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If you’re an adrenaline junkie like the rest of us, it’s a safe guess that you thrive on a good suspense movie. No matter how many movies are released pretty much on an everyday basis, finding just the right one that checks all the blocks is extremely difficult.
If you’re looking for the best suspense movies on Netflix in Canada that stand out from the same old predictable plots, and have something genuinely gripping to offer, you’ve landed in safe hands. Check out this list of handpicked, premium suspense movies that will have you glued to the couch till the end credits roll in. Also, you won’t regret checking these ever-best movies on Netflix Canada.
Fractured (2019)
Director: Brad Anderson
Writer: Alan B. McElroy
Cast: Sam Worthington, Lily Rabe, Lucy Capri, and Stephen Tobolowsky.
Ray, Joanne, and their daughter Peri get into a nasty accident where Peri injures herself. Rushing to the ER, the parents try to keep their conflicts aside and be there for her. As they seek medical attention in a shady-looking, rather isolated hospital, Ray suspects something is off. Before he could think about it, Peri and Joanne are called in for radiography and they are gone to the point of no return. Fractured is no doubt an outstanding psychological thriller.
Synchronic (2019)
Director: Justin Benson
Writer: Justin Benson
Cast: Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan.
It is a well-known fact that paramedics witness some real messed-up cases in their everyday lives but having a friend certainly helps. The friends’ duo of Steve and Dennis, New Orleans-based paramedics, tend to many weird and unusual cases every day. However, one day they came across a drug named Synchronic which has a potent action on a person’s pineal glands and their lives change forever. It is one of the best suspense thriller movies on Netflix right now.
Zodiac (2007):
Director: David Fincher
Writer: James Vanderbilt, Robert Graysmith
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Jake Gyllenhaal starring Zodiac does not fabricate an ending in which the killer is caught because the case is UNSOLVED in real life. You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time. The acting is phenomenal, Jake Gyllenhaal is astounding! Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch this warner Bros movie, you will not regret it.
Searching (2018)
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Writer: Aneesh Chaganty
Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing, and Michelle La
The digital world has opened gates to both good and bad things and this movie shows both sides of it. When the teenage daughter of David goes missing, he traces her digital footprint from her belongings to try and get to her.
Secret Obsession (2019)
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writer: Kraig Wenman and Peter Sullivan
Cast: Mike Vogel, Brenda Song, and Daniel Booko
Suspense movies usually have plots deeper than what meets the eye. Post a traumatic accident, Jennifer is diagnosed with amnesia and like any other caring husband, her partner cares for her. Little did she know about the real face behind his concerned demeanor and exactly what he wanted. Secret Obsession is the best psychological thriller available on Canadian Netflix.
Nocturnal animals (2016)
Director: Tom Ford
Writer: Tom Ford
Tom Ford returned behind the camera seven years after his directorial debut, A Single Man, to create a romance thriller reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy. Only Ford could assemble such a stunning and brutal film about a lady (Amy Adams) who is haunted by her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) latest vengeance novel, which unfolds on the screen with each page flip. In the best possible way, it’ll leave you asking, “What the heck did I just watch?”. It is one of the best thrillers on Netflix.
Ava (2020)
Director: Tate Taylor
Writer: Matthew Newton
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, and John Malkovich.
An organization of assassins, after the life of one of their own, do a suspense movie get any better? Witness Jessica Chastain aka Ava fighting for her life after she raised her voice about something that was meant to be a secret forever. Will this secret be revealed or will Ava be buried along with it in this action movie? Ava is one of the best thrillers on Netflix Canada.
Bird Box (2018)
Director: Susanne Bier
Writer: Josh Malerman and Eric Heisserer
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, and John Malkovich
The suspense horror movie is based in a mid/post-apocalyptic world where an unknown, unseen force is on the hunt. What’s the catch? If you see it, you die! Watch a single woman, along with two kids trying to find her way to safety being blindfolded. Bird box is one of the best thrillers on Netflix. Sandra Bullock is an old-school movie star and she’s matched by Trevante Rodes, who sets his charm level to “dangerously high”
Oxygen (2021)
Director: Alexandre Aja
Writer: Christie LeBlanc
Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric and Malik Zidi
In this french dystopian thriller, a young woman is stuck in a cryogenic chamber having no memory of how she got there. Limited on supply and primarily on oxygen, she must find her way out in this struggle for survival. Don’t forget to check out our blog on best war movies. It also includes movies based on civil war.
The old Guard (2020)
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Writer: Greg Rucka
Cast: Charlize Theron, Harry Melling, and Kiki Layne.
The film is based on a bunch of mercenaries from old age having the capability of healing themselves. They must protect this secret from being uncovered as people are onto their unusual capabilities. Besides Charlize, everyone else has also given strong performances in the Old guard.
The woman in the window (2021)
Director: Joe Wright
Writer: A. J. Finn
Cast: Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman
A psychologist by profession, Dr. Anna Fox is diagnosed with Agoraphobia. With nothing else to do, she keeps tabs on her neighbor’s family. As the Russel family has recently moved in, Anna is skeptical about them and has her eyes on their every move. The woman in the window is one of the best thrillers on Netflix.
