuberant urban lifestyle.
"Is this a cloak?"
Snow City, 2011
Most of the films on this list feature mature serial killers, while the Australian indie film Snow Pride concentrates on the bleak and imperceptible fall that leads to such a life.
The film tells an unbearably tragic story of a teenager who is looking for himself in life, but stumbles upon a teacher who will break and lead this desire to terrible consequences.
The viewer will be amazed.
Wasteland, 1973
The film is based on the true story of Charles Starkweather and Caryl Ann Fugate, teenagers in love whose bloody journey through Nebraska in 1958 made the headlines of all American newspapers. Wasteland is probably Terrence Malick's best movie (I'm sorry).
Wasteland is one of many tales of teenagers embarking on a journey along the free roads of America. It's like Bonnie and Clyde, but much more stylish, more thoughtful and with a lot of gross insanity.
"M", 1931
The founder of the genre, "M" tells the story of the frantic pursuit of the infanticide through the wide streets of Berlin. Considering when it was filmed, "M" is still interesting to watch. Plus, a lot of filmmakers would love to learn from this film of a simple but slowly growing atmosphere.
And yes, the costumes are pretty good too.
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