Diksha Sundriyal
Be it a psychological thriller, or the good old crime thriller, the interest of people will never falter for this genre. It can be attributed to the fact that thriller has been the place where most experiments have been done with characters and storylines. It has challenged the filmmakers to come up with something that had never been made before, to tell a story that had never been told before. These films can get you on the edge of your seat in the anticipation of the next twist, or cringe your soul by showing you something that shakes your basic understanding of human nature. The films have only gotten better with time, and the diversity of the stories provides a great spectrum for the movie-watching experience.
Here is the list of upcoming thrillers of 2020 and beyond that one should keep an eye on. We hope these latest new thrillers are as good as some of the recent ones. (Disclaimer: Some images used below are representative images and may not be from the actual film).
17. The Invisible Man (February 28, 2020)
Based on the novel of the same name by H.G Wells, ‘The Invisible Man’ is directed by Leigh Whannell (‘Saw’, ‘Insidious’, ‘Upgrade’). It stars Elisabeth Moss (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’) in the role of a woman who runs away from an abusive relationship. After the death of her ex-boyfriend, she receives a fortune. But it alarms her because she believes that the death might have been a hoax and that he is back to haunt her. The film stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen (‘The Haunting of Hill House’), Aldis Hodge (‘City on a Hill’), Storm Reid (‘A Wrinkle in Time’, ‘Euphoria’) and Harriet Dyer in the supporting roles.
16. A Quiet Place: Part II (March 20, 2020)
John Krasinski’s horror thriller, ‘A Quiet Place’, is one of the best films of 2018. It scared the audience out of their wits while being silent through most part of it. It follows the story of the Abbott family, who are trying to survive the aftermath of the global event where alien creatures have taken over the world. They are highly receptive to sound and kill anything that makes noise. With the massive success at the box-office, fans demanded a follow-up story, and ‘A Quiet Place 2’ delivers on that. Bringing back Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmons and Noah Jupe, it adds Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou to the cast.
15. No Time to Die (April 8, 2020)
A Bond film is a complete entertainment package. There is action, of course, but the story is driven by the cat and mouse chase between the titular spy and the villain who threatens to destroy the world. The series has evolved over the years and has focused more and more on its mystery and thriller elements. With its 25th entry, ‘No Time to Die’, it continues the trend. Starring Daniel Craig in the lead role, it picks up after the events of ‘Spectre’, following which Bond has retired. However, when a scientist goes missing, he is forced to come out of the shadows and save the world from a devious villain one more time. The film brings back Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Ralph Fiennes, while Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Jeffery Wright and Christoph Waltz join the cast.
14. The Woman in the Window (May 15, 2020)
This film is based on the novel of the same name by A.J Finn and tells the story of a woman who witnesses a murder and is haunted by the consequences. Amy Adams plays the role of Dr Anna Fox, a child psychologist who suffers from anxiety disorders. Adams recently played the role of a troubled journalist in the TV adaptation of ‘Sharp Objects’ which brought her a lot of praise and considering this role to be in the same vein, there was never any doubt that she would nail it. Julianne Moore, Anthony Mackie and Gary Oldman appear in the supporting roles.
13. Tenet (July 17, 2020)
‘Tenet’ (a palindrome!) is the next film by Academy Award-nominated director, Christopher Nolan. By now, everyone knows that Nolan makes the films that amaze and confuse you. He is so skilled at storytelling that even a mediocre tale can be turned into an unforgettable experience. He took a detour to create the war drama, ‘Dunkirk’, but, is now, back in the game of creating thrillers. ‘Tenet’ is described as a film that is about espionage, with time travel in the mix. The idea already has us excited and the star-cast is another thing to look out for. It stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kenneth Branagh and Michael Caine.
12. Escape Room 2 (August 14, 2020)
‘Escape Room’ is a psychological thriller that follows the story of a group of people who take part in a game in order to win a sum of prize money. They have to pass through a series of test, solving certain puzzles, in order to make their way out of the escape rooms. It stars Taylor Russell (‘Waves’, ‘Lost in Space’) and Logan Miller (‘Love, Simon’, ‘Before I Fall’), who have returned to reprise their roles in the sequel. Directed by Adam Robitel, ‘Escape Room 2’ also stars Indya Moore (‘Pose’), Holland Roden (‘Teen Wolf’) and Isabelle Fuhrman (‘Orphan’).
11. Death on the Nile (October 9, 2020)
Based on the book of the same name by the queen of crime, Agatha Christie, ‘Death on the Nile’ follows Hercule Poirot solving the murder of a woman on a steamer charting its course through the Nile. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars in the lead role. He previously directed another of Christie’s classics, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. In this film, he has brought together the cast of Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Ali Fazal, Annette Bening and Russell Brand. The screenplay is written by Michael Green, who is known for his work on ‘Logan’, ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and ‘Alien: Covenant’.
10. Dreamland (2020)
‘Dreamland’ follows the story of three people who are connected to each other due to their mutual interest in the drug trade. One is a drug trafficker looking to smuggle a huge consignment; another is a woman trying to find the truth behind her son’s history in drugs; the third is a professor battling the dilemma of being employed by a morally ambiguous company. Written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki, the film boasts the star cast of Luke Evans, Armie Hammer, Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly, Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez and Indira Verma.
