Mysteries have long been a beloved classic, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats while keeping you guessing whodunit. Mysteries also offer plenty of entertainment value by exploring darker aspects of human nature with twisting plotlines that provoke thought. 2023 proved to be an exciting year for thriller and mystery films, with some big names garnering accolades while others came out of nowhere with surprising twists that had everyone talking.
Here are the 11 best mystery movies of 2023.
Leave the World Behind
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 2h 18m
The movie takes place in a rural hamlet on Long Island where Amanda Sandford and Clay Scott, two white Brooklynites renting a vacation house with their son and daughter, settle in. However, late one evening, G.H. claims they own the property due to cyber attacks threatening national security – until an unexpected late-night knock disturbs their peace: smooth-talking G.H. to claim they own it too and claims cyberattacks have caused panic in society – prompting Clay Scott to’s decision making on this issue.
Leave the World Behind is not your average popcorn flick; its characters’ luxurious creature comforts — such as all-white linens in the bathroom and a copper pot filler in the kitchen — add welcome humor. Esmail and Alam’s script is layered yet often lacks substance; some scenes fail to excite, repeating certain frightening images over and over again.
Thanksgiving
Stream Now at Vudu
Run Time: 1h 46m
Thanksgiving is an entertaining slasher movie that pays homage to classic cinema while modernizing its spirit and structure visually, though it remains true to form. Thanksgiving delivers on its promise of gory splatter with gusto; all kills have an ironic wink of dark humor, from workers being crushed beneath shopping carts on Black Friday to using waffle irons and two corn on the cob holders as bloody weapons.
The film’s structure harkens back to the days of grindhouse cinema, with its tight structure, frenetic pace, and nonstop action. However, Roth’s ability to balance satire and visceral violence makes this movie work; though some gags may fall flat at times, overall, it provides a bloody good time!
A Haunting in Venice
Stream Now at Disney+, Hulu, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 43m
Set two years after World War II’s conclusion, A Haunting in Venice finds Poirot investigating a purportedly haunted house. Poirot is asked by Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) to attend an autumn party, and seance held at an opera singer who has taken residence in an old palazzo that has long been said to be haunted by ghostly children who died there during an outbreak of plague.
This film is an engaging, spooky mystery that keeps audiences guessing who the killer is until the very end. Reminiscent of 1940s whodunnits, it provides endless entertainment and is perfect for adult-focused crowd pleasers Hollywood desperately needs more of. A refreshing change from all the superhero blockbusters being released this year!
Missing
Stream Now at Netflix, AppleTV
Run Time: 1h 51m
Missing can veer between breathless entertainment and contrivance at times. Yet, first-time directors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick manage to keep the action lively with clever strategies such as a remote security camera setup or June’s face on her laptop to keep the story on screen while offering up fresh twists and turns for audiences to guess at.
But the film also makes an important statement about viral social media culture, our obsession with real crime, and TikToks as exploitative platforms that exploit people’s suffering for attention, consumption, and power. This theme runs throughout the movie; however, it can be hard to keep track of with all its logic-defying twists and two-hour run time; ultimately, it wears thin as its use of cheap rug pulls and red herrings becomes apparent.
The Killer
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 1h 58m
This film takes place solely from an assassin’s viewpoint; Michael Fassbender gives an unforgettable performance as his assassin character – who seems emotionally detached at times – makes mistakes that show he is human and capable of error. Additionally, his narration provides much-needed comic relief that adds much-needed relief from its grim setting. David Fincher’s cinematic skill shines throughout The Killer, seamlessly merging action and philosophical reflection.
The film stands as an incredible testament to cinema, challenging perceptions that streaming movies don’t count as real films. In an otherwise disappointing year of sequels and reboots, The Killer stands out. A riveting revenge thriller featuring breathtaking levels of film craft should definitely be noticed by his many fans. A must-see film for Oscar nominees!
Eileen
Stream Now at AppleTv, Prime Video
Run Time: 1h 37m
In the 1960s, Eileen lived in Massachusetts as a timid and lonely prison secretary. She was bullied constantly by her father and coworkers, and as a result, she spent a lot of time alone and depressed, daydreaming about other men and contemplating suicide or having sexual relations with prison guards.
