Looking for a thriller movie that flips the script and leaves you reeling after a shocking twist? Then, do I have the list for you! I’ve combed through Hulu’s sizeable movie library and picked out five movies that pack dark secrets, hidden intentions and surprising reveals.
I’m aware that talking about movie twists is fraught with peril. After all, I could accidentally spoil the surprise, rendering a watch pointless. That’s why I’ve ensured this article is completely spoiler-free. I’ll give you the basic setup and explain why these Hulu movies are worth your time, but I’m not going to give the whole game away. If you want to know what happens in each, get them in your watchlist and stream them before you see spoilers.
‘Gone Baby Gone’ (2007)
Ben Affleck made his directorial debut with 2007’s “Gone Baby Gone,” and while frequent collaborator Matt Damon is nowhere to be seen, he did recruit his younger brother, Casey, to play the lead role of Patrick Kenzie, a private investigator drawn into a missing persons case that becomes increasingly morally grey. It’s a riveting crime thriller, with one of the most haunting endings I’ve ever seen. And that’s before you consider the great twist, too.
Set in a Boston suburb (it’s a Ben Affleck movie, of course, it’s set in Boston), Kenzie is hired to locate a missing four-year-old girl. The police believe the case has gone cold after 72 hours, but Kenzie is determined to reunite the child with her mother (Amy Ryan). But as he gets closer to the truth, he’s forced to reckon with the uncomfortable reality that some secrets should remain buried. The flick also stars Morgan Freeman and Michelle Monaghan, offering the very capable Casey Affleck strong support.
Watch “Gone Baby Gone” on Hulu now
‘Fresh’ (2022)
Fresh is certainly an apt name for this horror-thriller, as even years after its Hulu debut, I’ve yet to find a feature quite like this twisted tale. Starting as almost a cute “boy meets girl” love story, it doesn’t take long for the facade to slip, and “Fresh’s” dark underbelly to be exposed. The movie is rip-roaring entertainment, so long as you have a strong stomach, and it also offers up a considered and quite sharp commentary on dating in our modern society.
Noa (Edgar-Jones) is fed up with dating apps and meaningless hookups, so when she has a grocery store “meet cute” with the dashing Steve (Stan), she thinks she’s found Mr. Right. Accepting his invitation for a weekend getaway, things spiral into some very dark places. This is one thriller where I think the less you know before watching, the better, so if you can, watch this one unspoiled. There are several shocking secrets to discover in “Fresh.”
Watch “Fresh” on Hulu now
‘Oddity’ (2024)
“Oddity” is a dark thriller that crossovers over into full-blown horror territory across its runtime, so if you’re unable to handle a few jump scares, this Irish chiller won’t be for you. Still with me? Great because within “Oddity” you’ll find a twisted and tense indie movie with an excellent performance from Carolyn Bracken. What it lacks in budget, it more than makes up for with ambition and a gripping narrative that will have you feeling uneasy.
Darcy Odello (Bracken) is a blind clairvoyant who can read the past of people and objects through touch. Devastated by the murder of her sister a year prior, she will stop at nothing to find out what really happened on that fateful night. This involves visiting the site of the murder, which just so happens to be the home of her sister’s former husband, Ted (Gwilym Lee), and his new girlfriend, Yana (Caroline Menton). Naturally, secrets spill out.
Watch “Oddity” on Hulu now
‘Run’ (2020)
Seemingly inspired by the true story of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard (which was itself turned into a Hulu miniseries, “The Act”), “Run” is a thriller that explores parental love in its darkest form. Released in 2020, it became Hulu’s most successful original movie at the time, and even years later, it’s still one of the service’s best. That’s thanks in large part to the work of Sarah Paulson, who is fantastic as a mother desperate to protect her daughter.
Chloe (Kiera Allen) wants to be a normal teenager, but because of a string of health conditions caused by her premature birth and her overprotective mother, Diane (Paulson), she spends her time feeling trapped in the family home. Her mother is so desperate to shield her from the outside world that Chloe isn’t even allowed to make friends or leave the house without Diane. But as Chloe grows up, she becomes restless and discovers a dark truth.
Watch “Run” on Hulu now
‘Eileen’ (2023)
Based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel of the same name, “Eileen” is a twisting psychological thriller that rises above some narrative cliches due to the strength of its female leads, Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway. It’s a little slower than some picks on this list, but that works in “Eileen’s” favor, giving viewers time to marinade in each moment and only making its shocking finale more impactful as its characters have been fleshed out.
Set in 1960s Massachusetts, Eileen (McKenzie) is a troubled young woman working at a correctional facility for teenage boys. When a new counsellor, the ultra-glamorous and mysterious Rebecca (Hathaway), arrives, Eileen becomes fixated on her alluring colleague. A camaraderie, and maybe even a romantic spark, forms between the pair, but both women are deeply troubled and not being wholly honest. Most impressive is how “Eileen” effectively mixes twisted comedy into its dark and somber narrative.
Watch “Eileen” on Hulu now
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