Summary
Many horror films in the 2010s have a premise revolving around a timeless subject: serial killers. It’s unlikely for audiences to come in contact with a masked villain or supernaturalantagonist seen in other horror films, butthere’s an uncomfortable likelihood with serial killers that keeps viewers fascinated with the subject. The mere possibility that a serial killer could be lurking around allows such a criminal to be the perfect starting point for a horror film.
Violence and gore are not unusual for horror films, but in a variety ofmovies about notorious killers, the cruelty is intensified. While some films from the 2010s do such a thing purely for shock value, others include it as a means of social commentary. For the longest time, media reporting of real-life serial killers has been sensationalized, andfilms likeI Saw the DevilandSnowtownask audiences to directly confront the harsh realities of these crimes.
30 Best Serial Killer TV Shows On Netflix, Ranked
Netflix is a source of tons of amazing true crime content, and there are some enthralling shows that focus on serial killers, both real and fictional.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Cast
Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.
The second film adaptation of the 2005 novel of the same name,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, ranks highly amongthe best David Fincher movies. Following a hacker and a journalist teaming together to investigate a 40-year-old disappearance,the technical aspects ofThe Girl with the Dragon Tattooexcel in amplifying the film’s mystery. Direction and cinematography by Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth and a reinforcing score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross take the film to another level above the 2009 Swedish film adaptation.
There are enough disturbing scenes to keep thriller fans duly unsettled
Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara are also well cast in the film and the latter earned sweeping praise from critics for her dedication to the role of Lisbeth Salander. A vulnerability in Salander was needed by the actresses to play her and Mara hit the nail on the head. Typical gore found within serial killer films isn’t heavily present inThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but there are enough disturbing scenes to keep thriller fans duly unsettled.
9Snowtown (2011)
Retelling Of One Of Australia’s Most Famous Cases
Based on the true Australian criminal case,Snowtown, also known asThe Snowtown Murders, doesn’t shy away from the gruesome facts.Snowtownfollows Jamie (Lucas Pittaway), who becomes increasingly closer to the bigoted and murderous John (Daniel Henshall). Accompanying its acute violence, a crucial part of the film is the captivating portrayal ofJohn’s ability to use Jamie’s traumato lure him into taking part in his killing spree.
Snowtownis the directorial debut of Justin Kurzel and this emotional arc is something he and writer Shaun Grant knew was important to focus on in the film. The mentor relationship that slowly forms between Jamie and John adds a needed depth to the overall story. The final moments ofSnowtownadd to the emotional weight of the film as audiences are hit with details about one of Australia’s longest and most followed trials.
Summer of 84
Set in a suburban town in the summer of 1984, Summer of 84 follows a group of teenage friends who suspect their police officer neighbor is a serial killer. As they dig deeper into their investigation, they uncover unsettling truths and find themselves in a precarious and dangerous situation. Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the film blends elements of horror and nostalgia, creating a compelling coming-of-age thriller.
Following a group of friends suspicious of their neighbor’s involvement in recent local disappearances,Summer of 84is an entertaining teen horror film. There is a slow and steady suspense built for a majority of the film’s runtime, but overall,Summer of 84has great laughs and fun characters that keep audiences engaged.Summer of 84is praised most for its screenplay and humor, which is wonderfully supported by its cast.
A few notable performances inSummer of 84are Judah Lewis from Netflix’s slasher filmThe Babysitter, and Rich Sommer fromMad Men, who acts as the suspected culprit. Set in the titular decade,Summer of 84is chock-full of nostalgic references andhas a similar tone as other teen-focused horror films such asIt. The story may feel predictable at times, but there are enough jump scares that keep even the most familiar horror fan on their toes.
7I Am Not A Serial Killer (2016)
Back And Forth Between A Teenager And A Supernatural Killer
I Am Not a Serial Killeris a supernatural horror film with an unusual antagonist. John Wayne Cleaver (Max Records) is fearful he may develop murderous tendencies one day and when a supposed serial killer has been murdering people in his town, John takes it upon himself to stop him. Differentiating itself from other films with a similar subject, the violence inI Am Not a Serial Killeris not intense andthe film mainly relies on more suspense over jump scares.
Described as a cat-and-mouse relationship between John and the town’s murderer, it’s unclear just how far the teenage boy will get before he gets caught up in an inescapable situation himself.I Am Not a Serial Killerdoesn’t push the horror genre forward in any way, but performances by the cast earned praise, including Records' portrayal of the inquisitive teenager and a notable career highlight from Christopher Lloyd as his suspicious neighbor.
Beast
A repressed woman from a strict family encounters a charismatic stranger who offers her a glimpse of freedom and passion. As she falls deeper in love, suspicion arises around his involvement in a series of local murders.
Inspired by “The Beast of Jersey,“Beastis a gripping psychological thriller that blurs the lines between perpetrator and victim for its two main characters played by Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn. The unanswered thought-provoking questions about right and wrong as posed byBeasthave the potential to divide audiences, butnever knowing which character to trust,Beastis richly suspenseful. Whenever either character appears to be the “hero,” the film flips the audience’s understanding.
It was a purposeful choice made byBeast’s writer and director Michael Pearce, who aimed to gain a moderate amount of sympathy from audiences. In a 2018 interview, Pearce said, “With all of the characters…I want you to connect with them, but for your relationship to become more complicated as the film wears on.” (viaDazed). Therefore, the storytelling demands an engaged viewing, but it’s one that’s easily accomplished due to the clever twists and unexpected ending.
