The 10 Best Psychedelic Thrillers, Ranked

The 10 Best Psychedelic Thrillers, Ranked: The emergence of psychedelic themes in cinema might be linked with the influence of surrealism on the seventh art. However, the real kickstart of this strand of cinema happened in the 1960s and was completed by the 1970s, when counterculture and the use of altering substances ultimately blossomed. Thriller benefited greatly from the intersection of these themes with its suspenseful and hazy plots. We have movies like “Altered States” and “A Scanner Darkly” that deal quite straightforwardly with the themes of drugs. At the same time, the psychedelic intersection in thrillers can also be only visual, like in “Vertigo” and “Annihilation.”

Psychedelic thrillers will disorient the viewers with their mind-bending visuals as well as urge the brain to work faster in order to understand the development of the plot. This list is composed of the ten best psychedelic thrillers ever, and it’s perfect for those who want to be intellectually stimulated by cinema without forgetting the aficionados of aesthetics and colorful pictures. Whether you’ll be lost in the streets of New York in “Good Time” or living in the rebellious 1970s California in “Inherent Vice,” these psychedelic thrillers will completely capture the eyes of their viewer. A life-altering experience is waiting for you.

10. The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears (2013)

Written and directed by the filmmakers and spouses Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, “The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears” is a descent into a nightmarish hallucination. Dan Kristensen (Klaus Tange) is a businessman who returns home and discovers his wife missing. The search for his loved one will submerge him into a world of violence. The third movie by the French couple continues the homage to the Giallo subgenre, something already seen in their debut “Amer.” However, the sensorial approach of Cattet and Forzani’s cinema breaks the followable narrative of classic Giallo. The result is a movie that pushes the boundaries of what could be considered a story.

“The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears” is an experimental movie where details, visuals, and moods overcome the substance of the plot. The viewer will experience intense and lavish images, blessed by impeccable and neon-drenched cinematography by Manuel Dacosse. When red or green neons are not the centerpiece of the lighting, the gorgeous high-contrast play between shadow and light captures the eye. At the same time, the movie is a masterclass in close-ups, delivering some of the best-detailed shots ever. A must for aficionados of Argento and Fulci.

9. Point Blank (1967)

“Point Blank” is, at the same time, a milestone for neo-noir and a disruptor of the genre. Directed by the talented John Boorman, his second film, “Point Blank” is focused on the character of Walker. Played on screen by Lee Marvin, this resolute robber is double-crossed by his crime partner during a “job.” Left him for dead, his partner Reese takes with him the loot and Walker’s wife, Lynne. Unknown to him, though, Walker is still alive and wants his revenge. A creative take on the neo-noir strand, “Point Blank” has become a cult for its unusual style over the years.

This 1967 gem is an unmissable thriller that lives through its visual potency and its charismatic lead actor. Classic dark tones like grey and black are present in the movie, but the insertion of bright colors like yellow and red completely revolutionized the genre. Released the same year as “Le Samouraï,” “Point Blank” couldn’t be more different with its vibrancy. The dream-like editing, with its continuous jumps between past and present, is the cherry on top that disorientates the spectators. The combination of both creates a psychedelic filter through which the audience experiences the story and its sudden developments.       

8. Mandy (2018)

Released in 2018, “Mandy” is one hell of a ride. The movie follows the story of Red and Mandy, a couple living in a secluded house near the Shadow Mountains. It’s 1983. Their peaceful and solitary life is interrupted when members of a cult called Children of the New Dawn break into their home. A mysterious and terrifying biker gang called the Black Skulls helps the cult members. “Mandy” was co-written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, the creative mind behind the cryptic and visually striking “Beyond the Black Rainbow.” The style that dominated his debut is also visible in “Mandy.”

