A Motel, a Shark and a Trapped Band: 3 Scariest Thrillers to Watch on Netflix This Weekend, October 31-November 1
Psycho turns dread into suspense
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho follows Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, after she steals from her boss and seeks shelter at the isolated Bates Motel. Its owner, Norman Bates, is played by Anthony Perkins.
Even with its famous twist widely known and its shower scene often parodied, the film remains chilling. Hitchcock’s atmosphere, Bernard Herrmann’s score and Perkins’s unsettling performance sustain its suspense.
Jaws makes unseen danger frightening
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws brings together Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw as a marine biologist, sheriff and shark hunter. They pursue a great white shark threatening a small beach resort town.
Adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, with production rewrites by Carl Gottlieb, the film builds tension by keeping the shark out of sight for much of the story. Its approach helped reshape the thriller and made Jaws widely regarded as the first summer blockbuster.
Green Room traps a punk band
In Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room, Anton Yelchin plays the drummer of The Ain’t Rights, a punk band booked for a last-minute show at a skinhead bar. After the band becomes locked in the green room, Neo-Nazis led by Darcy Banker, played by Patrick Stewart, wait outside.
The film’s anxiety grows as the group tries to survive the night. Callum Turner and Alia Shawkat also star, while Stewart’s portrayal of the brutal Darcy marks a striking change from his best-known roles as Professor X and Captain Picard.
Key points
- Psycho pairs a secluded motel with Hitchcock’s enduring suspense.
- Jaws uses a largely unseen shark to keep danger looming.
- Green Room follows a punk band trapped at a skinhead bar.
- The three picks range from classic films to a more recent thriller.