It’s hard not to love a good thriller. Often more palatable than outright horror and based on compelling narratives to drive the thrills, these movies are some of the most popular and effective in the vein of heart-rate-increasing entertainment. Hulu currently has exceptional choices of varied styles within the thriller genre, so here are a few that will keep you on the edge of your seat for September’s viewing.
Barbarian
Barbarian, the most recent (and most terrifying) entry on this list, is, at its core, a horror movie. However, psychological thriller elements establish the basis of the film, which opens as a young woman finds her Airbnb already inhabited by another guest who claims he also reserved the location. As the mystery of these circumstances unravels, Barbarian travels into wildly unexpected terrain that not even the most experienced thriller lover could guess.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Daniel Goldhaber, director of the Netflix original horror film Cam, returns with a daring realization of Andreas Malm’s divisive 2021 manifesto, How to Blow Up a Pipeline. This fictional utilization of Malm’s philosophies follows environmental activists planning to sabotage a West Texas oil pipeline in one of the most exciting indie films of the year.
Aliens
Though the first Alien is an authentic horror film on every level, Aliens is a pure sci-fi thrill ride. James Cameron, then known only as the mastermind behind The Terminator, continued Ridley Scott’s story with guns, action, and mile-a-minute insanity, upgrading the insurmountable threat of one invincible alien into hundreds.
Die Hard
Everyone loves Die Hard so much that the Bruce Willis-led badass cop action-thriller has set the archetypal standard for every future shoot-’em-up film. Arguably, no film since has matched the movie’s violent, extravagant glee, despite many attempts to piggyback off its success.
See How They Run
For those looking for lighter fare, See How They Run is the perfect blend of Agatha Christie-style homage and respectful parody that contrasts notably with the self-seriousness of many modern thrillers. Akin to recent fun mystery stories like Only Murders in the Building, See How They Run apes genre elements from recognizable sources for an all-around good time.
Pig
Pig made headlines when critics heralded the film as the best in long-running actor Nicolas Cage’s career of high peaks and low valleys. Aside from its hammy Cage appeal, Pig works as a surprisingly tender drama. As grizzled, unfriendly, and unstoppable as Cage’s character is in the film, he is dedicated only to rescuing his best friend, a prized truffle pig who lives in the woods with him.
Phone Booth
Are you looking for more of a straight-ahead thriller instead? You cannot go wrong with the simple Joel Schumacher appeal of Phone Booth, starring Colin Farrell in an elevated performance as a man threatened by a voice over the phone to do his bidding or risk death. At only 81 minutes, Phone Booth is a quick and easy flick to put on any time the urge for a thriller pops up.
Aliens, Die Hard, and Phone Booth leave the service at the end of September, so stream these movies now on Hulu before they move locations.
