Suspense movies have kept audiences on the edges of their seats for decades. In contrast to horror and adventure genres, the best suspense movies develop a sense of anxiety, anticipation, or dread with the audience. From the acclaimed Alfred Hitchcock to the newer works of Christopher Nolan, suspense films explore the dark side of the human mind and, in turn, allows the audience to question themselves as individuals and as a society.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Father of Suspense Movies

Although many suspense movies graced the silver screen over the years, few reach the level of a classic film. Several of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies have attained that level of success. Several of his films, including North by Northwest and The Birds, helped to establish a cinematic standard for the thriller genre.

Vertigo (1958)

Vertigo, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, is about a retired cop turned private investigator with acrophobia (fear of heights) by the name of John “Scottie” Ferguson. Scottie investigates the possession of a friend’s wife by her great-grandmother but fails to save her from her untimely death due to his acrophobia. The story continues to delve into the psyche of Scottie as he begins to go to the wife’s usual haunts and stumbles across a suspiciously similar woman.

Vertigo was nominated for two Oscar awards. Over the years, the movie has received numerous other nominations and awards, further entrenching the movie as one of the all-time great thriller films.

Christopher Nolan: Modern Suspense Movies

Although there are many movies that are successful in the suspense or thriller genre, another individual who hits all the marks is Christopher Nolan. As a director of suspense films, Nolan has made his career by developing the suspense genre for contemporary tastes. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) catches the breaths of its audience with both its thriller and adventure moments. The most recent of Nolan’s works, Inception (2010), has been praised by critics and audience alike.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight is a modern take on the Batman comic. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhall and the late Heath Ledger all bring the Batman characters to life. More than that, the plot delves into the mind of a psychotic madman, the Joker as played by Heath Ledger, as well as to the development of Two-Face, (Aaron Eckhart) and the demonization of Batman (Christian Bale). It might seem like a simple Batman series to some, but Nolan touches the depth of the American soul by bringing to life the darker elements of humanity.

Inception (2010)

Although Inception has yet to be considered a classic much like Hitchcock’s Vertigo or the still talked about The Dark Knight, it is a worthy of being named one of the best suspense movies. This movie has a star-studded cast much like the other best of the best thrillers, but it has one unique element. The movie is not only a thriller, but caters to the modern taste of science fiction as a techno thriller.

Suspense Movies and Horror Movies

Although there are many films that have horror and suspense elements, the best of the suspense films with horror elements is The Silence of the Lambs (1991). This classic crime thriller needs no introduction. The Silence of the Lambs as directed by Jonathan Demme was horror and suspense at the peak of perfection. Each crime committed by the charming and alluring cannibal, played by Anthony Hopkins, was more gruesome than the last. Eventually, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) caught on and was audience to a particularly horrific scene. Who doesn’t recall the famous line “Hello, Clarice,” and not think about suspense and horror?

The suspense genre, depending on its definition, can be as vast as film itself. Every movie that has a bit of anticipation can be considered a suspense movie. But few touch the audience’s soul like Vertigo, The Dark Knight, Inception, and The Silence of the Lambs.

Honorable mentions include the following movies: Presumed Innocent, Wait Until Dark and even the legal thriller, A Few Good Men. All of these movies are arguably the best suspense movies modern cinema has to offer.