9. Born to be Murdered (2020)
‘Born to be Murdered’ stars John David Washington and Alicia Vikander as a couple who visit Greece for a vacation, but fall prey to a deadly conspiracy. It is produced by Luca Guadagnino and Marco Morabito, known for making the Academy Award winning film, ‘Call Me by Your Name’. Italian director, Ferdinando Cito Filomariono, has been brough on-board to helm the film. With a story by Filomariono, the screenplay is written by Kevin Rice. Additional cast includes Boyd Holbrook (‘Narcos’, ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’) and Vicky Krieps (‘The Phantom Thread’).
8. Enola Holmes (2020)
Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in the world. His stories have inspired many crime dramas and have been adapted for television and films a number of times. Inspired by the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Springer wrote a series of novels that focus on the adventures of Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock. The character is brought to life on the screen by ‘Stranger Things’ fame, Millie Bobby Brown. Starring alongside her as the Holmes brothers- Sherlock and Mycroft- are Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin. Helena Bonham Carter stars as Eudoria Holmes, their mother. It is directed by Harry Bradbeer, known for ‘Fleabag’ and ‘Killing Eve’.
7. The Devil All the Time (2020)
Based on the novel of the same name by Donald Roy Pollock, ‘The Devil All the Time’ follows the story of a group of people in the 1960s Ohio. The psychological thriller follows a non-linear narrative and has a war veteran, a serial killer couple and a preacher at its core. The film is directed by Antonio Campos, who is known for working on ‘Simon Killer’. He has also written the screenplay for the film, along with Paulo Campos. Produced by Jake Gyllenhaal, it is studded with actors like Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Robert Pattinson, Jason Clarke, Bill Skarsgard, Eliza Scanlen and Mia Wasikowska.
6. Greenland (2020)
What could be more thrilling than the protagonists running for their lives as an imminent disaster comes close to them? Gerard Butler, who also produces the film, and Morena Baccarin star in this thriller directed by Ric Roman Waugh, who has previously worked on ‘Snitch’, ‘Shot Caller’ and ‘Angel Has Fallen’. It follows the story of a couple who have grown distant from each other. However, when they discover that a catastrophe is about to hit, they come together to get their son to safety to a bunker, for which they have been chosen randomly.
5. The Last Thing He Wanted (2020)
Based on the book of the same name by Joan Didion, this film focuses on the story of a reporter who leaves her job to care for her father and consequently, becomes involved in an international conspiracy. Anne Hathaway plays the role of Elena McMahon, a journalist for the Washington Post. She leaves her job during a critical time, believing that her father would need her care after the death of her mother. However, she soon realises that there are things she doesn’t know about her father, and unintendedly becomes a part of his circle. The film is directed by Dee Rees who is known for films like ‘Pariah’ and ‘Mudbound’. Willem Dafoe and Ben Affleck star in the supporting roles.
4. Finest Kind (2020)
Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most polished actors of this generation and has done a wide variety of films that tested and proved his mettle as an actor. He stars in the crime thriller, ‘Finest Kind’, alongside Ansel Elgort and Zendaya. The film focuses on the story of two brothers who make a deal with the devil which lands them in the heart of Boston underworld. The danger mounts and they are forced to make the choices they had never even though of before. The film is written and directed by Brian Helgeland who is known for his work in films like ‘L. A Confidential’, ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Legend’.
3. Lost Girls (2020)
Based on the book of the same name by Robert Kolker, this film tells the story of a woman named Mari Gilbert who tries to find her missing daughter. In the process, she discovers that the case of her daughter is related to the unsolved murders of prostitutes in Long Island. The film uses the real-life case of the Long Island serial killer who is said to be responsible for more than a dozen murders. The authorities are yet to uncover his identity. Alongside exploring the details and the hype surrounding the case, the film explores the effect on the families of the victims. Amy Ryan stars in the leading role.
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2. Sherlock Holmes 3 (December 22, 2021)
The character of Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the most adapted character on screen. All these years, there have been various types of Sherlocks, with each actor bringing a specific texture to the most famous detective in the world. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the contemporary ‘Sherlock’ shot him to stardom and established him as one of the finest actors of this generation. However, he is not the only one who has worn the deerstalker.
Before the show came out, Robert Downey Jr. had already starred in two ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies, which also became a reason for the fans to argue over who was the better Sherlock. Keeping differences aside, Guy Ritchie’s movies were a great success, and while a sequel should have been made a long time ago, it was kept on hold because of the busy schedules of the lead actors. The stars have aligned now and the film is in production. Downey Jr and Jude Law reprise their roles in the next film. Also, it will be interesting to see the villain that they choose to bring this time.
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1. A House in the Sky (TBA)
Rooney Mara produces, and stars in, Annapurna Pictures’ abduction drama ‘A House in the Sky’, the story of Amanda Lindhout’s 15-month imprisonment. Annapurna has optioned the memoir by co-authors Lindhout and Sara Corbett and is developing the project. Annapurna’s Megan Ellison also produces and Annapurna’s Chelsea Barnard is the executive overseeing the day-to-day development and production of the project.
Amanda Lindhout was abducted in 2008 in Mogadishu, Somalia, by a rebel terrorist group. That was just the start of her harrowing ordeal. Over the next year she was tortured, raped, and nearly starved to death. She was held in captivity for 460 days with photographer Nigel Brennan before they were released following ransom payments by their families. ‘A House in the Sky’ details the psychology, motivations, and desperate extremism of her captors as she is kept in chains, nearly starved and subjected to abuse.
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