Thriller: 228

The American political thriller film, Three Days of the Condor (1975), directed by Sydney Pollack, follows Joe Turner – a bookish CIA analyst with the codename ‘Condor’. He works undercover at the American Literary Historical Society in New York City. The team’s job is to analyze books, newspapers, and magazines from all over the world to compare them to real CIA operations or gather new ideas. One day, while on lunch duty, Turner comes across a strange thriller novel that he reports back to CIA headquarters despite its low sales and translations into various languages. Upon returning from his ...

Directed by Daniel Petrie, Mousey (1974) is a gripping thriller set in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The main character, biology teacher George Anderson, earned the nickname ‘Mousey’ from his students due to his inability to dissect a frog. But when he discovers that the child his wife is carrying is not his own, he tracks her down to Montreal with intentions of seeking revenge on both her and her lover.

The American neo-noir mystery thriller film, The Conversation (1974), was written, produced, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It follows the story of Harry Caul, a surveillance expert in San Francisco who specializes in wiretapping services. His latest client, known only as ‘the Director’, hires him and his team to eavesdrop on a couple walking through Union Square. Despite the challenge of background noise, Caul skillfully filters and merges the tapes to create a clear recording with an ambiguous message. He is known for being extremely private and guarded about his personal life and carries a heavy ...

The film The Mackintosh Man (1973), directed by John Huston and written by Walter Hill, is a Cold War espionage tale based on Desmond Bagley’s book The Freedom Trap. Joseph Rearden, a former criminal now working for British intelligence, meets with MI5 agent Mackintosh and his assistant Mrs. Smith in London. They reveal a plan for Rearden to steal diamonds being transported through the postal service to avoid detection. Rearden successfully executes the heist by attacking a postman and escaping with the ...

The political thriller film, The French Conspiracy (1972), directed by Yves Boisset, follows the story of Colonel Kassar, an African dictator backed by the CIA. In a deal with the French secret service, he plans to target Sadiel, a politician from his homeland currently in exile in Geneva. Sadiel is a left-wing idealist who dreams of returning and leading a democratic opposition against Kassar’s oppressive regime. François Darien, a militant French journalist known for his involvement in radical causes, becomes the focus of French intelligence. It is suggested that Darien supported the FLN during the Algerian War ...

In his directorial debut, Clint Eastwood brings us the American psychological thriller film, Play Misty for Me (1971). The story follows Dave Garver, a radio DJ at KRML who often incorporates poetry into his nightly broadcasts from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. After a shift at the station, Dave heads to his favorite bar where he plays a game with the bartender involving corks and bottle caps. It is here that he catches the eye of Evelyn Draper, who reveals that she purposely sought him out after hearing about the bar on his show. As they drive back to her place, it becomes clear that Evelyn is the recurring caller who ...

The film Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971) is a classic giallo written and directed by Dario Argento. Roberto Tobias, a talented drummer, finds himself being pursued by an unknown person. In a moment of bravery, he confronts his follower only to unintentionally harm him in the process. As this unfolds, someone lurking in the shadows takes pictures of the event. The days that follow are filled with threatening letters accusing Roberto of killing Carlo Marosi. Later that night, while at home, Roberto is jumped by the same masked culprit who warns him that they’re not done with him yet before rendering him ...

Joe (1970) is an American drama film written by Norman Wexler and directed by John G. Avildsen. The story centers around Advertising executive Bill Compton, his wife Joan, and daughter Melissa who reside in New York’s affluent Upper East Side. Unfortunately, Melissa has been living with her drug-dealing boyfriend and after she overdoses, Compton goes to the boyfriend’s apartment to retrieve her belongings. In a moment of intense anger, he ends up killing the boyfriend. Later on at a local bar, Compton hears Joe Curran expressing his disdain for hippies and ...

Pendulum (1969) is an American neo noir crime thriller film directed by George Schaefer. In Washington, D.C., police captain Frank Matthews’s career is on the rise, with his recent appointment as consultant for a powerful U.S. senator. However, his personal life is in question as he suspects his wife of having an affair with an old flame. After attending a political event in Baltimore one evening, Matthews decides to delay his return home until the following morning. It is then revealed to him by authorities that his wife and her lover were found shot to death in bed together.

Coogan’s Bluff (1968), an American crime thriller film directed and produced by Don Siegel, follows the story of Arizona deputy sheriff Walt Coogan. He is sent to New York City to extradite escaped killer James Ringerman, but Detective Lieutenant McElroy informs him that Ringerman is currently recovering from an LSD overdose and cannot be moved until cleared by doctors. To obtain extradition papers from the New York State Supreme Court, Coogan must first win over probation officer Julie Roth and take her out for lunch. Despite facing resistance at the prison hospital, Coogan manages to trick attendants and reach ...

