405 Best Mystery Movies to Watch (Page 11)

This eight-part horror anthology is curated by the titular director, renowned as a trusted authority in telling tales of the Gothic and in creating wondrous practical creatures. So just like his work for films like Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and Hellboy, Cabinet of Curiosities is also filled with frightful beings ranging from reanimated corpses to bloodthirsty aliens—and should make for a staple Halloween binge. Aside from a star-studded cast, the series is also co-helmed by some noteworthy directors, including Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), and Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night).

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Actor: F. Murray Abraham, Guillermo del Toro, Rupert Grint, Tim Blake Nelson

Bates Motel is a prequel to the 1960 Hitchcock cult classic Psycho. Need I say more? Set in modern-day Oregon, It portraits the unusual relationship between protagonists Norman (Freddie Highmore) and his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) as they go about their lives inside the Bates Motel. While it is a great show in every way, nothing beats the premise, it’s wildly interesting to discover what Psycho’s Norman Bates’ teenage years would have looked like. You guessed it: Lots of murder, intrigue, and a healthy dose of psychopathic disorders. This psychological horror drama's clever writing and splendid performances do a great job of building tension and making the viewer feel uncomfortable, not to mention keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout its 5 seasons.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Actor: Freddie Highmore, Keegan Connor Tracy, Max Thieriot, Mike Vogel, Nestor Carbonell, Nicola Peltz, Olivia Cooke, Vera Farmiga

Rating: Not Rated, TV-MA

In Under the Banner of Heaven, Andrew Garfield plays Detective Jeb Pyre, a devout Mormon whose faith is shaken when he takes up a violent case that involves his church. When he discovers the gruesome death of a fellow worshipper and her 15-month-old child, he is driven mad by the choices he needs to make about his faith, his family, and the threat of fundamentalism these two pillars present. Terrifying and compelling, Under the Banner of Heaven is not for the weak-hearted, but it is recommended to anyone up for a good, challenging watch. 

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Garfield, Billy Howle, Chloe Pirrie, Christopher Heyerdahl, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Denise Gough, Gil Birmingham, Rory Culkin, Sam Worthington, Sandra Seacat, Seth Numrich, Wyatt Russell

Rating: TV-MA

Succession, whether that be of family assets or of job titles, is always a tricky situation to navigate– often, those choosing a successor would have to check in with the possible choices next in line in order to make sure there are no resentment, otherwise, it could drive the hillside horror present in The Bequeathed. From passive-aggressive co-workers to mourning relatives, Yoon Seo-ha is having a terrible time dealing with the succession situation, both being resented by a superstitious half-brother for the land and resentful of a co-worker who got promoted before her. It’s so easy to suspect potential rivals, especially when murder strikes those around you, but The Bequeathed also recognizes something scarier– the fear of what you could do with that resentment.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Hyun Bong-sik, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Byung-eun, Park Hee-soon, Park Sung-hoon, Ryu Kyung-soo

Director: Min Hong-nam

Rating: TV-MA

You can tell showrunner David E. Kelley, who played a part in legal dramas and mysteries like Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, and Big Little Lies, is a master of the genre. Presumed Innocent is carefully paced, confidently performed, and smartly written, making it a thrilling watch regardless if you’ve seen the 1990 feature and 1987 novel of the same name. It’s not without its misses though, the biggest one being the lack of believable chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Reinsve, who seems miscast in this series. As much as I loved her in The Worst Person in the World, she seems to exude an awkward sensuality that affects the realism of the series. On the other hand, Ruth Negga, who plays Gyllenhaal’s wife, and Peter Sarsgaard, who plays his political rival, command every scene they’re in and perfectly match Gyllenhaal’s crazed intensity. Whenever the show skews formulaic, it’s their solid performances that save the scene.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Bill Camp, Chase Infiniti, Elizabeth Marvel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Nana Mensah, O.T. Fagbenle, Peter Sarsgaard, Renate Reinsve, Ruth Negga

Rating: TV-MA

In their ninth drama collaboration, director Park Chan-hong and writer Kim Ji-woo partner again to deliver a murder mystery in Miraculous Brothers. The first few episodes juggle multiple plotlines between the novelist, the amnesiac boy he crashes into, and the serial murders, and at first, it seems unclear what links all of them. However, as the series successfully maintains its suspense for the two driving mysteries, it also makes it easy to root for the main characters – the superpowered empath and the reluctant writer – as they seek justice for crimes committed long before. The series shines best when the two become closer, and when the developing dynamic pushes Yuk Dong-joo closer to admitting the truth.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Bae Hyeon-seong, Jung Woo, Lee Ki-woo, Oh Man-seok, Park Yu-rim

Director: Park Chan-hong

Rating: TV-14

From Mike Flanagan, creator of The Haunting anthology, comes Midnight Mass, a miniseries that is just as gory, unsettling, and supernaturally twisted as any Flanagan horror flick. The series follows an ex-convict who returns to his small town just upon the arrival of a mysterious but alluring priest. As inexplicable events start to happen, the townsfolk hang onto the churchman's words, seeking reassurance where they can. With lots to say about religious fanaticism and perpetual grief, Midnight Mass is part of a new wave of layered and thoughtful scary stories currently dominating the genre. While its stately and meditative pace can be overbearing sometimes, it never runs out of things to shock and unnerve the soul.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, History, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Alex Essoe, Annabeth Gish, Annarah Cymone, Crystal Balint, Hamish Linklater, Henry Thomas, Igby Rigney, Kate Siegel, Kristin Lehman, Louis Oliver, Matt Biedel, Michael Trucco, Rahul Abburi, Rahul Kohli, Robert Longstreet, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford

Rating: TV-MA