The Lords of Salem

• 2013
• Horror
• Thriller

You can tell this is Rob Zombie’s pet project. From all the nightmarish visuals, desecration of the church, down to his wife being in the lead role. This movie doesn’t mean or do anything for the viewer except show off some very evil aesthetics.

Silent Hill: Revelation

• 2012
• Horror
• Mystery
• Thriller

All this shit flick does is throw blood, body parts, and blades at you. This is not a movie, it’s a visual stress test and you would be smart not to take it.

Antiviral

• 2012
• Horror
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

This is smart but not clever-smart – it’s weird-smart. It’s also perverted but not sexually. The film is a creative, yet a grotesque rendition of our twisted obsession with celebrities. It's kind of hard to watch and even harder to hold down. I like it.

The Impossible

• 2012
• Drama
• History
• Thriller

You have a right to think that this is a privileged family’s vacation gone wrong and how every Thai person in the film is overly nice to them because of their status. As someone who lived in Thailand, I can see the local’s kindness as something far from fiction. This is an accurate rendition of the Thai people, not Hollywood’s sensationalized attempt to pull at your heart strings.

It’s a tragic disaster that puts you into its belly and shows you the heart-breaking example of displacement in a time of numbing chaos.

The Expendables 2

• 2012
• Action
• Adventure
• Thriller

I'd like a bazooka with a side of macho cheese.

Chained

• 2012
• Horror
• Thriller

This is highly disturbing, claustrophobic, and dark as hell. However, it is a good piece of work. All of the bloody scenes were necessary, unlike lesser horrors that use it for shock. I was genuinely frightened and felt quite hopeless for the boy’s outcome.

Killing Them Softly

• 2012
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

The most business-minded crime drama I have seen. The audience is going to be on the fence about this one as it’s not so much a wild shoot-em-up and it’s not as exciting as Goodfellas. I don’t love this film but I was definitely taken by it and that stayed with me for a while.

Chloe

• 2009
• Drama
• Mystery
• Thriller

It starts off as a psychological drama but things fall apart. However, none of the actors drop their performances and for that, it’s able to carry you to the end with no screaming complaints.

The Possession

• 2012
• Horror
• Thriller

Only difference with this mundane horror is that the demon isn’t Christian, it’s Jewish. Holy crap, I have nothing remotely interesting to say about this.

Premium Rush

• 2012
• Action
• Thriller

Is this supposed to be a serious thriller because there is human trafficking, gambling, organized crime, and violence.

OR

Is this some cornball, cat-and-mouse chase, sponsored by Google Maps.

Compliance

• 2012
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

This is done really well. It dives deep into how far people go when they are in a position of power. However, it is really hard to sit through. At some points, I found myself wishing I was watching a grotesque horror, instead.

Taken 2

• 2012
• Action
• Crime
• Thriller

I was yearning for some sassy character to scream at the wife, “Aw no! You got taken, too!?!”

I'm dumb.

Arbitrage

• 2012
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

With all the billionaire downfall movies as of late, this is definitely the best one in the last two years. A billionaire does his usual billionaire bad habits like making greedy deals and cheating on his wife. After an accidental death with his mistress, things fall apart quickly as he tries to keep things together. The ending is not what you would expect but the satisfaction is there, make sure to look out for it.

Sinister

• 2012
• Horror
• Mystery
• Thriller

The dark deity is the most interesting and the bone-chilling part of this horror. Unfortunately, it comes with some really cheap scares.

The Cold Light of Day

• 2012
• Action
• Thriller

I have nothing against Henry Cavill but after this movie, he is easily one of the worst actors alive today. An irritating and enormously dumb movie.

Argo

• 2012
• Drama
• History
• Thriller

There are no explosions and no gunfights but this is one of the most suspenseful movies I have seen. It puts you in the thick of it and you’re never certain if they will make it out. One of the best movies of 2012.

Savages

• 2012
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

Aging men that lose their coolness end up buying Porsches and drive them at 40mph. Savages is Oliver Stone's candy red Porsche.