“Mandy” shines for its slow-pacing and thriller-like rhythm, perfectly shaken by horror and action elements. At the same time, its impressive visual mastery is perfectly evident even in the first viewing. The combination of neon lighting and deep black shade perfectly matches the era in which the movie is set. Moreover, the predominant use of red, blue, and purple neons creates an unusual world that resembles a hallucination more than reality. While Nicolas Cage’s character is altered by drugs in his psychedelic revenge, the viewers themselves are participating in the journey, too. The visuals are, thus, excellent in immersing the audience in the bloody trip.

7. A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Based on the homonymous novel by Philip K. Dick, “A Scanner Darkly” is a peculiar visual experience. This sci-fi gem was written and directed by Richard Linklater and follows the investigation of Bob Arctor. The officer is an undercover operative working in the underworld to stop the epidemic of Substance D. This powerful drug has swept the American population, leaving millions addicted. The response from the government was an increase in surveillance and the creation of a special department in which Arctor works. The deceitful games that come with the undercover status, as well as a problematic addiction to Substance D, will threaten Bob’s future.

Much like other movies on the list, “A Scanner Darkly” fuses substance and form impeccably. The dystopian and paranoia-driven scenario mixes perfectly with the drug epidemic theme. Moreover, these topics are transposed on the screen with creative and inventive experimentalism. The use of a technique called interpolated rotoscope makes every frame animated in a unique way. Between live-action and animation, “A Scanner Darkly” is also dense with dialogue and slow-paced, simulating the paranoiac side effects of Substance D. Despite the lukewarm box-office response, this psychedelic thriller carries both intriguing images and a critical-thinking plot.

6. Good Time (2017)

“Good Time” has become somewhat of a modern cult after its release in 2017. This psychedelic thriller was written by Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, with the latter sharing the directing chair with his brother Benny. Benny also acts in the role of Nick. “Good Time” is set in New York City, and it shows Nick and Connie as a pair of brothers who commit a bank robbery. After the developmentally disabled Nick gets arrested, Connie is set to free his brother from the hands of the law. In one of his most fantastic performances ever, Robert Pattinson plays the determined elder brother role of Connie.

“Good Time” is magnificently shot by the Safdie Brothers in conjunction with the DP Sean Price Williams. The lights of New York, as well as the superb neon colors that are present in many interior scenes, essentially drive the hazy and psychedelic tone of the picture. Moreover, the amusement park scene is the culmination of the film’s trippy aesthetics, with neons again taking the frontal stage. The detailed curation of the visual aspect only contributes, on the one hand, to the drug-induced tone of “Good Time.” The psychedelic feeling of this thriller is also rendered through its incessant and pulse-pounding rhythm.  

5. A Field In England (2013)

17th century. The English Civil War is ravaging the island. During a battle, an alchemist’s assistant called Whitehead is rescued by a soldier named Cutler. The two later encounter a couple of deserters, Jacob and Friend. The three men follow Cutler, who wants to bring them to a beer house nearby. Everything changes when Cutler guides them to a field full of mushrooms: the food the soldier prepares will have stupefying effects. “A Field in England” is the mind-bending creative output of husband and wife Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump, respectively, director and screenwriter.

“A Field in England” is a remarkable achievement when it comes to psychedelic movies. The typical kaleidoscopic vibrance of movies of such type is left aside here for an impressive monochrome black-and-white cinematography. On top of that, the intelligent use of mirroring images and split screens mimics the psychedelic effects of mushrooms. Simultaneously, the fast-editing of the hallucinogenic scenes helps even more the depiction on screen of the altered state. The combination of the artistic cinematography and the editing with intent creates an immersive and psychedelic cinematic occurrence that is hard to forget.

4. Annihilation (2018)

After the success of “Ex Machina,” writer/director Alex Garland returned to the sci-fi genre in 2018 with this psychedelic experience. “Annihilation” is a journey through an alien biological zone as much as a meditation on change and the individual. After a meteorite hit our planet in the St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, an ever-expanding and mutating ecosystem has emerged. Many missions are set in motion inside the area, but only one person, called Kane, returns. As his conditions worsen due to the extensive exposure to the area, his wife and cellular biology professor Lena is assigned to a mission inside the “Shimmer.”

