Many think of Hitchcock as the master of the thriller, but there was no shortage of classic film thrillers already in the can when the British master took to Hollywood. Nonetheless, it's hard to look at films like Psycho, North by Northwest and Vertigo without seeing their tremendous influence on modern films. Today's directors have gone in many different directions with the thriller. Satellite TV networks can take viewers down these spellbinding roads whenever they're ready. Here are 5 thrillers not to be missed.
1. Blow Out. Fans of John Travolta might not recognize the youngster in this picture, which was a remaking of Antonioni's Blow Up. Transferring the main character's job from photographer to sound man, Brian De Palma gets into his familiar disturbed, postmodern territory. Philadelphia supplies the backdrop to what becomes a thriller of the highest order. The somewhat perverse style of De Palma served him well in many other thrillers - including Body Double and Carrie - which can be seen in their entirety on satellite TV networks like IFC and Turner Classic Movies.
2. Tell No One. Fans of classic film noir are always hungry for modern versions of the original B-movie thrillers. Tell No One delivers the goods on many counts, managing to fit in the resurrection of a woman a la Vertigo along with countless other noir tropes. Seeing the average Joe doctor become unhinged is a thrill familiar to noir fans, as well as seeing the genuine, heartfelt compassion of ruthless criminal thug. Is anyone who they are pretending to be in this French zinger? Tune in to HBO for the answer.
3. The Manchurian Candidate. When John Frankenheimer made his debut with this thriller, critics were hailing the arrival of the next Orson Welles. The excellent script, which revolves around a communist plot to assassinate a presidential candidate with embedded brainwashed ex-G.I's, takes viewers on a journey few movies ever have duplicated. One of the great fight scenes of all time involves Frank Sinatra and a man he believes to be a communist spy. See the original Manchurian Candidate in high definition on TCM and see why Sinatra insisted the film be shelved following JFK's assassination.
4. The Usual Suspects. A modern film which has reinvigorated the movie-going public's fascination with the thriller, this Bryan Singer picture made a star out of Kevin Spacey and took audiences by storm. Like in Memento, The Usual Suspects depends on narrators who are less than reliable and recalls the philosophical approach of classics like Rashomon. See it in HD on IFC.
5. Basic Instinct. Put a disheveled trigger-happy cop (Michael Douglas) on a case with a femme fatale extraordinaire sexpot (Sharon Stone) and you're going to have some fireworks before too long. This film set the tone for the modern thriller, with many imitations coming after but never equaling the tension and intrigue in this picture. See Basic Instinct unedited on HBO HD networks.
Get all wrapped up in the stirring thrillers showing on satellite tv networks. Movie fans are wasting their time unless they have direct tv.
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