End of Watch

• 2012
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

Many bro-cop movies indirectly spoil the ending before you are given a chance to care about the characters. End of Watch builds the camaraderie on a level that you can’t help, but to want to be a part of; guy or gal. A superb movie for those seeking raw action with depth.

Killer Joe

• 2011
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

One of the most dark-humored, crime flicks ever made. Matthew McConaughey puts on a violently good performance but Juno Temple steals the show. The slogan on the poster is accurate and will be uncomfortable for a lot of people. If you do brave forward and decide to watch this, I strongly suggest you grab a bucket of fried chicken.

Looper

• 2012
• Action
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

Another futuristic Sci-fi, set in a hustling metropolis, and it's about time travel. This might get ugly. I understand if you're apprehensive about this because of past films like Surrogates or Total Recall. Leave all that behind and go watch this. Story will always triumph over style or setting, and this story is good. Look forward to go see this so that you can look back and be glad that you did.

VHS

• 2012
• Horror
• Thriller

Crappy or not, I’ll always watch found footage films. It’s infectious. In this one, there are four directors doing four horror segments that range from creepy to crazy. It’s like a collection of Halloween campfire stories, except the stories are being told by the monster.

The Raven

• 2012
• Mystery
• Thriller

You would swear that you’re watching a campy, PG-13 horror. Then people are savagely murdered to remind you that you’re watching a crappy, R-rated horror.

The Wave

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

The way events unfolded were believable and all the characters did a good job to construct that. It was captivating, then all of sudden, things go out of control for no solid reason. This happens overnight, literally. At that point, you might stop trusting the movie but it is good enough to continue watching until the end.

The Amazing Spider-Man

• 2012
• Action
• Fantasy
• Thriller

If this reboot was bad, then the Spider-Man film franchise would be squashed, for a really long time. I’m sure they’re going to green light a sequel. For the next sequel, can we get Rush Limbaugh to play Kingpin, so Spidey can beat the brains out of him.

The Dark Knight Rises

• 2012
• Action
• Fantasy
• Thriller

The way Christopher Nolan wants to end this unintentional trilogy is much more than I expected. Nolan has said that he was not thinking about a third Batman, after The Dark Knight. He wanted us to savor retirement as much as Bruce Wayne does and the way he concluded it here is absolutely satisfying.

Lockout

• 2012
• Action
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

“There’s only one man that can get her out [president’s daughter]. He’s the best there is. But he’s a loose canon.”

Guy Pearce never hits the brakes on his barrage of meat-headed, one-liners. I was naturally annoyed at first, but he kept at it so much that his jokes eventually won me over. I found myself laughing at full volume near the end. Screw the haters, here's a good example of a B-movie that isn’t trying to be anything else but silly and fun.

I Spit on Your Grave

• 2010
• Crime
• Horror
• Thriller

A girl takes revenge on a group of men that ravaged her and then left her for dead. Just like the original, this is pure exploitation at its ugliest. The only thing new to this remake is the creative torture scenarios. Hardened horror fans will cheer for this, while everybody else runs.

The Raid: Redemption

• 2012
• Action
• Crime
• Thriller

The Raid: Redemption is very committed to kicking the ass off of everyone involved, especially you. It accomplishes this with the most creative levels of violence. All while showing us that there’s only one thing worse than trying to raid a building full of drug addicts. Trying to raid a building full of drug addicts that all know karate.

Haywire

• 2012
• Action
• Thriller

Gina Carano got quite the opportunity to star in this action film by Steven Soderbergh. She works with the likes of Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, and more. For a new gal on the screen, who's also an MMA fighter, she's not too bad. Although, I give most of that credit to the seasoned talent she's surrounded by.

As for the film, the style was natural and captivating. The action scenes are raw and they show us that you don’t need extreme zooms or explosive effects to create intensity. A surprisingly good action film with thoughtful direction, even though most people didn't like it.

Piranha 3DD

• 2012
• Comedy
• Horror
• Thriller

The first one was stupid and fun. This one is stupid and dumb.

However...Ving Rhames.

