Summary- These seven murder mystery movies from Hollywood and Bollywood offer spine-tingling tension, unexpected turns, and gripping narratives. Every film, from somber Indian masterpieces like Kahaani and Drishyam to sinister thrillers like Se7en and Gone Girl, will captivate you through to the very end.
Murder mystery movies are total crowd-pleasers, right? All that suspense, those crazy twists, and the way the truth is buried deep – it’s addictive. Whether it’s a cool Hollywood thriller or a Bollywood movie with all the feels, these stories grab you and don’t let go. The really great ones mess with your head, keep you guessing ’til the end, and then BAM! – the killer reveal floors you.
So, if you’re into mind games, detectives, and crime stories, here’s a list of seven awesome murder mysteries from Hollywood and Bollywood. They’re guaranteed to have you wide-eyed and trying to figure things out way past your bedtime.
7. Se7en (1995)
Se7en, by David Fincher, is a movie that enters your skin and remains. It immerses you in the realm of two detectives: the young David Mills, who is played by Brad Pitt, and the experienced William Somerset, who is played by Morgan Freeman. They are in pursuit of a murderer who has gone by the title of the seven deadly sins as his nasty playbook.
The movie’s dark look, the messed-up crimes, and the ideas it brings up will stick with you. The ending? They continue to discuss the intensity of it. Se7en is not only a whodunit, but it is also a chilling re-examination of the ills that people can do, which is why it has also remained a favourite.
6. Kahaani (2012)
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, the film Kahaani is surely a good movie in Indian cinema as far as the thrillers are concerned. Vidya Balan is extremely fantastic as Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman who comes to Kolkata in search of a lost husband. Perseverance and courage are exhibited when she goes through the busy city, and that is what attracts her into a trap of deception and conspiracies.
The narration of the story is brilliantly and excellently done with both suspense and authentic emotions. The twist at the end left everyone in shock, and so it is one of the best mystery films by Bollywood. Kahaani was enjoyable to watch and demonstrated the way a good thriller with a leading female character could be in India.
5. Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac is not just some manufactured thriller. It sinks into the true tale of the Zodiac killer, who terrified the heck out of San Francisco in the 60s and 70s. This film by David Fincher follows reporters and cops who are completely addicted to unravelling the case. Although they are examining everything to the max, they do not find out who the murderer is, and this aspect of the story makes it even more chilling.
The film is quite slow, and you feel that they indeed have sweated the little details, drawing you into the unpleasant task of attempting to crack this case. Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo are all awesome and you can never be sure what to expect next. You should watch Zodiac in case you enjoy murder mystery movies that are real and that play with your mind.
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Ok, then, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is based on the section of the killer book by Stieg Larsson and it makes you a maniacal frolic of journalism, family saga and a cold case. The reporter in the case is Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist, and the hacker is Lisbeth Salander in the hands of Rooney Mara.
This movie? Super dark and moody, with some twisted truths that creep up on you. Mara absolutely kills it as Lisbeth; she’s intense, complex, and totally sticks with you. Seriously, she makes Lisbeth one of the most memorable characters in mystery movies these days. The film just nails how murder mystery movies can mess with your head and your heart at the same time.
3. Talaash (2012)
The chilled mixture of suspense, feelings and even some parts of the supernatural, the Bollywood movie by Reema Kagti, is called Talaash. Aamir Khan plays the role of an Investigator named Shekhawat who is investigating a mysterious accident where a well-known figure was involved. On further excavations, he meets with a weird woman, Rosie, whose part is played by Kareena Kapoor Khan, and the case acquires certain mad twists.
Talaash is not only a movie made to keep you guessing but also one that gets into your heart. The movie looks at sadness, guilt, and how human we all are while still throwing some crazy surprises your way. With great acting from Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor, it’s still one of Bollywood’s most interesting and complex whodunits.
2. Gone Girl (2014)
David Fincher’s Gone Girl messes with your head way more than your average mystery. It’s like watching a twisted relationship fall apart while a really creepy crime story unfolds. The film was adapted from the killer book by Gillian Flynn, and the film opens with the disappearance of Amy Dunne, and the entire focus is on her husband, Nick. However, the incident appears to be a mere case but becomes a roller coaster ride of deceits, cheating, and mental games.
Rosamund Pike is a total murderess portraying Amy; she is frightening and intriguing simultaneously. The film makes you really think not only of who did what, but also of marriage and whether one can ever trust anyone. It is one such kind of murder mystery film that stays in your mind, and you start wondering whether you actually know the people around you.
Also Read: 7 Movies With 90% or Higher on Rotten Tomatoes You Can’t Miss
1. Drishyam (2015)
Speaking about the Indian thrillers, it can be stated that Drishyam is one of the brightest patterns of how the spectators could be shocked by the effectiveness of the narration. The film is directed by Nishikant Kamat, with Ajay Devgn as the main character, Vijay Salgaonkar, a mere family man whose life becomes deviant after a crime strikes him unexpectedly. Then, there is the masterpiece of deceit, as Vijay employs his smarts and cleverness to save his loved ones.
The power of the movie is in its ability to represent the story of a regular man who runs extraordinary errands when in desperate situations. Having its witty script and an outrageous conclusion that no one anticipated, Drishyam set the pace of murder mystery movies in Bollywood. Its follow-up, Drishyam 2, further intensified the effect, and all this made it an experience filmmakers will not forget easily.
Wrapping Up
From the spooky atmosphere of Se7en to the convoluted heart of Drishyam, it is evident that the thriller murder mystery movies go anywhere. Hollywood tends to lean towards cool, dark and mind-blowing tales. Bollywood has a tendency of putting emotional sentiment and locality into its mysteries. Regardless of the place of origin, these films hook you, and they keep holding on. You are constantly playing guess, guessing, not knowing who to believe, and tied to your chair until the end. If you want a night of shocks and can’t-look-away drama, check out these seven films. They won’t let you down.
Written by Nidhi Singh