Tragedy Girls
Tragedy Girls is a 2017 satirical horror-comedy film directed by Tyler MacIntyre. The film follows high school best friends Sadie Cunningham (Brianna Hildebrand) and McKayla Hooper (Alexandra Shipp) who run a true crime blog. They take their passion for criminology to the next level by capturing a serial killer and committing murders themselves to boost their online fame.
Tonally different from other films listed,Tragedy Girlsis a comedic spin on the slasher genre.Tragedy Girlssees its leading best friends McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) and Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand) obsessed with true crime and gaining social media followers. These interests are combined when the two decide to carry out murders around town to earn attention. There’s very little suspense and the plot is loose in a few areas, but it doesn’t present a problem fora film that never takes itself too seriously.
Tragedy Girlsis a much-needed breath of fresh air
The reasons for each murder are comical, such as when the girls kill one of their ex-boyfriends after he gains a higher level of engagement on social media. Shipp and Hildebrand are a delightful duo as two best friends with a nonchalant outlook on their life choices. Among the heavy and sadistic themes within other serial killer films,Tragedy Girlsis a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Tragedy Girls Does Horror Satire The Right Way
Playing off the popular true crime culture, Tyler MacIntyre’s Tragedy Girls is a fresh, interesting, and gleefully dark horror satire.
The Clovehitch Killer
The Clovehitch Killer centers on Tyler Burnside, a teenager who lives in a seemingly idyllic small town. His world is upended when he discovers evidence suggesting his father might be the infamous Clovehitch Killer, responsible for a series of unsolved murders. As Tyler grapples with this harrowing possibility, he embarks on a chilling quest for the truth, placing him and those he loves in grave danger.
Pulling inspiration from the actual criminal known as the BTK Killer,The Clovehitch Killershows a teenager (Charlie Plummer) uncovering the dark truth about his father (Dylan McDermott), whom he suspects is a local serial killer. Plummer and McDermott give excellent performances and play into the film’s high levels of suspense. Thissuspense inThe Clovehitch Killerlingers and helps establish an eerie atmosphere.
The Clovehitch Killerdoesn’t use all of its thrills at once and spreads them out throughout the movie. The result is a largely still film, but it pays off with a chilling ending.The Clovehitch Killeris one of the more underrated serial killer movies of the 2010s, as author Stephen King put it, “Sometimes an excellent small movie falls through the cracks. That’s the case with THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER (Netflix)…Your mileage may vary, but be warned. Not for the faint of heart.” (viaTwitter).
Creep
Creep is a 2014 Horror film directed by Patrick Brice. The found-footage style release stars Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice and revolves around a videographer who takes a job recording and chronicling the life of a supposedly dying man that will be showcased later to his unborn son.
Compared to other horror films about serial killers,Creepdoesn’t do the best job of getting audiences on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a big reveal.Creepstars Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice as its two main characters, Josef and Aaron, with the latter being hired by the former to film his day-to-day life as a gift for his unborn child. Tension rises as Aaron learns more about Josef’s life, butCreepdoesn’t try to hide who the antagonist is.
The suspense would have been more effective if the actor’s performance had been more subtle to make room for the mystery surrounding his motives. However, though it’s clear who the antagonist is, it’s not easy to guess what he’s going to do next andthe ending ofCreepperfectly teases the possibility of revolving victims of the killer.Creep 2was released in 2017 and in June 2024, Duplass announced aCreepTV series is on the way.
Jack Details His Crimes
As an art film by Danish film director Lars von Trier,The House That Jack Builtis a unique look into the crimes of the film’s serial killer, Jack (Matt Dillon). Using flashbacks,The House That Jack Builthas Jack recalling his killings over the past few years.During these flashbacks, his actions are portrayed through graphic violence, which can make the film difficult for some audiences to stomach.
The unyielding violence inThe House That Jack Builthas divided many viewers and critics, who are split on the integrity of its use within the film’s story. Some view it as purposeful to avoid providing audiences with “guilt-free violence,” while others argue there’s not enough substance in the story to justify the means of bloodshed. Regardless,the imagery ofThe House That Jack Built’s ending is a fascinating way to close the film, and it’ll likely stick with viewers for some time.
I Saw the Devil
I Saw The Devil is a South Korean thriller directed by Kim Jee-woon. The narrative follows a secret agent who embarks on a relentless and personal quest for vengeance after his fiancée is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik, and is renowned for its intense and gritty portrayal of the cat-and-mouse game between the two central characters.
The South Korean thrillerI Saw the Devilfollows its lead character, Kim Soo-hyun, who seeks revenge for his wife’s murder committed by the serial killer, Jang Kyung-chul. The brutal violence and shock value ofI Saw the Devilmakes it easy to pass the movie off as nothing more than that. However,there is more substance to the film than the premise and violent scenes suggest.
The lead characters are well-written and the emotional journey of Soo-hyun gets audiences hooked as he chooses an unexpected, torturous path of revenge. It’s because ofI Saw the Devil’s brutality that the film might be difficult to watch for some, but the way these scenes are constructed makes it all worthwhile. Kim Jee-woon and Lee Mo-gae are a dream team and the director and cinematographer, with their dark and upfront work elevatingI Saw the Devilbeyond an ordinary thriller.
