Here they are. Not this one. That would be thriller, singular. We’re talking about thrillers, the action genre’s brainer little brother, and the subject of the tenth and final installment in our Definitive Men’s Movie Collection. Like actions, thrillers get your blood pumping, though they use more subtle tactics — suspense over pyrotechnics. We’ve heard it said that with thrillers, you don’t need to pay for your whole seat — just the edge. That’s silly, because most theaters make you pay for your whole seat regardless, but we understand the sentiment. Have we saved the best for last? You decide.
Now, without further ado, grab some popcorn, sit back, and dim the lights. The show’s about to start.
Methodology: like our books piece, the selections for our Definitive Men’s Movie Collection represent our favorites, “considered in the light of how much they changed our lives, and might change yours.” If it makes you feel any better that your favorite flick didn’t make the cut, consider that one of our auditors, in a moment of weakness, tried to get Nick Cage’s Ghostrider on the docket. Taste is subjective, so take this for what it’s worth.
Silence of the Lambs
Rarely are thrillers as quotable as this chilling gem. That those lines punch as hard as they do — you’ll never look at Chianti the same way again (or skin lotion, for that matter) — has plenty to do with Anthony Hopkins (who won an Oscar despite appearing on screen for only 16 minutes) and utterly horrifying set pieces. Clarice Sterling, a young FBI trainee, tries to crack a murderer’s spree with the help of another murderer, who is also a fervent cannibal.
Amazon DVD / Amazon Download / Netflix / iTunes
