If you enjoyed the psychological thriller 'A Perfect Enemy' (2021) and are craving more mind-bending narratives, this article is for you. We've curated a list of 10 gripping movies and shows that share similar themes of deception, suspense, and psychological depth. Dive in to discover your next obsession!

The Game (1997)
Description: A psychological thriller that plays with the protagonist's perception of reality, featuring a wealthy man caught in an elaborate and dangerous game that blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Fact: The film's intricate plot required multiple rewrites to ensure the twists were both surprising and logically consistent. The production design included a real mansion that was sold during filming, forcing the crew to shoot quickly.


The Machinist (2004)
Description: A psychological thriller that delves into the fractured mind of an insomniac factory worker, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination in a haunting and surreal narrative.
Fact: Christian Bale lost over 60 pounds for the role, reducing his weight to a dangerously low 120 pounds. The film's stark, washed-out visual style was achieved by desaturating the color in post-production.


Shutter Island (2010)
Description: A mind-bending psychological thriller set in an isolated mental institution, where nothing is as it seems and the protagonist's grip on reality slowly unravels.
Fact: The film's twist ending was kept under wraps during production, with even the crew unaware of the final reveal. The haunting score was composed by Robbie Robertson, marking his first foray into film music.


Prisoners (2013)
Description: A tense and morally complex thriller about a father's desperate search for his missing daughter, delving into themes of justice, vengeance, and the limits of human endurance.
Fact: Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal improvised many of their most intense scenes. The film's bleak, rainy aesthetic was achieved by shooting almost entirely during overcast days.


The Body (2012)
Description: A mystery thriller that revolves around the disappearance of a corpse from a morgue, leading to a labyrinthine investigation filled with twists and moral ambiguity.
Fact: The film is based on a novel by the same author who wrote 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' It was shot in Barcelona, with many scenes filmed in real, functioning morgues.


Side Effects (2013)
Description: A psychological thriller that explores the dangerous consequences of prescription drugs and the manipulation of mental health, with a plot that constantly subverts expectations.
Fact: The film was originally conceived as a straight drama about the pharmaceutical industry before being reworked into a thriller. Rooney Mara's character was written specifically for her after her breakout role in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.'


Gone Girl (2014)
Description: A dark and twisty narrative that explores themes of deception, manipulation, and the unreliability of appearances, centered around a marriage that is not what it seems.
Fact: The film's iconic 'cool girl' monologue was almost cut for time but became one of its most memorable scenes. Rosamund Pike performed most of her own stunts, including the blood-soaked bathroom scene.


The Gift (2015)
Description: A psychological thriller that explores the lingering effects of past trauma and the unsettling return of a mysterious figure from the protagonist's past, leading to a tense and unpredictable climax.
Fact: Joel Edgerton wrote, directed, and starred in the film, marking his directorial debut. The movie's ambiguous ending was deliberately left open to interpretation to unsettle audiences.


Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Description: A haunting and visually striking film that weaves together a story within a story, exploring themes of revenge, regret, and the power of art to reflect and distort reality.
Fact: The film's dual narrative structure was inspired by a real-life novel written by the director's ex-wife. The opening credits sequence, featuring obese women dancing, was a controversial but deliberate artistic choice.


The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Description: A chilling and surreal psychological thriller that delves into themes of guilt, retribution, and the supernatural, with a slow-burning tension that culminates in a horrifying moral dilemma.
Fact: The film's unsettling tone was achieved through long takes and a deliberately flat, emotionless delivery from the actors. The title references the Greek myth of Iphigenia, which the plot loosely follows.