The American heist film, The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Directed and produced by Norman Jewison, it received two Academy Award nominations and won for Best Original Song. The protagonist, Thomas Crown, is a wealthy thrill-seeker who meticulously plans a nearly perfect crime out of boredom. He orchestrates a five-person heist of $2,660,527.62 from a Boston bank with the help of a getaway driver who hides the money in a quiet cemetery trash can. Crown remains elusive throughout the ...

The French-Italian Eurospy film, The Road to Corinth (1967), directed by Claude Chabrol, follows the story of Robert Ford and his wife, Shanny. Set during the Cold War in Greece, NATO radar and missile systems are encountering mysterious issues due to small breakdowns in electronic black boxes. Tragically, Robert is murdered before he can solve the problem. Despite opposition from Mr. Sharps, head of the secret service, Shanny takes on the investigation herself. Knowing Robert and Shanny’s friendship well, intelligence agent Dex is assigned to monitor her actions by Mr. Sharps. Eventually, out of love for Shanny, ...

Billion Dollar Brain (1967), a British spy film helmed by Ken Russell, is based on Len Deighton’s novel of the same name published in 1966. The protagonist, Harry Palmer, has recently left MI5 to take up work as a private detective. He receives a call from an artificial voice instructing him to deliver a package to Helsinki. Inside are six virus-infected eggs which have been stolen from a top-secret research facility in Porton Down. In Helsinki, he is greeted by Anya who then introduces him to Leo Newbigen, an old friend of Harry’s and Anya’s handler. ...

The American spy political thriller film, Torn Curtain (1966), was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It follows the story of Michael Armstrong, a US physicist and rocket scientist, as he travels to Copenhagen for a conference with his assistant and fiancée, Sarah Sherman. During the trip, Armstrong receives a radiogram instructing him to pick up a book in Copenhagen. The book contains a message that reads ‘Contact π in case of emergency’. Despite telling Sherman he is heading to Stockholm, she discovers he is actually flying to East Berlin and decides to follow him. When they arrive, Armstrong is greeted by ...

Funeral in Berlin (1966), a British spy film directed by Guy Hamilton, is based on the novel of the same name by Len Deighton. It follows British secret agent Harry Palmer, who is sent to Berlin by his superior Colonel Ross to facilitate the defection of Colonel Stok, a prominent Soviet intelligence officer. To aid him in his mission, Palmer reconnects with an old friend and former criminal associate Johnny Vulkan, who now works for British intelligence in Berlin. Despite his initial skepticism, Palmer finds Stok to be eccentric and likeable when they meet in the Soviet ...

Moment to Moment (1966) is an American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Jean Seberg. Kay Stanton resides on the French Riviera with her husband Neil, a psychiatrist, and their son Tommy. During Neil’s absence, Kay meets Mark, an American naval ensign, and they engage in a secret relationship. Although Kay initially falls for Mark, she ultimately realizes that her true love is her husband. In a tragic twist of fate, Kay accidentally shoots Mark during an argument and with the assistance of her friend Daphne, disposes of his ...

The psychological horror film, The Collector (1965), follows a socially-awkward young man named Freddie who purchases a 17th-century farmhouse with his football pools winnings. Amateur entomologist Freddie spends his time capturing butterflies and has amassed quite the collection. His obsession leads him to stalk Miranda Grey, a bourgeois London art student. One day, he follows her into a pub in Hampstead and abducts her on the street using chloroform. When Miranda wakes up, she finds herself in Freddie’s stone cellar, which he has furnished with a bed, clothing, painting tools, and an electric heater. Confused and fearful, she assumes she has been taken for ...

The British spy film, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), is based on John le Carré’s novel of the same name. MI6’s West Berlin office, headed by station chief Alec Leamas, has decreased in effectiveness. After one of his operatives dies, Leamas is called back to London and appears to be rejected from the agency. However, Control, the chief of MI6, has carefully orchestrated a transformation for Leamas. He takes on a new identity as an assistant at a local library and develops a relationship with Nan Perry, his co-worker and a member of the British Communist Party. Due to spending most of his salary on ...

The Ipcress File (1965), a British spy film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Michael Caine, is based on Len Deighton’s novel of the same name (1962). It received a BAFTA award for Best British film. A scientist named Radcliffe is taken from a train as his security escort is killed. Harry Palmer, a former British Army sergeant with a rebellious history and criminal background, currently works for the Ministry of Defence. His superior Colonel Ross summons him and assigns him to Major Dalby’s department. ...

Cape Fear (1962) is an American psychological thriller film noir directed by J. Lee Thompson, from a screenplay, based on the novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. Released from prison in Southeast Georgia after serving eight years for rape, Max Cady quickly seeks out attorney Sam Bowden. Cady blames Bowden for his conviction and holds a grudge against him for interrupting his attack and testifying against him. Cady begins to stalk and subtly threaten Bowden’s loved ones, including his wife Peggy and their 14-year-old daughter Nancy. He even kills ...