When I first came across Exterritorial (2025), I was drawn in by the mix of international politics, smuggling, and high-stakes human drama. Directed by Christian Zübert, the film centers around a father desperately trying to rescue his kidnapped daughter across hostile borders, diving deep into moral gray areas and the limits people will cross for family. What sets it apart is how grounded it feels — part thriller, part emotional gut-punch — all wrapped in a slow-burning, tense atmosphere. If you’re on the hunt for movies like Exterritorial that tap into those same feelings of dread, suspense, and ethical dilemmas, here are some powerful picks that hit close to the same emotional and thematic territory.
Prisoners (2013, Denis Villeneuve)
If you liked Exterritorial that explore how far a parent would go when their child is in danger, Prisoners is a no-brainer. This one hits hard emotionally, just like Exterritorial, because it’s not just about the crime — it’s about what it does to people. Both films dive into moral gray zones, making you question every character’s choices while keeping you on the edge of your seat. There’s the same feeling of desperation simmering under the surface, the same gut-punch tension.
The story follows Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), whose daughter and her friend vanish one afternoon. As the official investigation stalls, he takes matters into his own hands, dragging himself — and others — into darker and darker places. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the detective trying to hold things together, and the film’s haunting visuals and slow-burn pacing match Exterritorial’s tone perfectly. It’s gripping, disturbing, and brilliantly acted.
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, Juan José Campanella)
What makes The Secret in Their Eyes such a good fit for people looking for movies like Exterritorial is its slow, unsettling unraveling of truth. Like Exterritorial, it’s about a case that refuses to fade away, dragging its characters back into old obsessions and emotional wreckage. Both films deal with justice — or the lack of it — and how personal trauma can blur the line between law and vengeance.
Set in Argentina, the story follows a retired legal counselor who reopens an old rape-and-murder case that has haunted him for decades. As he digs deeper, we see how time hasn’t dulled the pain — it’s only made it sharper. With a nonlinear timeline, haunting cinematography, and a knockout twist, this one lingers long after it ends. It’s less about thrills and more about emotional weight, which lines up perfectly with the vibe of Exterritorial.
Who Can Kill a Child? (1976, Narciso Ibáñez Serrador)
Now this one leans more into psychological horror, but trust me — if you’re drawn to movies like Exterritorial for their eerie tension and sense of isolation, Who Can Kill a Child? hits the mark. Both films take familiar settings and twist them into something deeply unsettling. They play on the fear of losing control in foreign or unfamiliar places, and the creeping dread that something’s just not right.
The plot follows a British couple vacationing on a remote Spanish island, only to find that the kids there have murdered all the adults. What starts as a sunny getaway turns into a quiet, creeping nightmare. There’s not a lot of gore, but the mood is razor-sharp — unsettling, strange, and strangely quiet. If you liked the themes of helplessness and moral ambiguity in Exterritorial, this vintage shocker taps into the same disturbed vein, just from a more surreal angle.
The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
If Exterritorial left you with that cold, lingering unease — the kind that doesn’t come from jump scares but from moral dread — then The Vanishing is right up your alley. Both films lean heavily into the psychological side of suspense, focusing more on what people are willing to do when pushed past their limits, and the trauma of not knowing what happened to a loved one.
This Dutch thriller follows a man whose girlfriend disappears at a gas station during a road trip. What makes it haunting is that the mystery isn’t just about finding her — it’s about obsession, control, and the terrifying banality of evil. The antagonist doesn’t twirl a mustache or swing an axe. He’s just… ordinary. And that’s what makes it worse. Like Exterritorial, this one drags you into moral gray zones and dares you to stare a little too long. It’s slow-burn, but it stays with you.
Contraband (2012, Baltasar Kormákur)
While Exterritorial leans more into suspense and shadowy government secrets, Contraband brings the adrenaline with its gritty, high-stakes smuggling operation. But at the heart of both films is the same desperate energy — a protagonist pulled back into a dangerous underworld to protect their family. That’s the common thread that really makes Contraband one of those movies like Exterritorial that keeps your pulse racing.
Mark Wahlberg plays a former smuggler who’s forced to do one last job when his brother-in-law botches a deal with a ruthless cartel. What follows is a slick, tension-filled heist set across ships, warehouses, and customs offices — all with the clock ticking down. It’s fast-paced and muscular, but also rooted in real emotion, especially when family safety is on the line. If you’re looking for a mix of crime thriller and family stakes with morally compromised heroes, this one delivers.
Flightplan (2005, Robert Schwentke)
If you found the high-stakes tension in Exterritorial compelling, then Flightplan will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. Both films explore the anxiety of being trapped in a confined space while dealing with unseen threats. But where Exterritorial plays on global conspiracy and shadowy forces, Flightplan takes place entirely within the claustrophobic setting of a plane — adding a tight, suffocating sense of urgency.
Jodie Foster stars as a mother whose daughter mysteriously vanishes during a flight from Berlin to New York. As she desperately searches for her, the film dives deep into themes of paranoia, trust, and the battle to maintain sanity under pressure. Like Exterritorial, it’s a psychological thriller that keeps you questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. It’s full of twists, turns, and the type of disorienting storytelling that keeps you guessing until the final moments.
The Forgotten (2004, Joseph Ruben)
If you enjoyed the mind-bending mystery of Exterritorial, then The Forgotten will resonate with you. Both films dive deep into the emotional wreckage of loss and the unsettling feeling of being manipulated by forces beyond your control. While Exterritorial plays with government secrets and hidden agendas, The Forgotten taps into the more personal horror of being made to question your own memories.
Julianne Moore stars as a mother who is told that her son never existed — all evidence of him erased, as if he was a figment of her imagination. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of conspiracies that leave her questioning everything she thought she knew. The film mixes psychological thriller with supernatural elements, creating an atmosphere that is eerie and disorienting. If you love movies like Exterritorial that explore the loss of control over your reality, The Forgotten is a perfect fit.
