Image credit: IFC Films, Greycat Films, Roxie Releasing, Magnolia Pictures, HBO Films, CJ Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Wishberry Films, MGM, Walt Disney Studios
These aren’t your blockbuster slashers, but they’ve got that je ne sais quoi that keeps them lingering in the shadows.
10. The Snowtown Murders (2011) Right at the bottom of the pile, but don't be fooled—this one's chilling. Australia's suburban landscape? Check. A teen's twisted journey to becoming an accomplice to his mother's boyfriend, who just so happens to be a serial killer? Check.
You'll find yourself dragged through a series of heinous murders. The movie might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's worth a sip if you've got a strong stomach.
9. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) Vintage alert! Step into the shoes of Henry, our not-so-friendly neighborhood serial killer. This guy isn't in it for fame or fortune. It's the thrill of the kill, pure and simple. Ever wonder what a casual day in a killer's life feels like? It's like watching someone's home videos, only they're doing, well, the unthinkable.
8. Man Bites Dog (1992) This Belgian gem is an oddball. Picture a film crew shadowing a killer, documenting his every move like he's some sort of twisted wildlife specimen.
We get murders, philosophies, and a killer who's, strangely enough, quite charismatic. But here's the catch: as they follow him, the line between observer and participant starts to blur. Eerie, right?
7. Citizen X (1995) Over in the Soviet Union, amidst a sea of bureaucracy, one detective dives deep to fish out a cunning serial killer. Andrei Chikatilo, the man with a morbid appetite. But our detective? He's caught between a rock and a hard place—trying to hunt a killer in a system that refuses to believe he exists.
The chase is on, but will the red tape strangle the investigation?
6. Memories of Murder (2003) South Korea. 1980s. Two detectives. One killer. A bunch of dead women. The pieces are all there, but fitting them together? That's the tricky part. It's a mixture of dark humor, misfit detectives, and relentless rain. As clues slip and slide away, frustrations boil. Did they catch the killer? Only time would tell.
5. Summer of Sam (1999) Sirens wail in 1977 New York. The 'Son of Sam' killer lurks in the shadows, preying on lovers in parked cars. But this story's not just about the killings; it's about a neighborhood. Meet Vinny and his friends, living in the Bronx, caught up in fear and paranoia.
As the killings escalate, suspicions rise, and everyone's a potential target or suspect. Punk rock, swinging discos, mafia, and a community on edge; the hunt for the killer shakes their world.
4. Mr. Brooks (2007) Kevin Costner's Earl Brooks has it all: a successful business, a loving family, and...a thirst for murder. A doting dad by day, meticulous killer by night. His alter ego, Marshall (played by William Hurt), always nudges him towards his darker cravings.
But things take a turn when a voyeuristic neighbor sees him in action and wants in on the fun. As if that's not complicated enough, a determined detective is on Brooks' trail.
3. Aamis (2019) A pediatrician, Nirmali, meets a young Ph.D. student, Sumon. Their shared penchant for meat leads to experiments with unconventional, and soon, well, let's just say, forbidden sources of protein.
The line between animal and human blurs. As their culinary adventures intensify, so does their intimacy. But how far can one go for love? The progression from the gastronomic to the grotesque is almost too much to handle.
2. I Saw the Devil (2010) When a secret agent's fiancée becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, the boundaries of good and evil blur. This isn't just about catching a killer; it's about revenge. The agent, drenched in grief, hunts down the murderer. But instead of turning him in, he decides on a darker route: he continuously releases and captures him, inflicting pain each time.
1. Zodiac (2007) San Francisco, 1960s-1970s. The Zodiac killer is on the loose, taunting police with coded letters and cryptic phone calls. Journalist Robert Graysmith (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) finds himself obsessed with the unsolved case. Together with crime reporter Paul Avery and Inspector David Toschi, they plunge into a dark web of clues, codes, and dead ends.
