Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) holding a knife and looking serious in Misery
A genre of engrossing suspense and mounting tensions, thriller cinema has long been a hallmark of the form with its winding stories, technical innovation, and cerebral intensity. Great characters rife with complexities and moral ambiguity are a defining trait of the genre as well, and, understandably, they demand the utmost dedication and commitment from the actors who portray them.
It is no surprise that the greatest performances in thriller cinema haven’t just been remembered for their impact, but have enshrined the actors behind them in the annals of cinematic history as well. Ranging from some of the medium’s most intimidating and imposing villains to ceaselessly fascinating femme fatales and even profound and perplexing protagonists, the best thriller performances brilliantly build suspense while investing in the minutiae and depth of some of the most intricate and impressionable characters ever put to screen. Ranging from maniacal masterclasses of the '90s to some of the most influential and incredible performances international film has ever seen, these performances are the very best of thriller cinema. 10 Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in 'The Conversation' One of the integral films in Francis Ford Coppola’s golden run through the 1970s, The Conversation thrives as a contained and concise mystery thriller exploring the inner turmoil of surveillance expert Harry Caul as he begins to suspect the young couple he is spying on is going to be murdered by his client. Consumed by a recording of the couple’s conversation, Caul embarks on a descent into obsession and paranoia that is beautifully portrayed by Hackman in what may be the finest performance of his illustrious career. The beauty of the performance—and, indeed, the film itself—is how so much power and emotional sincerity is conveyed by Hackman’s quiet intensity, how effective his subdued and understated approach is in conjuring not only absorbing suspense, but compelling drama and even a sense of pathos as well. He brings tremendous depth and nuance to what is an emotionally isolated man, making The Conversation a rich and absorbing character study of loneliness as much as it is a captivating thriller of murderous intensity and paranoid dread. 9 Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson in 'Double Indemnity' In addition to pioneering the brand of cinematic thrills audiences today are so familiar with, the film noir pictures of the 1940s also presented an outstanding platform for actresses to shine in complex, impressionable, and wickedly enchanting roles. This, of course, is in reference to the prominence and punch of the femme fatales of such features, and few shine brighter than Barbara Stanwyck’s Phyllis Dietrichson in the macabre classic Double Indemnity. Co-starring alongside Fred MacMurray, Stanwyck dazzles as a scheming housewife who embroils an infatuated insurance man to aid her in her scheme to murder her husband, present it as a suicide, and claim the life insurance payout. The epitome of calculated seduction and icy immorality, Stanwyck commands every scene she is in with her chilling villainy that is most apparent and most arresting when Dietrichson is at her most alluring. Not only does it stand as one of the greatest performances of '40s cinema, but it also allowed Stanwyck to broaden her horizons as an actress by exhibiting a talent for more callous and manipulative roles in contrast to the soft-centered glamour she was known for at the time. A performance of immortal intrigue, Stanwyck’s turn as Phyllis Dietrichson encompasses the duplicity and divinity of noir cinema at its best. 8 Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone Maretto in 'To Die For' Part satirical black comedy, part neo-noir intricacy, and part crime thriller, To Die For is an underappreciated hit of '90s cinema that flaunts a stunning performance from Nicole Kidman at her absolute best. She stars as Suzanne Stone, a weather reporter at a local news station who aspires to be one of the most famous news anchors in America. However, when her laid-back husband’s hopes of starting a family and settling into middle-class life jeopardize her goals, Stone hatches a devious scheme to have him killed and starts seducing a lovestruck high schooler to do her bidding. Marrying celebrity ambition with femme fatale ferocity, Kidman is magnificent and magnetic in the leading role. The actress effortlessly blends the hilarity that stems from her playful interpretation of the ditsy blonde stereotype with the murderous intensity of her commitment to achieving her dreams and the maniacal methods she will use to do that. Her performance takes a psychotic sledgehammer to sunny, small-town splendor, shattering the enthusiasm and charm of the cheerful news anchor with a sense of vindictive malice that is hypnotic to watch. 