The Innkeepers

• 2012
• Horror
• Thriller

You know that internet prank where you tell a friend to concentrate closely at the computer screen and then something scary pops up? They actually used that in the beginning of this film, and then followed up with two more cheap scares. All within the first 30 minutes. Probably one of the worst horrors I’ve seen.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

• 2011
• Action
• Fantasy
• Thriller

Nicolas Cage gets riled up and warns his victims not to make him mad or else "The Rider" will come out. When The Rider finally comes out, all he does is walk around all slow, stare at people, and occasionally piss fire.

Chronicle

• 2012
• Drama
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

It's a mix of The Craft and Japan's famous Akira. A fun and semi-serious film about how super powers will magnify an adolescent's personality, in which this case, can be disastrous. A lot of different types of movie-goers will enjoy this.

Battleship

• 2012
• Action
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

I'm okay with mindless, Summer, blockbuster films but the dialogue in this is so bad that if those aliens spoke English, they would just pack up their spaceships and leave.

Aegri Somnia

• 2008
• Thriller

I really, really should have watched the trailer before renting this; stupid me. I wasn't expecting much, I just wanted to see some twisted stuff, but I didn't even get that. The visuals and audio were as scary as Halloween decorations on a front porch.

The Cabin in the Woods

• 2012
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

Like comedy? You'll laugh at this. If you like horror, you'll love this. If you do not like horror, you will feel safe. If you're into Sci-fi, that's in here too. If you're a movie snob, you'll appreciate the well-written script. If silly, low-brow cinema is more your thing, then you'll have fun. The Cabin in the Woods is a ridiculous masterpiece!

For those curious. The less you know, the better. Just go watch it.

Anonymous

• 2011
• Drama
• History
• Thriller

Roland Emmerich's obsession with movies that ruin the past and the future is starting to make me think he's some type of man-child. Any chance he gets to lie to us or blow us up, he's all over it. In all honesty, this wasn't as bad (compared to his other films) but that doesn't mean you should watch it either. Let me rephrase that. Don't watch this.

Man on a Ledge

• 2012
• Crime
• Thriller

The girl cannot figure out which wire is the red one because the light shining on it is red. The light is fucking red. This film's premise is clever but it ended up in the wrong hands and turns out to be thee clumsiest heist movie I've ever seen. The director even managed to make Ed Harris look bad. Bastard.

ATM

• 2012
• Horror
• Thriller

Another small-room thriller like, Buried or Phone Booth. I'm on the fence about recommending this because the idea is good (for a horror) but the execution could have been better. Either way, I'm glad those kids got killed. That's what they get for making me palm my face so much.

The Woman in Black

• 2012
• Drama
• Horror
• Thriller

This is your old, creaking, mansion, type of film plot. There are plenty of cheap scares and over-done visuals but it’s not bad. I liked it because it stayed true to itself until the end and doesn’t try to add some useless twist.

Snowtown

• 2011
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

Godamnit, this movie is disgusting and horrifying. It starts you off in a very trashy town full of creepy junkies and other drudges of society. After all the disparity sinks in, you'll be greeted to man-rape, sadistic murders...I'm just going to stop right there.

Take Shelter

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

This film is as eerie as Micheal Shannon's face.

In all seriousness, it's a good one. Shannon performs so well that I gave in to his unpredictability as a border-lining madman. Near the end of the film, I was genuinely worried about what his intentions were towards...don't want to give away too much. Take Shelter is one of the hidden gems of 2011.

Apollo 18

• 2011
• Horror
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

This is irritating. I get that they're trying to go for the retro style of found footage but enough with the relentless eyesore of effects. If you're not annoyed or bored to death by the climax, then congratulations, you have managed to finish a crappy movie.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

A psychological thriller that is creepy, yet, quiet. You're never sure what reality is taking place and you'll eventually come up with your own theories when the credits roll. I tend to dislike movies with open endings but there's something about this one that left me satisfied.

Suing the Devil

• 2011
• Comedy
• Drama
• Thriller

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The concept was interesting until the film started. I thought it was a regular film so I tilted when I realized that this is a straight-up Jesus movie that's trying to convert you. Suing the Devil is only for Christian fanatics so don't watch it if you're not one of them.