Sightless (2020)
Director: Cooper Karl
Writer: Cooper Karl
Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Alexander Koch and Deniz Akdeniz.
A recently blinded woman fights against all odds to save what’s left of her. Not just did she lose her sight in a gruesome accident but she also lost her connections and trust. Watch this woman struggling to get used to her new life form.
I care a lot (2020)
Director/Writer: J Blakeson
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Eiza González and Peter Dinklage
A con by profession, the protagonist of this movie deceives elderlies for their money. Living a comfortable, lying life, she one day hit a rough patch when she met her match in deception. She’s confronted not just by an ordinary elderly, but a renowned gangster. I care a lot is the one of the best thrillers on Netflix Canada.
Hold the dark (2018)
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Writer: Macon Blair
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Riley Keough, and Jeffrey Wright.
In this critically acclaimed dystopian thriller a wolf on the loose in a remote Alaskan village is responsible for three deaths. An expert in wolves is called in to investigate the case and put a stop to these findings but things don’t go as smoothly as one would expect. While investigating the animal attack, the wolf expert learns a lot more than he bargained for.
Shutter Island:
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Laeta Kalogridis
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
The movie is a magnificent piece of art and probably among the best works of Leonardo DiCaprio. Shutter Island is based on an isolated piece( a titular island) of land where high-graded, mentally challenged prisoners are held. A mysterious incident takes place, and Leonardo DiCaprio, along with his partner Mark Ruffalo, visit to investigate the case. The story starts on this plot but ends on a very different and unimaginable one.
A quiet place (2018)
Director: John Krasinski
Writer: Bryan Woods and Scott Beck
Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and Millicent Simmonds.
The movie is centered in a post-apocalyptic world where a family of four is struggling to survive the danger that’s breathing down their necks. A monster on the hunt with heightened hearing capabilities is what this family is against. Watch them run for their lives as they escape the skin of their teeth. Just like Gerald’s games, this is one of the best thrillers available on Netflix.
Tau (2018)
Director: Federico D’Alessandro
Writer: Noga Landau
Cast: Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein and Gary Oldman.
If you’re a fan of the modern lifestyle and luxury, you probably despise the regular old knobs and handles. The protagonist of this movie is trapped inside a highly digital house and the high-tech House isn’t doing her any favors. Watch this woman trying to crawl her way out as she attempts to hack into the system.
See you Yesterday (2019)
Director: Stefon Bristol
Writer: Stefon Bristol and Fredrica Bailey
Cast: Eden Duncan-Smith, Stro, and Michael J. Fox
Two young visionaries try their best to invent a revolutionary time the travel machine bundled in the form of a backpack. While it’s still a work in progress, they have no choice but to use their invention to make things right after the murder of their elder brother.
The Perfection (2018)
Director: Richard Shepard
Writer: Nicole Snyder and Richard Shepard
Cast: Logan Browning, Steven Weber, and Alaina Huffman
There’s a remarkably thin line between passion and obsession and this movie is all about it. Once a musical prodigy but now just another failed musician takes a special interest in a young, promising pupil. This movie is without a doubt one of the best thrillers on Netflix right now .
Calibre (2018)
Director: Matt Palmer
Writer: Matt Palmer
Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran
Vaughn and Marcus, two childhood friends, leave to explore the Scottish Highlands. The title itself gives away the movie premise, that is, someone will have their abilities tested. Under normal circumstances, it would have been the wild animals as the two friends have ventured on a hunting trip. However, one deed turns their journey into a living nightmare where they must use every trick up their sleeve to survive.
Clinical (2017)
Director: Alistair Legrand
Writer: Alistair Legrand and Luke Harvis
Cast: Vinessa Shaw, Aaron Stanford, and India Eisley.
When things spin out of control, people turn to a psychiatrist. But who does the psychiatrist turn to for their trauma? Jane, a renowned post-trauma psychiatrist is having a hard time dealing with her bad thoughts after one of her patients violently attacked her. Constantly being haunted by her visions, Jane tries to resume her life as a healer when she’s met with yet another dilemma.. If you are interested in body horror movies, read about some dead scary movies in our article about the best horror movies on Netflix.
Angel Has Fallen (2019)
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Writer: Ric Roman Waugh, Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt
Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, and Piper Perabo.
Mike Banning has returned and with a bang! Determined to protect the President of the United States, this capable secret service agent will go to any extent. But he can’t do much when he’s falsely accused, can he? This movie has a saved spot on the list of best suspense movies available on Netflix in 2021.
Gerald’s Game(2017)
Director: Mike Flanagan
Writer: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Cast: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood
Gerald’s Games is a story about Jessie and her husband Gerald going to the secluded lake house to relive their romantic moments together. Jessie’s husband dies accidentally with a heart attack while her hands are tied up to the bedposts. Once Gerald is dead, Jessie starts hearing strange voices and experiencing bizarre happenings. Netflix “Gerald’s game” is a suspense horror thriller.