7 Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in 'Psycho' Standing as Alfred Hitchcock’s most defining masterpiece, an exhibition of cinematic suspense defined by its narrative boldness, astounding technical craft, and its unforgettable performances, Psycho is one of the most iconic pictures in the history of cinema. Given this impact on the form, it is understandable that its central villain, Anthony Perkins’ mild-mannered motel manager with mommy issues, stands as one of the most renowned and celebrated film antagonists as well. He makes his introduction at the Bates Motel when Marion Crane arrives on the run, having stolen a large sum of money from her employer. When she goes missing, the motel becomes a centerpiece of the investigation conducted by Crane’s sister and lover. The duality Perkins strikes between his meek initial impression and the unbridled insanity of his true nature is deeply disturbing, going from a kind and vulnerable soul to a terrifying portrait of deranged evil. The impact of the most striking elements of his performance is plain to see, but the minutiae of Bates’s psychological complexity are handled with such nuance and intrigue by Perkins that it elevates the character significantly, making him not only a terrifying villain but a worryingly relatable one at times as well. 6 Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross-Mulwary in 'Chinatown' Not only one of the greatest crime mystery pictures of the 20th century but a pioneering triumph of the neo-noir resurgence in the later decades of the century as well, Chinatown is an elaborate and enigmatic movie that finds one of the greatest femme fatales of all time in Faye Dunaway’s ensnaring performance as Evelyn Cross-Mulwray. The film unfolds as private eye Jake Gitties is hired by a woman impersonating Evelyn to trail her husband, the builder of Los Angeles’s water system. By the time Jake meets the real Mrs Cross-Mulwray and learns the truth of the purpose for the investigation, he is already deeply embroiled in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. Combining the enigmatic intrigue of the femme fatale with a sense of damnation and tragedy, Dunaway excels at reviving the alluring character archetype while simultaneously rejuvenating it. Her dazzling glamour shields an underlying sense of horror, her ethereal qualities veiling her emotional rawness that always threatens to boil to the surface but seldom does. Complemented by Dunaway’s natural screen presence, vocal intensity, and commitment to the film’s darker elements, Evelyn Cross-Mulwray stands as one of the greatest and most iconic characters in noir cinema and is a huge reason for Chinatown’s enduring brilliance. 5 Liv Ullmann as Elisabet Vogler in 'Persona' An enchanting, enthralling mixture of psychological suspense, quiet character-driven intimacy, and compelling observations on the human condition, Persona coasts on two incredible central performances to present one of the most introspective and insightful movies in Ingmar Bergman’s filmography. Liv Ullmann is sublime as Elisabet Volger, an accomplished stage actress who, after experiencing a moment of blankness on stage, falls into a muteness and is sent to a seaside cottage to recover, with Alma accompanying her as her nurse. Over their time together, the two women experience a bizarre convergence of their emotional states. The film finds its suspense in its understated intensity and eerie, isolated atmosphere more so than through life-and-death stakes, and Ullmann’s performance is essential to this hypnotic tension. Physically, she is spectacular, embodying a richly complex character and giving her layers, nuances, and intricacies all without dialogue. Ullmann weaponizes her character’s silence, using it as a tool rather than an obstacle in her astounding effort to present Volger’s emotional complexity and contradictory elements. 4 Edward Norton as Aaron Stampler in 'Primal Fear' Marking one of the most sensational feature film debuts of all time, Edward Norton’s breakthrough performance in Primal Fear cemented him as an instant star through the license it gives him to showcase his impactful screen presence and his impressive versatility. He portrays Aaron Stamper, a 19-year-old altar boy accused of murdering a Catholic archbishop after he is caught fleeing the scene covered in blood. Chicago Defense Attorney Martin Vail represents him, and while he initially meets a meek and terrified Stamper, he soon realizes there is a different side to his client, and a lot more to the case at hand. Norton’s performance is richly sympathetic at first, an image of frightful tragedy that compels viewers to believe his claims of innocence. As the movie goes on, however, his nature twists violently with the emergence of his dissociative identity disorder and the reveal of Roy, a separate personality defined by his intelligence and seething aggression. The split from deferential to hostility is masterful, exuding a chilling physical transformation as well as an emotional one. His performance defines the brilliance of Primal Fear, making it an engrossing courtroom thriller that flaunts one of the best twist endings in cinematic history. 