Thrillers in the 60s were intensely cerebral and didn’t always focus on the gore and special effects of later decades. To be honest they didn’t have to since the suspense and the buildup that was created by the background music and the tension between the characters was enough for many people. But if you really look at the difference between the 60s and the later decades you’ll notice that the physicality did increase when it comes to killing, torturing, maiming, and in general just the amount of damage that’s been done to the main characters. In the 60s the body count didn’t have to keep escalating in order to get the point across, though in a few films it was used as a plot device to show the severity of the main idea and why it was so terrifying. Overall however, this decade was still relying heavily on the idea that scaring the audience was exceedingly simple.
Here are some of the best thrillers from the 60s.
5. The Collector
Terrence Stamp has played some vile characters in his time but this one is a little too much to be believed since he’s a sociopath that can work among regular people without being suspected of anything apparently. When he finds a young woman he deems as suitable he tries to keep her under lock and key in an effort to let her get to know him, though when she tries to escape he’s absolutely merciless as he locks her in a cellar and allows her to die from illness. In the end he doesn’t even show regret concerning her death as he begins to stalk another woman that he’s been keeping his eye on. This makes General Zod look kind of cuddly by comparison.
4. Charade
When it comes down to money it seems people are willing to do or say anything in order to get what they figure is their fair share. When Reggie becomes involved in something she knew nothing about however she swiftly discovers that lies and falsehoods simply drip off the lips of some men and does her best to stay ahead of those that are intent upon harming her no matter that she doesn’t exactly know how to give them what they want since she can’t find it. When she does figure things out however the game gets a little more intense as she has to trust in a man that can’t even give her his real name until the end of the film.
3. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
The heated rivalry between costars is bad enough, but when it emerges between sisters it becomes something that no one should be foolish enough to step into. Jane and Blanche have a serious hate/love, but primarily hate relationship going on through a great deal of the movie and it drives Jane to keep her sister locked in her room and unable to do anything but attempt to call for help. When Blanche finally admits that the reason she’s paralyzed is her own fault however things get a little off key as Jane realizes they could have been friends for all those lost years. The movie kind of ends on a sour note as you don’t really know if Blanche survived or not.
2. The Birds
If you’ve ever seen different birds in the same vicinity then you’d know it’s rare for some birds to get along with one another all that well. But when they have a common enemy they obviously don’t worry about who’s who and what’s what as they gang up to go after humans without hesitation. The different species of birds don’t seem to mind one another in this film as they seek to mow down the human beings that have somehow become the enemy and must be destroyed in any manner. If you don’t think a flock of birds can do that much damage, just think about how bad it hurts to get pecked by just one bird.
1. Psycho
This is one of the original thrillers that had people jumping out of their seats and wondering just what was going to happen next. When the twist finally came almost no one was expecting it and the audience was no doubt on pins and needles trying to sort through the first parts of the movie to figure out what they’d missed and how they didn’t see the signs of what was right in front of them. Unfortunately the movie kind of got watered down by the sequels when they came along, but the original has been a classic for a while now.
The 60s thrillers made you think a lot more than some of those that came after and they did more with less if you’ll notice. Special effects are great but they’re not the only element necessary to tell a story.
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