Their onscreen connection grows stronger and stronger throughout the film, but the filmmakers never delve deeply into their romance or examine Eileen’s need for love or the sexual undertones of her fixation with Rebecca. Although it hints at a more complex plot, it skirts the edges of exploring Rebecca’s psychosexual fixation and Eileen’s need for approval.
Knock at the Cabin
Stream Now at Prime Video, Netflix, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 40m
Shyamalan makes sure his story stands out by twisting conventional expectations with his intruders – not the typical family killers but instead a second-grade teacher, her colleague, nurse, and short-order cook/gunman as intruders – into characters who add tension as they desperately try to survive their personal hell on Earth.
Knock at the Cabin is unique among films in its genre in that it deviates significantly from what has come before it. While its setting and home invasion setup may be familiar, the film opts for an impressively disciplined approach instead of resorting to graphic violence for suspense – Jarin Blaschke’s meticulous widescreen images and Herdis Stefansdottir’s menacing musical notes add unnerve-some moments that don’t happen frequently elsewhere – such as falling planes and crashing tidal waves, which were rendered more unnerving by Shyamalan framing them just off-camera.
They Cloned Tyrone
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 2h 2m
The Cloned Tyrone is a masterful mashup of science fiction, comedy, and social and political critique by writer-director Juel Taylor. As the name implies, the narrative revolves around cloning and other covert government experiments performed on Black working-class people from working-class communities, besides the typical graphic bloodshed and deadly confrontations found in this type of work.
The experience is excellent despite the fact that They Cloned Tyrone is more of a comedic science fiction than a political satire. There aren’t many films that manage to make you laugh, cry, and ponder all at the same time. The acting is superb, and Jamie Foxx should get accolades just for her wardrobe choices. On top of that, it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of modern cinema: rebellious street people taking on powerful institutions in pursuit of individual freedom.
Infinity Pool
Stream Now at Prime Video, Hulu
Run Time: 1h 57m
Director Brandon Cronenberg has made another dizzying picture with Infinity Pool. The story takes place in Li Tolqa and centers on lavish resorts where visitors lead their own lives apart from the natives and are subject to fewer rules and laws. Guests at the Pa Qlqa Pearl Princess Hotel, where the unsuccessful writer James Foster is staying with his wealthy wife Em, partake in a variety of heinous body horror experiences that will shock and horrify them.
Alexander Skarsgard gives one of his finest performances as an author who gradually descends into madness with a group of his clones. Mia Goth and Caroline Boulton also give notable turns, yet ultimately, this story gets bogged down in excess and indulgence that doesn’t add up to much; although there are some glimpses of potential in there somewhere – yet this film falls flat on its promise; rather it provides an entertaining spectacle rather than fulfilling its potential promise; thus creating an experience which may work for some but won’t work for everyone.
Fair Play
Stream Now at Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV
Run Time: 1h 53m
Fair Play, directed by Chloe Domont and based on her stress-tension storytelling films, is an erotic drama mystery depicting the cutthroat world of finance on screen with power plays and betrayals at every turn. While its portrayal of zero-sum work environments may turn away some younger audiences, its stellar plot, and acting will keep them engaged right up until its thrilling climax.
As the film unfolds, we watch as their secret relationship starts to crumble at work and home as their respective egos and ambitions come into conflict with one another. As each plot twist unfolds, viewers find themselves rooting for Luke and Emily to prevail.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Stream Now at AppleTV
Run Time: 3h 26m
Killers of the Flower Moon is a true-story drama that depicts an outbreak of greed-driven murders committed against Osage Indians during 1920s Oklahoma – featuring outstanding performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone – that unravels into an engaging, epic tale that explores human nature’s darker depths.
Eric Roth and Scorsese collaborated to adapt Eric Roth’s novel into a three-hour film that explored many characters and aspects of the case, but three figures in particular stood out: Ernest Burkhart, his uncle William “King” Hale, and Mollie Kyle, an Osage woman whom Ernest marries for money to become the protagonist in this narrative.
