Monster (2014)

Monster kicks ass! The 2014 bloody thriller about revenge on a serial killer is nail-biting (and sometimes a bit funny) throughout every bit of its almost two hours. Four star kudos to Lee Min-Ki, Kim Go-Eun and Ahn Seo-Hyun for involving and dedicated performances (especially the latter considering she was only ten years old when the movie was filmed) and writer/director Hwang In-Ho for holding me spellbound.

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The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver (1977)

Karen Black shines (once again) in The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver, a 1977 television thriller penned by the amazing Richard Matheson. Without giving away too much, Mrs. Oliver (Black) finds herself donning the look (and soul?) of a woman five years dead. The story is involving, the ending unexpected and it even has a small yet pivotal role played (as always) nicely by Gloria LeRoy (who acted with Karen in The Day Of The Locust) so check it out on YouTube.

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Don't Bother To Knock (1952)

The closest Marilyn Monroe ever came to appearing in film noir is the first movie in which her name appears above the title, the 1952 black and white thriller Don't Bother To Knock with noir favorite Richard Widmark and singer Anne Bancroft. Although not the brightest script, Monroe proves her acting chops as the baby sitter in hotel room 809; she is poignant, detached and bat-shit crazy. I've read that this movie is closest to the real Monroe (not the blonde bimbo) but there is no playacting here; Monroe is mesmerizing.

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Night Must Fall (1937)

Night Must Fall, the 1937 film of the successful Emlyn Williams dramatic thriller, is a dark, atypical MGM film in that its tone and characters go against the studio's more famous light-hearted fare. Young Rosalind Russell, Robert Montgomery and (yes!) Dame May Whitty are all fascinating to watch dancing around the central murder mystery and are supported by a stellar cast (all in Oscar caliber performances). I don't want to convey anymore because it's a tight story (adapted by John Van Druten of I Am A Camera/Cabaret fame) and a fine film to watch unfold without prior knowledge.

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...The Invisible (2007)

The Invisible takes so long to get started that I was shocked when the ending had a sweet tone. The script definitely has issues but it takes an interesting premise (limbo between life and death) and manages to make a little something out of it. The acting is fine (especially Marcia Gay Harden) but I think they could've lowered the annoying let's-make-an-alternative-rock-soundtrack-like-Garden-State quotient.

...Straw Dogs (1971)

Straw Dogs is a visceral experience in movie viewing with an intensity, from the first frame, that is rarely seen (or felt) in mainstream film. Dustin Hoffman, Susan George and the lesser-known supporting actors are excellent in this story of an American man, his British wife and the pack of farmers/hunters (the titular dogs) that harass them. This is a great film (though not for all tastes) that director Sam Peckinpah has layered for repeat viewings.

...The Number 23 (2007)

The self-proclaimed scary thriller The Number 23 is not particularly scary nor is it particularly thrilling, but it does boast Virginia Madsen (as her blonde self and in a brunette wig), and a surprisingly hot Jim Carrey with tats. Other than that, there's not much to recommend: the 23 phenomenon is ridiculous, the script has plot holes galore, and the cinematography and art direction bring darkness to the plate. Oh, the dog is cute if you like dogs.

...Pan's Labrynth (2006)

Pan's Labrynth is an excellent film with a complex script and outstanding performances - especially those by Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, and Sergi López. Guillermo del Toro wrote and directed this fantastical thriller set physically in wartime Spain (around 1944) and thoughtfully in...um...Pan's labrynth. It's a multi-award winner (including three Oscars for art direction, makeup and cinematography) about a young girl and fascism and one of the best films I've seen in years.