When it comes to the cat and mouse chase, the unpredictable is to be expected. Not only are there mind games galore between the chaser and the chased, but the nail-biting tension keeps you on your toes and glued to your seat. Cat and mouse games have been the focus of several mediums over the years, but some of the best to be depicted have been through the most iconic thrillers to ever grace our screens.
All the films below contain amazing, unexpected twists, peppered with exceptional dialogue and a riveting, final confrontation that are, at times, not the action sequence that you’d expect, but the perfect, explosive conclusion to the mind games that have begun between the two opposing characters. A select few of these cat-and-mouse thrillers have achieved cult status, but it cannot be denied that every single one of them is worth watching.
10The Invisible Man
2020
2020’s The Invisible Man takes the stalker concept to a whole new level and is masterful in making you feel just as unsafe as its main character, Cecilia, feels. Directed by Leigh Whannell (writer of theInsidious and Saw films) and starring Elisabeth Moss, the movie is very loosely based on H.G. Wells' 1897 novel of the same name and adopts the concept of said ‘Invisible Man’ to create an original story.
The protagonist, Cecilia, escapes from a toxic and oppressive relationship with a wealthy businessman. After receiving news of her ex’s death, Cecilia believes that she’s now able to start afresh, but soon realises something’s off. She notices strange things and the feeling that she’s being watched, and immediately suspects that her ex is still alive and has been using his optics expertise to devise an invisible suit. The Invisible Man is a paranoia-inducing thrill fest, as Cecilia repeatedly tries to capture her ex to convince the world she isn’t mad.
9The Silence Of The Lambs
1991
A verified classic and one of the bestpsychological thrillersever made, 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs is a film that makes you constantly question the motives of everyone around our protagonist, Clarice Starling. With an excellent performance by the legendary Anthony Hopkins, the film is noted for its dialogue and atmosphere, as well as for underscoring the extremely sinister element of murder and crime in general.
The story follows Clarice Starling, who goes to a maximum-level facility to speak to the notorious serial killer, Hannibal Lecter. Starling is on the hunt for another serial killer, nicknamed ‘Buffalo Bill’, who targets women and skins them. Lecter’s insight makes you naturally wonder how trustworthy his words are, but Starling soon realises she must be wary of certain hospital staff. The relationship between Lecter and Starling remains one of the high points of the movie, pulling you in with Hopkins' unsettling portrayal of Lecter.
8M
1931
One of the earliest serial killer movies ever made, Fritz Lang’s 1931 M, was his first sound film and is regarded as massively influential in the crime thriller genre. Although most efforts to catch a serial killer are seen from the perspective of law enforcement, M also includes a look into the criminal underworld.
With a child serial killer on the loose in Berlin, the police have started their investigation. However, the criminals aren’t going to sit idly by and gather a group of beggars to find clues of their own. It’s fascinating to see the opposing viewpoints of the police and the criminals as they each narrow down the killer. The last sequence of the film is excellent, with the criminals arranging a kangaroo court, and the killer himself delivering a masterful monologue that serves as one of the best scenes in M.
7Se7en
1995
Directed by accomplished filmmakerDavid Fincher, Se7en is a murder mystery thriller that doesn’t hold back in showing the audience the harsh reality of the aftermath of a brutal crime. Starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, the film not only presents an intriguing, yet grim whodunnit plot, with top-notch cinematography but also interjects a distinct sensation of unease that fits the narrative.
Se7en revolves around a serial killer who commits murders based on the seven deadly sins, with the protagonists, detectives Somerset and Mills, hot on the killer’s trail. Naturally, with the focus on sin that the killer is obsessed with, there’s a strong message regarding human nature and morality. The killer plays twisted mind games with the detective duo, which concludes in one of the bleakest, yet oddly realistic, endings for any chase that deals with an evil serial killer.
6Heat
One of the greatest crime thrillers of all time, Michael Mann’s smash hit Heat is a masterpiece in storytelling that gives sufficient focus to the perspectives of the chaser and the chased. The movie has a rich, complex plot that’s exemplified by De Niro and Pacino’s fantastic performances as the main protagonists, along with amazing dialogue that culminated in one of the most iconic coffee chat scenes in film history.
