A Glean movie guide
Hidden Gems of the 90s
Suspense, redefined.
Uncover the decade's most gripping and overlooked mystery thrillers.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Red Rock West
A drifter is mistaken for a hitman in this quintessential, twist-filled neo-western mystery.
When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money, and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.
- 02
The Last Seduction
A masterclass in manipulation, this neo-noir features one of the most cunning protagonists of the decade.
A devious femme fatale steals her husband’s drug money and hides out in a small town where she meets the perfect dupe for her next scheme.
- 03
One False Move
This slow-burn crime thriller builds relentless tension as a small-town sheriff awaits a trio of violent fugitives.
Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia, Ray Malcolm and Pluto -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon, to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.
- 04
The Spanish Prisoner
A corporate employee is pulled into a labyrinthine web of deception in this brilliantly scripted puzzle.
An inventor of a secret process suddenly finds himself alone as both his friends and the corporation he works for turn against him.
- 05
Breakdown
A desperate search for a missing spouse turns into a high-stakes nightmare in this lean, efficient thriller.
On their cross-country drive, a married couple, Jeff and Amy Taylor, experience car trouble after their SUV breaks down. Stranded in the New Mexico desert, the two catch a break when a passing truck driver offers Amy a ride to a nearby café to call for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and make his way to the café, but Amy isn't there. He tracks down the trucker ― who tells the police he's never seen Jeff or his wife before. Jeff then begins a desperate, frenzied search for Amy.
- 06
Cure
This atmospheric psychological mystery follows a detective tracking murders where the killers have no memory.
A frustrated detective deals with the case of several gruesome murders committed by people who have no recollection of what they've done.
- 07
Deep Cover
An undercover cop struggles to maintain his identity while infiltrating a massive drug syndicate.
Black police officer Russell Stevens applies for a special anti-drug squad which targets the highest boss of cocaine delivery to LA—the Colombian foreign minister's nephew. Russell works his way up from the bottom undercover, until he reaches the boss.
- 08
A Simple Plan
Greed leads to moral decay in this chilling, expertly crafted tale of three men who find a fortune in a crashed plane.
Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.
- 09
Zero Effect
A brilliant but socially inept private investigator takes on a complex blackmail case in this modern detective gem.
Daryl Zero is a private investigator and—along with his assistant, Steve Arlo—he solves impossible crimes and puzzles. Although Daryl's a master investigator, he doesn't know what to do with himself when he's not working; he has no social skills, writes bad music and drives Steve crazy.