Training Day(2001)
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: David Ayer
Cast: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn
To make a good thriller, you don’t always need a major supernatural force. Take, for example, Training Day. Denzel Washington won an Academy Award for his role as a narcotics officer in a crime-ridden Westlake neighborhood.
Cam (2018)
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Writer: Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber
Cast: Madeline Brewer, Samantha Robinson, and Devin Druid
These days people think they can do anything they want as long as they’re behind a computer screen but they forget, what goes around, comes around. A cam girl, living a comfortable life doing what she enjoys, is met with a gruesome turn of events as her look-alike takes over her channel as well as her identity. Cam is one of the best psychological thrillers out there.
I’m thinking of ending things (2020)
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Writer: Iain Reid and Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, and David Thewlis.
Sometimes in life, no matter how much you think you know someone, they can always surprise you, for good and for bad. Despite being dicey about her relationship, a woman invites her boyfriend to a family dinner. While she expected a chill, laid-back get-together, she got a little more than she anticipated.
His house (2020)
Director/Writer: Remi Weekes
Cast: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu and Matt Smith.
Most of the time, there’s more than what meets the eye and this movie is all about that. A couple barely escaped their mid-war country but have a hard time adjusting to their new, refugee life in England. Without a doubt, this movie is one of the best suspense films on Netflix .
State Of Play(2009)
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, and Helen Mirren
State of Play stars Russell Crowe as veteran journalist Cal McAffrey and is based on the British miniseries of the same name. Cal is assigned with investigating the murder of Stephen Collins’ (Ben Affleck) mistress when she is discovered dead. Cal begins to connect the dots between the death of Collins’ assistant and lover and a much larger network of political intrigues and cover-ups as he digs deeper into the case. State of Play is a clever journalistic film that will keep your eyes glued to your TV screen for its full two-hour-plus runtime, thanks to its main ensemble of performers. This is one of the best political thrillers to watch on Australian Netflix.
Rust Creek (2020)
Director: Jen McGowan
Writer: Julie Lipson
Cast: Daniel R. Hill, Stu Pollard and Laura Guzman.
A young, intelligent woman, on her way to a job interview, makes one mistake. Just one mistake and her entire life is changed forever, this is how unfair life can be. Rust Creek is a great movie for you to watch this weekend with friends and family, and don’t forget to be cautious with which turn you make.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Akiva Goldsman
Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina
The movie is based on the famous Dan Brown novel of the same name. It is a mystery movie with two different plots. The primary plot is about a mysterious murder, and the secondary plot deals with a series of events that reveals some of the deepest secrets of the Universe.
Velvet Buzzsaw
Director: Dan Gilroy
Writer: Dan Gilroy
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton
This horror parody from Nightcrawler director Dan Gilroy is a blend of The Square and Eyes of Laura Mars, with Jake Gyllenhaal starring as an art critic who discovers that intriguing artworks by an unknown artist have supernatural abilities—and seek vengeance on anyone who try to profit from them.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Director: Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie
Writer: Benny Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
Cast: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, and Kevin Garnett.
Obsessed with betting, a jeweler with his charms relies on his luck a lot more than he should. The movie revolves around a rare black opal. One of the best performances by Adam Sandler, this movie is a worthwhile addition to the list of best suspense films on Netflix right now . If you’re a fan of his laugh out loud funny movies, you must check out this movie for a different perspective about his acting skills.
Zodiac (2007):
Director: David Fincher
Writer: James Vanderbilt, Robert Graysmith
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Jake Gyllenhaal starring Zodiac does not fabricate an ending in which the killer is caught because the case is UNSOLVED in real life. You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time. The acting is phenomenal, Jake Gyllenhaal is astounding! Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch this, you will not regret it.
The Killing Of a Sacred Deer:
Director– Yorgos Lanthimos
Writer– Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides
Cast- Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman
Sacred Deer movie is quite different from a normal mystery thriller. The main lead is a cardiac surgeon who meets a man and befriends him. After a few days, the friend tells the man that his family will die soon and all the mystery behind it is amazing to watch. This shows mysterious deaths in the entire movie. Nicole Kidman has totally nailed it with her out-class performance. Just like Gerald’s games, this movie also has couple drama in it.
Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Director: Cate Shortland
Writer: Shaun Grant
Cast: Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt, and Lucie Aron
In this age of Tinder, people hardly do any background check on who they’re going out with. A young, promising photographer goes on a seemingly innocent date with a school teacher. What happened next will blow your mind! Watch how the photographer slowly learns what she has gotten herself into and makes multiple attempts to flee before giving in.
Good time (2017)
Director: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie
Writer: Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Robert Pattinson stars in the “Good Time” as the lead character. A promising duo of siblings carries out a huge robbery. However, things don’t go as planned and the younger sibling is arrested while the elder one escapes. The sibling bond calls out to the elder one as he tries hard to get his mentally disabled brother out.
Conclusion
There are so many movies that are waiting for you to start watching them, but you must think, do all of them deserve your time and attention? To make your job easier for you, we have listed the best suspense movies on Netflix in Canada. Check out this list and have a great time streaming premium content!