Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh (1962)

Based on Stephen King’s 2006 novel of the same name, Lisey’s Story (2021) is an American psychological horror drama miniseries. It features Julianne Moore in the title role, with King as the writer, Pablo Larraín as the director, and J. J. Abrams as the producer. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on June 4, 2021, following Lisa “Lisey” Landon’s journey. Lisey is the widow of renowned fiction writer Scott Landon, who passed away two years prior to ...

Annihilation (2018), a science fiction psychological horror film by Alex Garland, is loosely based on Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel of the same name. After losing her husband, a biologist volunteers for an expedition to an environmental disaster zone, only to discover that it holds more than she bargained for. The team includes an anthropologist, psychologist, surveyor, and linguist. Despite it being a year since his last secret mission, the brave soldier Kane has yet to be found and is believed to have perished in action. As Lena, ...

The Hateful Eight (2015), an American Western film, was both written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. In the year 1877, Major Marquis Warren, a bounty hunter and Union Army veteran, makes his way to Red Rock, Wyoming with three dead bounties in tow. Stranded in a blizzard and with his horse out of commission, Warren hitches a ride on a stagecoach driven by O.B. Jackson. Also on board is John Ruth, known as ‘The Hangman’ for his profession as a bounty hunter, who has the fugitive ‘Crazy’ Daisy Domergue handcuffed to him for transport to her hanging in Red Rock. The two men had previously bonded ...

Fargo (2014–2024) is an award-winning American black comedy crime drama TV show, created and primarily written by Noah Hawley. Inspired by the 1996 film of the same name, which was written and directed by the Coen brothers, it also takes place within the same fictional universe. The Coens were impressed with Hawley’s script and served as executive producers for the series. It first aired on FX on April 15, 2014, and follows an anthology format. Each season is set in a ...

The American comedy-drama film Greenberg (2009), directed by Noah Baumbach, follows the story of Florence Marr as she works as a personal assistant for the Greenberg family in Hollywood Hills. Prior to their trip to Vietnam, Phillip Greenberg informs her that his brother Roger will be staying at the house while he builds a doghouse for their German Shepherd, Mahler. Carol opens up to Florence about how Roger has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital after having a nervous breakdown. When Roger arrives from New York City, he has an awkward interaction with Florence. He spends his days constructing the ...

The American comedy-drama film, Margot at the Wedding (2007), was both written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The main character, Margot, is a accomplished writer who is often preoccupied with her own thoughts and feelings. It is hinted that she may have borderline personality disorder. Margot decides to bring her 11-year-old son Claude with her for a weekend visit to her sister Pauline’s home on Long Island, New York. Pauline is set to marry Malcolm, an unrewarding musician whom Margot finds unappealing. During her stay in town, Margot participates in a public interview at a local bookstore with Dick Koosman, a ...

The Jacket (2005), an American science-fiction psychological thriller film directed by John Maybury, begins with Jack Starks as an active soldier in the Gulf War. Through his voice-over, we learn that he was 27 when he died for the first time. While on duty, he is ambushed and shot in the head by a young boy. One year later, Jack is portrayed as a solitary figure, hitch-hiking along a snowy road. He comes across a broken-down pick up truck occupied by Jean Price, an intoxicated mother, and her daughter who appears to be around eight or ten years old. Despite Jean’s erratic behavior and vomiting episodes, the girl ...

The psychological thriller film, The Machinist (2004), was directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar. Its protagonist, Trevor Reznik, suffers from insomnia which has caused him to become severely underweight. His coworkers have shunned him due to his physical appearance and unusual behavior. However, things take a turn for the worse when he is involved in an accident at work that results in a coworker losing their arm. Despite being distracted by a coworker named Ivan who no one seems to know or have records of, Trevor is blamed for the accident. Seeking ...

Road to Perdition (2002) is an American crime drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by David Self. It is based on the first volume of the graphic novel series, also titled Road to Perdition, by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner. The story takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression. The main character, Michael Sullivan Sr., was taken in and raised by Irish Mob leader John Rooney in Rock Island, Illinois. Despite being feared as an enforcer for ...

Directed by Taylor Hackford, Dolores Claiborne (1995) is an American psychological thriller drama film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The story follows Dolores Claiborne, who works as a domestic servant for her elderly employer, Vera Donovan, on Little Tall Island in Maine. One day, Dolores and Vera have a struggle which results in Vera falling down the stairs. After this incident, Dolores is caught by the mailman who sees her standing over Vera with a rolling pin. Unfortunately, Vera passes away and a murder investigation begins. In light of these ...

Short Cuts (1993) is a comedy-drama directed by Robert Altman. The film follows the lives of several characters brought together by a neighborhood-wide medfly spray operation. Dr. Ralph Wyman and his wife, Marian, meet an unemployed salesman, Stuart Kane, and his wife Claire, who works as a party clown, at a concert featuring Zoe Trainer on cello. Spontaneously, they agree to have dinner together on Sunday. Meanwhile, Marian’s sister Sherri is married to Gene, a cheating cop who is having an affair with Betty Weathers. Coincidentally, Betty is in the process of divorcing one of the helicopter pilots involved in ...

Backdraft (1991) is an American action thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. The story follows two brothers in the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 17 unit. Lt. Stephen ‘Bull’ McCaffrey, the elder brother, is a seasoned firefighter while Brian has previously struggled to live up to his brother’s legacy. After trying his hand at multiple careers, Brian returns to firefighting, although Stephen has reservations about his abilities. In 1971, Brian witnessed the death of their father Captain Dennis McCaffrey during a call, ...

In the American horror thriller film, Buried Alive (1990), directed by Frank Darabont, successful contractor Clint Goodman lives with his wife Joanna. Despite their seemingly perfect life, Joanna has been having an affair with local doctor Cortland van Owen. Together, they plot to murder Clint and take over his company and house. Joanna’s motive is to move back to Beverly Hills and purchase a clinic. To carry out their plan, Cortland provides Joanna with poison obtained from a tropical fish. During a dinner with Clint, Joanna has a change of heart but still adds some of the poison into his wine. This results in ...

The Hitcher (1986), an American thriller directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red, follows Jim Halsey on his delivery journey from Chicago to San Diego. Along the way, he picks up a hitchhiker in the West Texas desert who goes by John Ryder. However, things take a dark turn when Ryder reveals his violent tendencies and forces Jim to speed past a stranded car. Terrified for his life, Jim musters up the courage to ask what Ryder wants, to which he responds with a chilling demand to be stopped. In a moment of adrenaline-fueled panic, Jim manages to push Ryder out of ...