We all love a good thriller film. Cinema is about keeping us on the edge of our seats, and we love feeling our heart race in a dark theater, right? Well, the truth is, some thriller films are absolute masterpieces, and others are, well, cheap thrills. In case you’re searching for your next thriller binge, we thought we’d throw it back to the ’70s, where you’ll find many classic films with a thrilling spin.
So, we thought we’d tell you which ones are totally underrated, and which ones are too hyped up. Here are 5 from this decade to go watch right now, and 5 to maybe steer clear of, regardless what the critics tell you.
Overrated: Dirty Harry (1971)
We’re sorry to talk bad about Clint Eastwood, but we think this has to be said. This is a classic cop film, and probably is one of the most famous, but we’re here to tell you it probably doesn’t hold up. Eastwood plays Dirty Harry, a tough cop who uses the motto of “any means necessary” in his quest to capture “the Scorpio Killer”, a psychopath terrorizing San Francisco.
Yeah, that famous line “are ya feeling lucky, punk?”, that’s from this (even though that’s not actually the exact line). Still, this movie is corny, and is just another flex of Eastwood, to be honest. Dirty Harry is a bad cop. There, we said it.
Underrated: The Conversation (1974)
This hidden gem is directed by the brilliant Francis Ford Coppola. It follows a surveillance expert (Gene Hackman), who finds himself in a crisis when he discovers that a couple, who he has been spying on, are about to get murdered.
This film is definitely thrilling, and it was actually nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Still, we don’t think enough people are talking about this film, so we definitely recommend it.
Overrated: Halloween (1978)
Again, we’re really sorry about this, but it’s time to be honest. Yeah, this film is great for a late, dark night near Halloween, because you know it’s exciting and classic. However, does this film really hold up? Honestly, we’re going to go with no, and the entire plot is actually pretty stereotypical. Plenty of more imaginative horror movies have come since to outclass this one.
Also, we suggest avoiding every sequel ever to have come from this franchise. It’s time to expand your horizons this October, we’re sorry to say.
Underrated: Chinatown (1974)
This movie stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, and we honestly think it’s a brilliant thriller mystery. With an 8.2/10 on IMDb, this film follows a private detective who is hired to expose an adulterer.
However, things become complicated when he finds himself caught up in corruption and murder. This is a classic film, and if you haven’t seen it, you haven’t seen the best of the thriller genre. We can’t advocate for this gem enough, honestly.
Overrated: Carrie (1976)
Unfortunately, this list is here to draw attention away from the infamous thriller films that aren’t actually that good. Carrie is no exception. We all know the story of this young teenager, who is sheltered by her wicked and religious mother, and who is humiliated by her classmates.
Oh yes, and she discovers she has telekinetic powers. Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, and Amy Iving, this isn’t our favorite Stephen King adaptation. Sure, this is a classic, but let’s leave it in the ’70s, shall we?
Underrated: Frenzy (1972)
Can Alfred Hitchcock ever be overrated? We don’t think so. This is probably one of his less popular films, but we’re not totally sure why. Starring Jon Finch, Barry Foster, and Barbara Leigh-Hunt, this movie follows a serial murderer who is known for strangling women with a necktie.
The police have a suspect, but he’s not the killer. This film was nominated for four Golden Globes, and honestly, if you love a Hitchcock thriller, this one should be no exception.
Overrated: The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
This is another film we’ve all heard of, but the truth is, it actually only got a 6.3/10 on IMDb, and we totally agree with this rating. This horror thriller takes place in California, where a family is travelling, and their car breaks down.
However, they’re in a deserted area, which they find out is inhabited by a group of violent, hostile savages. This film is definitely thrilling and suspenseful, but that’s probably the only good thing we have to say about it. Again, if this title comes up, we suggest to keep on scrolling.
Underrated: The Boys From Brazil (1978)
This drama thriller takes place in Paraguay, where a Nazi hunter unravels a plot to rekindle the Third Reich. Yeah, this movie has an interesting spin on a national issue, and it’s definitely thrilling.
Plus, it was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Actor in a Leading Role, for Laurence Olivier’s performance. This movie is definitely underrated, and we recommend it for a different, political-inspired thriller.
Overrated: Klute (1971)
This crime mystery thriller stars Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. Yes, that’s probably why it’s popular, but we’re not buying it. This film actually won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role, but we still think this movie is overrated.
It’s about a small-town detective as he searches for a missing man, but his only lead is a New York prostitute. This movie is cliche, with nothing really separating it from every other thriller ever. It’s not bad, but we think you could spend your time on other hidden gems.
Underrated: Deliverance (1972)
This adventure thriller stars Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, and Ned Beatty. With a 7.7/10 on IMDb, this movie tells the story of an outdoors-man, Lewis Medlock, who takes his friends on a canoeing trip. They trek into dangerous back-country, intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it’s dammed, but things don’t go as planned. This movie is thrilling and is definitely a different story for this genre.
It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. We definitely suggest this film for a bit of a change that’s still totally thrilling.