Also, being $12,000 in credit card debt (see trailer) is not a sin. It's just irresponsible and stupid...like these film makers.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

Forget Kevin. We need to talk about Tilda Swinton's amazing performance as a suffering mother who raises a dangerous child. I think the psychotic son is a little bit over-the-top but that would be the only small complaint. This is a good film with a very uncomfortable subject matter that deserves your attention.

Dream House

• 2011
• Drama
• Mystery
• Thriller

The concept in the beginning is pretty cool but things start falling apart after the first half. This lacked genuine scares and the ending did not fit with the story. It tricks you into thinking it's a horror so I don't recommend this.

The Skin I Live In

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

I'm going to start by saying this is a really good movie. Now that I got that out of the way, I'm going to say that this is one the sickest concepts I've ever experienced in cinema. There are gender issues, twisted practices, violence (physical and sexual), and other sorts of madness. However, it is not chaotic, it's done artistically. Good luck to you if you are curious enough to try this.

13

• 2010
• Drama
• Thriller

I only wanted to see this because I really liked the original French film. I had low expectations, which were not met until the end and it was too late by then. 13 relies on tough, slick, and twisted personalities, which is lacking in most of these characters. Avoid this one and go watch the original 13 Tzameti instead.

Straw Dogs

• 2011
• Thriller

"Everyone has a breaking point," and mine ignited the second I hit 'play' on this DVD. I don't care for any of these stupid characters and their stupid decisions in this stupid movie. Even the retarded guy, fuck him too.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

• 2011
• Drama
• Mystery
• Thriller

A deep espionage thriller that isn’t all that thrilling, but it’s good. If you watch with undivided attention, you’ll find an intriguingly grim mystery beneath all the glum-looking, chain-smoking, old geezers. This isn’t for everyone and if you’re expecting something like The Bourne Identity, then you’ll end up with “The Bored Identity.”

Contagion

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

At the core of Contagion is a lot of medical jargon about a fast-spreading disease, which is wrapped around a good thriller. The director does a great job at making this epidemic event feel dangerously real.

I like this film and with Gwyneth Paltrow suffering an agonizing death within the first ten minutes, makes it that much better.

Final Destination 5

• 2011
• Horror
• Thriller

Another sequel about shotty engineering.

Kill List

• 2011
• Horror
• Thriller

This film is so sick and violent. The first half is very slow, to a point where it's irritating. After watching things unfold, I kind of wished it stayed that way because the events that happen next are deeply disturbing.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

• 2011
• Action
• Adventure
• Thriller

State-of-the-art action movie that is always intense. If things aren't being blown up, be sure that they'll be talking about what to blow up next.

Margin Call

• 2011
• Drama
• Thriller

If there's a film that can take a great cast and have them perform superbly around a subject matter that most Americans don't give a shit about, it's this.

In Time

• 2011
• Action
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

Two hours in the film's universe is very valuable. Two hours in our universe is not a big deal...but I still want my two hours back for watching this. I wasn't expecting this to be good, I was just hoping for something half-ass decent, because I really like the concept. Huge let-down.

Cowboys & Aliens

• 2011
• Action
• Sci-fi
• Thriller

If the aliens invaded these cowboys for something that ridiculous then they have to, they just have to, have some sort of back story as to why. That's only one of the many dumb things about this. The film is as stupid as the title.

The Debt

• 2010
• Drama
• Thriller

There is a bit of dead weight in this film as it cuts back and forth from past to present, slowly revealing the plot. As the mission moves forward, the living conditions get cramped, so does the film's tension. This is a great movie that isn't for a wide audience but should be enjoyed by both gals and guys.

The Escapist

• 2008
• Crime
• Drama
• Thriller

The tired genre of prison breaks shows its face again in this psychological and bitter sweet film. There are a lot of good things I can say about it and there are things not even worth mentioning. By the end, I don't think I would give this a strong recommendation to anyone. If you saw it, then neat. If you didn't, well, you're not missing out either.