The film follows real-life criminal Neil McCauley, whose recent heist caught the attention of LAPD lieutenant Vincent Hanna. Amidst the increasing violence and minds locked in a battle of wits, the film also focuses on McCauley and Hanna’s stormy private lives. This adds depth to either character and how, at the end of the day, Hanna and McCauley are not so different from one another, but realise that only one can leave alive.
5Zodiac
2007
David Fincher has a knack for making serial killer-type mystery flicks, and 2007’s Zodiac proves it. This film is inspired by the real-life serial killer called the ‘Zodiac Killer’, a notorious killer who committed a string of murders throughout the ’60s and ’70s, but was never caught. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr, Fincher scores again on the cinematography and characterisation, setting the tone of the film with a gory sequence of the Zodiac’s murders.
The film follows real-life author Robert Graysmith, who was working as a cartoonist during the murders. Graysmith became increasingly involved with the Zodiac Killer case to the point of obsession, which severely affected his family life. Although the killer’s identity remains a mystery, Zodiac is a dark, gritty and well-paced chronicling of the intensive hunt for the elusive Zodiac Killer that makes for a compelling thriller.
4I Saw The Devil
2010
I Saw The Devil is a disturbing psychological thriller that punches you in the gut with its violent, gory depiction of murder and what the worst men are capable of. While most films intend for their heroes to capture a demented serial killer and send them to prison, the protagonist of I Saw The Devil does the opposite and is the one instigating the brutal, sickening traps and mind games.
The story follows a serial killer on the prowl, who makes the mistake of killing the fiancée of special service agent Kim Soo-hyeon. Soo-hyeon manages to hunt down the killer, Kyung-chul, and enacts his own brand of revenge and vigilante justice by mentally and physically torturing his fiancée’s murderer, letting him go before capturing him again. Although Kyung-chul is undoubtedly reprehensible, Soo-hyeon’s gradual moral degeneration is fascinating to see, played brilliantly by Lee Byung-hun.
3Oldboy
2003
Oldboy is a film that has stood the test of time, a mind-bending South Korean thriller that’ll leave you gobsmacked as each revelation unfolds. It has one of the best fight sequences and top-notch camerawork, notwithstanding its equally compelling and layered plot.
Dae-su, an average businessman, is kidnapped and finds himself locked in a hotel room for the next 15 years. He emerges as a changed man but is challenged by his captor to discover why he was locked away within five days. Oldboy is a classic tale of twisted revenge and long-held grudges, where a single, unintentional mistake led to Dae-su’s life being ruined forever.
2The Prestige
2006
The Prestige is aChristopher Nolan filmbased on a novel of the same name and details the growing feud between two talented magicians. Alongside its gorgeous costuming and atmospheric locations, the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, with a shock ending that encourages you to rewatch it again to see all the clues staring you in the face.
Two magicians, Angier and Borden, who were once work colleagues and friends, turn into enemies after Angier blames Borden for his wife’s death. Over the next few years, Angier and Borden try to outdo one another in their magic shows in increasingly clever and cunning ways, alienating their loved ones in the process. The plot reaches a fever pitch when Borden is blamed for Angier’s death, and although his guilt seems clear, things aren’t as they seem.
1Memento
2000
Adapted from a story written by Christopher Nolan’s brother, Jonathan Nolan, Memento remains one of Nolan’s best works. Told in a non-linear format, the audience discovers things along with its protagonist, Leonard Cohen, who suffers from acute memory loss. Cohen has to note things down to remember them, but he writes them in a way that’s easy to misunderstand without the full context.
We learn that Cohen’s wife was murdered and that he’s looking for her murderer. He encounters various characters he’s not sure if he can trust, but believes he’s on track to find the killer. With believable performances from Guy Pearce, Memento urges you to put the pieces together and not rely on Cohen’s conclusions. Like the previous entry, Memento’s unexpected twist ending also makes for a rewatch, as everyone’s dialogue and reactions start to make total sense.