“Annihilation” is a special treat for the eye. The ecosystem molded from the meteorite’s impact is recreated on screen with an immersive approach. The impressive abundance of tonalities of green and purple combined with the lucid and slick cinematography by Rob Hardy ameliorates the spectator. If the eye is captured, the mind cannot but feel a trance by the slow evolution of the story and its inexplicable ramifications. The dream-like tone of the experience in the “Shimmer” is the last touch that seals the deal for this psychedelic adventure. Alex Garland confirms to be untouchable in sci-fi thriller terrains.    

3. Vertigo (1958)

“Vertigo” is one of Hitchcock’s most famous movies and a plain and simple masterpiece. John Ferguson, nicknamed Scottie, is a retired San Francisco police officer. The end of his career happened because of his acrophobia and vertigo, a result of an incident while in the corp. One day, his skills come in handy when his college acquaintance asks him to follow his wife. Acting as a private investigator, Scottie will have to gather knowledge of Madeleine’s supposedly strange behavior. “Vertigo” is based on the 1954 French novel “The Living and The Dead” and features terrific performances by James Stewart as Scottie and Kim Novak as Madeleine.

When speaking about “Vertigo,” it’s sacrilegious to avoid mentioning the famous camera effect that is present in the movie. The opposite movement of the dolly and zoom creates an effect that resembles the distortion of visual reality. The psychedelic touches in the film continue with Scottie’s nightmarish dreams, surreal and vivid, and the superb choice of color palette. “Vertigo” is extremely rich in color tones, with a predominance of green and red. At last, the intricate plot and its twists and turns perfectly bring together this classic psychedelic thriller, giving it a hazy undertone.

2. Inherent Vice (2014)

“Inherent Vice” is one of the best psychedelic movies of all time. The source material – Thomas Pynchon’s homonymous novel – was already an explosion of counterculture and psychedelia. The rendition on screen by Paul Thomas Anderson captures the spirit of the book incredibly well, as well as its stoner atmosphere. Doc Sportello is a drug-fuelled private detective living in Gordita Beach, Los Angeles County. One night, his rest is interrupted by the arrival of his ex-girlfriend, Shasta. What follows is Doc’s journey through the underworld of LA, enhanced by a continuous intake of substances. Joaquin Phoenix is Sportello, and the performance is one of the highlights of his career.

This neo-noir is the quintessential stoner movie. On one hand, the sluggish and laid-back rhythm, created by the editor Leslie Jones, reproduces perfectly the effect of what Sportello smokes. Anderson’s screenplay intensifies this mood by creating a highly intricate story with inner sub-plots and twists. “Inherent Vice” is also elevated by impeccable cinematography by Robert Elswit, a frequent collaborator of PTA. His contribution gives this countercultural thriller its 1970s feel, with camera movements and lighting that resembles the best Altman. Not by chance, Altman’s influence on Anderson is well-known.

1. Altered States (1980)

The title of this cult movie should suffice to crown it the ultimate psychedelic thriller. However, “Altered States” carries more than just an excellent title. Directed by Ken Russell, it revolves around a psychopathologist called Edward Jessup. The university researcher is conducting a study on schizophrenia and states of consciousness. The research involves sensory deprivation and the use of hallucinogens. Jessup must balance his thirst for knowledge with his understanding of the body and mind’s limitations. “Altered States” was co-written by Paddy Chayefsky, the three-time Academy Award winner for “Marty,” “The Hospital,” and “Network.” 

The aesthetic prowess of “Altered States” couldn’t be otherwise with visual masters like Russell and cinematographer Jordan S. Cronenweth working on the project. The latter is mainly known for his ground-breaking and breathtaking cinematography for “Blade Runner.” The combination of these innovative minds creates a movie that the eye cannot stop staring at. The brown and grey colors dominate the scenes at the university, providing a monotone background onto which the hallucinogenic scenes can explode with their colorful and surreal imagery. At the same time, the part of the movie set in Mexico captures the audience‘s attention with its ethereal rendition of the natural landscapes. 

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