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Happy Spring Break!
This is my last undergrad spring break, which is crazy. Every year, spring break for me has just been about catching up on classwork and sleeping. No wild trips to Miami were had. This year, my roommate and I are spending the break binging Severance, a show that makes corporate life look even bleaker than it already is. Fun!
The concept is chilling: employees undergo a procedure that separates their work and personal lives, creating two distinct identities. It’s a haunting commentary on how many jobs would like us to leave our personal lives at the door to be our most productive selves. Watching it has made me question a lot of things, but for now, I’m taking a break from overthinking. This week, I’m talking about my favorite genre: psychological thrillers. If it’s eerie, mind-bending, or makes me question reality, I’m in.
Books: Mysteries, Madness, and Dark Academia
I have to shout out my girl Agatha Christie, the mother of mystery. And Then There Were None was the first book of hers I read, and I’ve since devoured every Hercule Poirot novel. These are the blueprint for classic mystery books and the reveal in the end is always satisfying.
Stephen King deserves a mention as well. Although I've only read The Shining, if you have the time (and the patience for a thick one), it’s worth it. A psychological and paranormal descent into madness set in an eerie, isolated hotel. I grew up on the movie, a favorite of my dad's, and we still argue over the ending in the book because it’s very different from the movie. He hates that, but I think the book's ending is interesting in its own way.
Of course, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is essential. A twisted story of marriage, deception, and manipulation. It’s popular for a reason, and the “cool girl” monologue is unforgettable.
Now, coming to my absolute favorites, the ones I wish I could read again for the first time:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
These are the most "psychological" on this list, with themes of obsession, guilt, and morality. These both fall into the dark academia category (which I'm obsessed with) but are still filled with mystery and murder.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fever dream of vanity, corruption, and moral decay, with Oscar Wilde’s signature wit, irony, and elegant prose woven throughout.
The Secret History is an intoxicating deep dive into elite academia, ancient philosophy, and a bunch of pretentious college students that casually murder someone and spiral into a chaos of guilt, lies, and really, really bad decisions.
Movies: Obsession, Deception, and Horror
I have to start with one of my all-time favorites: Black Swan (2010). A psychological spiral set in the world of ballet, it delves into obsession, perfectionism, and identity. I relate a lot to Nina, minus the psychosis, I think. The film offers a powerful depiction of the pressures placed on women, particularly in performance-based fields, where the line between self and persona blurs in unsettling ways. The reimagining of Swan Lake is especially striking. Nina must embody both the white and black swan, navigating a pull between different identities through dance. To fully perform the black swan, she has to shed her perfectionistic tendencies, which ultimately leads to her unraveling. Natalie Portman’s performance is also extraordinary.
Moving on to an equally twisted story, but dark in a different way, Shutter Island (2010) was one of the first psychological thrillers I became truly obsessed with. A mind-bending mystery set in an eerie asylum, it’s filled with twists that will have you second-guessing everything. I made all my friends watch it, and for years, it was my absolute favorite. If you haven’t seen it yet, I envy you.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) is another must-watch, especially during the summer. The summer aesthetics are chef’s kiss, the cast is ridiculously attractive, and the story of identity theft, deception, and obsession is both unsettling and captivating. Honestly, I kind of want to live in this movie, minus the fraud and murder.
Speaking of Ripley, a natural progression is Saltburn (2023). A polarizing movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some people scoff because of a few uncomfortable scenes, but when it comes to psychological thrillers, how could I not love it? The aesthetic is stunning, the soundtrack is perfect, and even the most cringe-inducing scenes were fun in their own shocking way.
Like Ripley, Saltburn delves deep into the dynamics between the rich and the poor. The protagonist, coming from a modest background, is both seduced and repelled by the decadence of his wealthy peers, eventually leading him down a dark and twisted path. The film, much like Ripley, highlights the complex tension between social classes, showing the destructive power of envy, the seduction of wealth, and the lengths some will go to in order to live a lavish life.
And, of course, I have to mention my love for old movies and Alfred Hitchcock, the king of psychological thrillers. His films are iconic, blending suspense and unsettling psychological elements that still resonate today.
Psycho (1960) – the original slasher film with a psychological twist. Norman Bates is still one of the most unsettling characters in film history, and his story completely redefined the genre. Motels will never be the same after this one, and neither will shower scenes..
The Birds (1963) — this one traumatized me as a kid. Who knew birds could be so terrifying? Okay, it might seem a bit silly now that I’m older, but Hitchcock truly mastered the art of turning something so ordinary into a nightmare.
Suspicion (1941) – a fantastic slow-burn thriller about paranoia and mistrust. It’s a classic Hitchcockian tale, where every glance, every gesture, leaves you questioning the truth. Plus, Cary Grant is in it, so how can I not be in love?
Rear Window (1954) — my all-time favorite Hitchcock film. A gripping mystery told entirely from one apartment window, with amazing cinematography, suspense, and Grace Kelly’s stunning outfits? Iconic. Writing this has convinced me it’s time for a rewatch.
I also have to shout out David Fincher for Se7en (1995), Fight Club (1999), Zodiac (2007), and Gone Girl (2014). Se7en and Fight Club might be the only ones on this list that I haven’t watched multiple times, simply because they were so unsettling—in the best way possible.
Others that I have only seen once are Nightcrawler (2014), Taxi Driver (1976), and Joker (2019). All worth watching, but definitely leaves a weird feeling. Each one follows an unhinged protagonist with a fascinatingly disturbing unraveling.
And finally, for something leaning a bit more horror, Jordan Peele has mastered the art of blending social commentary with horror. Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) are great thought-provoking psychological thrills.
Apologies for the lengthy list, I got a bit carried away, but I wholeheartedly recommend all of these films and books. There are even more out there that I didn’t mention, but these are classics and my personal favorites. Big thanks to Severance for keeping me entertained and reminding me just how much I love a good, psychological show, movie, or book. Now, back to binge-watching.
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