3 Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert in 'M' An enthralling exploration of the duality of morality and the burden of social responsibility—that also happens to stand as Fritz Lang’s first sound film—M is a thrilling masterpiece of procedural drama that revolves around the manhunt for a child-murdering serial killer in Berlin. With the city on high alert with the disappearance of another child, efforts to crack the case lead to increased police presence, resulting in organized crime syndicates launching their investigations into the killer as their operations cease. All the while, the impulsive Hans Beckert scours the streets, waiting to strike again. Before his captivating dark turn, Lorre had been known in Germany for his comical roles, but his turn in M branded him a villain for the rest of his career, and it is easy to see why. On one hand, he excels at making the character’s meekness viscerally terrifying, with his sneaking, snide demeanor giving the picture a shocking focal point of underlying evil. However, he also imbues Beckert with a compelling sympathy, a sense of obsessive helplessness that becomes painfully apparent when Lorre delivers his striking monologue in a kangaroo court governed by the city’s criminals. Beckert is both chilling and surprisingly contemplative, and Lorre juggles the character’s predatory nature and his victimized compulsiveness with aplomb. 2 Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 'Misery' A contained thriller that stands as one of the most engrossing and delightfully unnerving adaptations of Stephen King’s work, Misery thrives as a disconcerting story of obsession and power. Paul Sheldon is a disgruntled novelist who has come to resent his most successful series, driving to New York with a new manuscript when he crashes amid a blizzard. Rescued by Kathy Bates’ self-professed superfan, Annie Wilkes, Sheldon is left to recover from his injuries in her remote home, but her nursing of him soon takes a sinister turn when she unearths his intentions to end his novel series by killing the main character, leading to a delicate situation of control, intimidation, and fanaticism that the maimed Sheldon must navigate with extreme caution. Expertly presenting a full range of emotions, Bates’ performance is one of nerve-shattering volatility. Exhibiting a quaint and isolated vulnerability one moment only to fly into an incensed and violent rage the next, Wilkes is a terrifying figure of obsessive passion and erratic unpredictability, one with a willingness to use brutality and torture to get what she wants. The first impression Wilkes gives, one of a kind-hearted and cheerful nurse, could hardly be any farther from common notions of thriller villainy, but her sporadic mood shifts and the intensity Bates imbues her with make for one of the most frightfully intense figures cinema has ever seen. 1 Sir Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' A masterclass in absorbing tension and relentless suspense that stands not only as the greatest performance the genre has ever seen, but as one of the most celebrated and iconic in cinematic history, Sir Anthony Hopkins’ legendary turn as Dr. Hannibal Lecter defines the arresting brilliance of The Silence of the Lambs. Based on Thomas Harris’ novel, it follows FBI cadet Clarice Starling as she is tasked with interviewing the detained cannibalistic serial killer and psychological expert Hannibal Lecter to gain his insights on an active case. He agrees to co-operate on the condition that Starling shares details of her life with him, sparking an intense and cerebral game of cat-and-mouse amid the FBI’s efforts to rescue the kidnapped victim of a serial killer. Despite having just 16 minutes of screen time in the film, Hopkins dominates the spectacle with his striking presence defined by an air of sinister genius and chilling, icy hostility. Within his restrained, controlled, and even minimalistic physicality, he makes his impact felt with subtle facial inflections, masterfully delivered dialogue, and his unsettling charisma to conjure a villain of piercing intensity. The role earned Hopkins an Academy Award for Best Actor, and his turn as Hannibal Lecter is widely regarded to be among the greatest villainous performances in the history of the medium. Cast Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Diane Baker, Kasi Lemmons, Frankie Faison, Tracey Walter, Charles Napier, Danny Darst, Alex Coleman, Dan Butler, Paul Lazar, Ron Vawter, Roger Corman, Lawrence A. Bonney, Lawrence T. Wrentz, Don Brockett, Frank Seals Jr., Stuart Rudin, Maria Skorobogatov, Jeffrie Lane, Leib Lensky Runtime 119 minutes Director Jonathan Demme Writers Ted Tally, Thomas Harris Powered by Expand Collapse
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