To me, thrillers have always shared blood with action and horror, because I’m always on the edge of my seat. Anxiety and anxiousness are part of the package. However, thrillers are king when it comes to making the story the most thrilling aspect, like slowly discovering the killer behind the mask.
And it’s in that core characteristic that thrillers can be co-opted by numerous other genres, from fantasy to science fiction and dystopian. There are even binge-worthy British thrillers! The mark of a good thriller — and the best thrillers — is the ability to capture your attention, and Netflix is brimming with compelling shows that are begging to be binged in a weekend.
Squid Game
Watch Squid Game on Netflix
Squid Game is so good and captivating, it’s worth a subscription to Netflix on its own. From its focus on class divide to distinct characters who have experienced some of the worst upsets in their lives. Every episode, I was excited to see what new games they would focus on, introducing even higher stakes in the second and third seasons.
Anybody can say that these characters are motivated by greed, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. These people are so incredibly desperate, they’ll risk life and limb to get themselves out of a situation they believe is doomed to fail. You’re literally cheering them on, hoping for the best outcome and that your favorite character survives. At the same time, you empathize with their struggles, especially if you’ve experienced the same situation.
Adolescence
Watch Adolescence on Netflix
Adolescence is, well, shocking to say the least. You think you know everything about your kids, but if you’re a parent, this one could leave your heart feeling cold. In this psychologically fierce thriller, a British 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, and his family stands behind him. This is a really touchy subject, especially in America, and Adolescence busts the subject wide open.
I particularly like how the show doesn’t necessarily paint the family in a good light. You do feel bad for them — and they seem like a fine family — but the show also points out the family dynamics and how they molded Jamie’s behavior, especially from his father. What you have here is how toxic behavior can be passed down from generation to generation without even realizing it.
Monster
Watch Monster on Netflix
Monster is a very slow-burning kind of thriller, and although I personally love the build-up, I also understand not everyone will. The show is stingy with the plot, like withholding the antagonist of the show until you’re a couple of episodes in. So, if you’re someone who needs the story to unfold faster, watching two episodes at a time is definitely a nice sweet spot.
But why care at all? Monster unpacks nihilism and the question of morality in humanity. These questions are then vented through Dr. Kenzo Tenma, whose skill as a neurosurgeon saved the life of a young boy after a break-in left the child and his twin sister orphaned. The way some of the shots are framed gives it the feeling of watching a live-action movie, so I also appreciate the show as a work of art.
Breaking Bad
Watch Breaking Bad on Netflix
I have a confession: I haven’t finished Breaking Bad yet; in fact, I’ve only finished the first season. It’s taken me years to finally sit down and watch it, and I’m already kicking myself for waiting so long. And although I haven’t finished it, I still 100% recommend it because it lives up to what people have been telling me for over a decade.
First off, the cat-and-mouse dynamic of Walter selling and making drugs while flying under the radar is so gripping. I really enjoy Walter as a character and his motives, which take his practice, an otherwise despicable way of life, and muddies the waters of morality. Oh, and Bryan Cranston is terrifying as a crime lord and completely threw me off after seeing him play Hal in Malcolm in the Middle (which is arguably better than new releases). What a range!
Ozark
Watch Ozark on Netflix
This thriller-drama follows a financial planner named Marty who moves his family to the gorgeous Ozarks, but there is more than meets the eye. With danger around every corner for Marty due to a business partner’s bad decision, he finds himself constantly on edge. It’s an incredibly tense ride from episode to episode.
One of the best aspects of this show is definitely the in-depth look at the characters. Take the very intelligent Ruth (Laura Linney), who’s easily relatable given that she strives to have a better life so she can get out of where poverty left her. Of course, part of the success is the actors themselves, with Jason Bateman offering an outstanding performance as this anxious, but calculating father.
Thrillers are practically designed for binging
When a thriller has me sacrificing sleep just to see the next episode, then that show is doing something right. In fact, these shows made me break my rules on binging content, especially Monster and Breaking Bad!
