A Glean movie guide
High-Tension Thrillers
Don't forget to breathe.
From psychological pressure to relentless action, these films never let you catch your breath.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Uncut Gems
A relentless, anxiety-inducing odyssey through New York’s high-stakes gambling underworld.
A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
- 02
Whiplash
A masterclass in psychological intensity fueled by a cut-throat pursuit of musical perfection.
Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.
- 03
Dunkirk
A ticking-clock survival epic that uses a Shepard tone score to sustain a constant state of urgency.
The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.
- 04
Sicario
A masterfully crafted thriller that maintains a heavy sense of dread through its tactical realism.
An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
- 05
No Country for Old Men
A chilling cat-and-mouse hunt featuring one of cinema's most persistent and terrifying antagonists.
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
- 06
Good Time
A frantic, neon-soaked race against time that escalates into a series of desperate crises over one night.
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail.
- 07
Prisoners
A harrowing mystery that builds unbearable pressure as a father takes desperate measures to find his child.
Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street.
- 08
A Quiet Place
A unique sensory experience where the slightest sound can lead to immediate, lethal consequences.
A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
- 09
Green Room
A visceral and claustrophobic survival thriller that pits a punk band against a violent group of skinheads.
A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing an act of violence at a skinhead bar.
- 10
Don't Breathe
A high-concept home invasion thriller that turns the tables on its protagonists in total silence.
A group of teens break into a blind man's home thinking they'll get away with the perfect crime. They're wrong.
- 11
Nightcrawler
A disturbing look at the ethics of crime journalism that creates a persistent sense of moral unease.
When Lou Bloom, desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran.
- 12
Fall
A terrifyingly effective survival film that weaponizes a fear of heights to create physical tension.
For best friends Becky and Hunter, life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. But after they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned radio tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. Now Becky and Hunter's expert climbing skills will be put to the ultimate test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies, and vertigo-inducing heights.