Don't turn off the lights!

I’ve always been a sucker for a good psychological thriller. A mind-bending, suspense-building, disturbing psychological thriller. While it might seem an odd choice for someone who suffers from anxiety, I find that watching a gripping psychological thriller will usually distract me from any unwelcome and intrusive thoughts. Ironic that constructed fear is an antidote for real fear. Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to shock me these days. I have seen many films with the same formula and most of the time (to the utter disdain of my partner) I can predict the ending a quarter of the way through. However, I can still recall the experience of disbelief when watching the end of Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. I had NOT seen that coming.

A neo-noir classic

Most cinephiles are familiar with Shutter Island, released in 2010 and based on the book of the same name by Denise Lehane. I’ve watched it several times and the twist at the end still kicks me in the guts. Shutter Island begins with US marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo,) visiting a hospital for the criminally insane which is located on a secluded island. They are investigating the disappearance of a patient who has escaped the hospital, however, soon learn there is only one way off the island, the ferry, which is controlled by the hospital staff. I’ve mentioned how I felt the first time I watched this film. It was during the second time that I began to notice all the easter eggs and clues left by Scorsese that lead to the surprise ending.

You can tell from watching Shutter Island that Scorsese is a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense. Building suspense, of course, is a key ingredient for a well-done twist ending, and also keeps us on our toes throughout.

At the end of the movie Teddy Daniels, (Leonardo DiCaprio) says: “Which is worse, to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?” This line will play in your head long after the film ends and, oddly enough, will have you wondering if you relate to the villain of the story after all. That is, once you’ve decided who the villain is.

Not everything is as it appears to be

If you are a fan of Shutter Island or simply a good twist ending, I’d recommend The Invisible Guest, written and directed by Oriol Paulo. This Spanish film was released in 2017 and is streaming on Netflix. Many people I know (okay, my partner) watch a film with their phone in hand, flicking their eyes from the small screen to the big screen, unable to give their complete attention to anything for longer than the length of the average TikTok. But the best part about watching a film in a language that’s foreign to you is you have no choice but to keep your eyes fixed on the film at all times so you can read the subtitles.

The film begins when wealthy businessman Adrián Doria, (Mario Casas), wakes to discover he is in a locked hotel room with his dead lover beside him. After being released on bail, he hires a prominent defence lawyer and they go through the events leading up to that moment.

We are manipulated and misled until the very end. Just like with Shutter Island I wondered who the villain of the story was and who I was supposed to be rooting for. We are just a malleable piece of putty in the film creator's hands and loving it!

One of the film’s central characters is a man so powerful and wealthy, he can use his connections and finances to alter the course of justice. Luckily, this only happens in the movies right? Sadly, it is a story we’re all too familiar with in the real world as well, although we are at last witnessing influential and powerful people, institutions, and systems exposed by brave whistleblowers. The truth finally, even if many years after the fact, is revealing itself. And the truth is also revealed in the film. You just have to wait until the end. The Invisible Guest could also be described as a revenge film, a prevalent theme in Shutter Island as Teddy seeks revenge on a character known as Andrew Laeddis, who he believes responsible for his wife’s death.

When a twist is executed well, there is still the opportunity to be shocked, no matter how many thrillers you’ve seen or how shocking reality becomes. Apparently, revenge is a dish best served with popcorn.

A charming psychopath

Most avid Netflix users will be familiar with the popular show, You. Currently filming season three, the original two seasons were based on the books, ‘You,’ and ‘Hidden Bodies,’ by Caroline Kepnes.

This addictive television series takes us inside the head of Joe, (Penn Badgley). Joe is both the protagonist and villain of the story. Even though he’s a cold, psychopathic, narcissistic, and obsessive killer, we find ourselves at times sympathising with him while he narrates his every move. He’s the villainous murderer we love to hate! This is partly due to casting a good looking and charismatic actor to play the role of Joe as well as some artistic decisions made by the creators.

While the colour palettes in Shutter Island and The Invisible Guest consist of darker tones to set the mood, You, features lighter colours, from the settings to the costume, so it’s easy to see why we are torn between finding Joe oddly likeable one minute, to despicable the next. Parts of You feel like a romantic comedy ... that is until you remember who the protagonist is.

My two previous recommendations share a common theme of justice, and You is no exception.

During season one of You, set against the beautiful backdrop of New York City, Joe escapes facing consequences for his terrible actions. At the beginning of season two, Joe is trying to better himself but can’t seem to escape the past. We don’t witness Joe face a traditional course of justice and the role of the police is that of a fairly inept one. But, by the end of season two, you discover Joe may have finally met his match in the character Love Quinn, (Victoria Pedretti.)

Even though the show features murder, stalking and a terrifying underground cage (if you know, you know) it’s surprisingly the easiest viewing of all my recommendations. So much so that I ended up watching the first season in one dedicated sitting, with plenty of popcorn on hand. It’s important to not take the show too seriously. If someone like Joe existed in the real world we’d want them locked up and banished somewhere far away, perhaps to Shutter Island!

While being a dark psychological thriller, the show is also a satire with plenty of dark humour. It does demand you to suspend your disbelief at times. You may at times find yourself checking your windows, just making sure that Joe isn’t watching YOU.

The end is near

My final recommendation is also based on a novel by Ian Reid. This film, which was released in 2020, was adapted for film and directed by Charlie Kaufman. I can’t guarantee much in this world, but I can assure you, the twist in I’m Thinking of Ending Things is unexpected and unpredictable. I dare you to try and see it coming. While the film is described as a psychological thriller, it ventures into horror at times and features elements of absurdism and dream-like fantasy.

The initial premise of the story is a young woman, Lucy (Jessie Buckley,) is visiting her boyfriend Jake’s (Jesse Plemons) family, who live on a rural farm. As they drive through a blizzard, she’s deliberating whether or not to break up with him. ‘I’m thinking of ending things.’ This in itself would make an interesting film but sounds more like a romantic comedy. It’s anything but. After watching, you’ll look at the title of the film in a whole new light.

In Shutter Island, Teddy and Chuck arrive as a colossal storm hits the island. The blizzard in I’m thinking of Ending things, similarly acts as a sense of foreshadowing of what is to come. While Teddy and Chuck are trapped on a remote island, the young woman in I’m Thinking of Ending Things is trapped in a car with her boyfriend. Perhaps these characters are also somewhat trapped within their own minds. You’ll have to watch to find out.

The film bears similarities to Charlie Kaufman's previous work, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, as it toys with time and space in similar ways. Both films also explore themes of isolation and loneliness, although I’m Thinking of Ending Things, is a far bleaker portrayal of these feelings.

It is a film that will leave you with more questions than answers and most likely you’ll rush to your phone to Google, ‘ending explained.’ Simply put though, this film will creep you out. My hot tip would be to watch it late at night, preferably alone, with the lights off. You’ll find yourself wanting to sleep with the lights on, and perhaps a sharp object on your bedside table.