The term ‘fourth wall’ is an expression that was born in the art of theatre. It can be defined as an invisible wall separating yourself from what you are watching; in this case it is the film. So in order to beak the fourth wall, the character will directly communicate to or at least acknowledge the audience. This can also be known as meta-reference.

An often used technique, the fourth wall can be broken in many forms, from books, to theatre and even in video games, however most famously in movies. The films included here are not intended to be a list of the greatest films and some of them are personal favourites on the use of meta-reference, so do bear this in mind.

With so many examples of these breaks, ranging from the work of Marx brothers to Wayne’s World, it would be near impossible to cover every sample. So please, read on and observe our 20 memorable films that all break the fourth wall.

1. The Great Train Robbery (1903)

One of the earliest uses of breaking the fourth wall in film is in 1903’s The Great Train Robbery. This silent short may only last 11 minutes but in this small amount of time, several new filming techniques were formed, thus establishing this as a hugely innovative and influential film. With the title being a descriptor, the story concerns a number of outlaws who attempt to hold up a train in order to rob the passengers on board.

The break in fourth wall occurs at the very last scene when the director cuts to a close up of one of the bandits, who looks directly at the camera, lifts his gun and fires a shot at the audience. Due to the age of the film it is difficult to gauge what reaction this scene would have prompted from its audience, however the fact that throughout the film we witness the innocent victims threatened at gunpoint, only to become shot at ourselves, certainly suggests that this would have evoked a certain amount of shock or confusion.

The film focuses on four outlaws who plan on taking control of a train and robbing its passengers. After holding the operator at gunpoint, the group are able to board the train and use any means necessary to carry out their demands. Armed with guns and explosives, the gang wreak havoc upon anyone that stands in their way, which leads to a dramatic finale as a local posse is rounded up to confront the bandits.

A cherished and historical motion picture, The Great Train Robbery is a remarkable and ground breaking film in the Western genre.

2. Summer with Monika (1953)

Ingmar Bergman was well schooled in making films based on the human condition. In Summer with Monika, he provides another insight into how outrageously talented a director he really was, not that it was ever in question. Starring Harriet Andersson and Lars Ekborg, the film chronicles the lives of these two teenage lovers, who escape the clutches of their humdrum lives to travel around several islands of Sweden together.

The meta-reference in this film appears in the final scene when she lights a cigarette, inhales, and then turns to face the audience. As the camera closes in on her face, the background fades to black and we feel her almost looking down at us for judging her.

Harry Lund (Ekborg) is a 19 year old man living in Stockholm with a dead end job. Easy going by nature, Harry lives with just his father after his mother passed away when he was just 8 years old. When he meets Monika, a sultry and adventurous 17 year old who works in a grocery store, the two immediately hit it off and spend the day together. Both depressed with their mundane daily routine, they run away together, using Harry’s father’s boat as an escape vehicle.

Living on the picturesque sunny islands of southern Sweden, the lovers survive by ransacking nearby farms for food and enjoy a carefree life away from the burden of conformity. In what seems the perfect scenario for young love, reality soon sets in and the two are forced to return home. Whilst Harry contentedly settles down, this is clearly not something Monika wishes to do and it soon becomes apparent that her rebellious streak is not something that can be tamed.

Summer with Monika is a bittersweet and passionate story about the reality that young love can face. For a film that was released in 1953, it is surprisingly sexually-charged, although Bergman was certainly no stranger to scandal. Undeniably, Summer with Monika is not Bergman’s best work but without doubt, it’s mastery is unquestionable.

3. The Nights Of Cabiria (1957)

Directed by Federico Fellini and starring his wife Giulietta Masina, The Nights Of Cabiria is a 1957 Italian drama about a prostitute and her search for love. The meta-reference in this film is another that has been debated. At the end of the film, Masina’s character directly stares at the camera/audience and momentarily provides one of the most heartfelt and optimistic expressions caught in film. Many argue that her stare is nothing more than a look at the camera; however with Fellini’s passion for unleashing his own emotions through his films, surely this truly touching scene is our protagonist connecting deeply with the audience.

Cabiria (Masina) is a prostitute in the beautiful city of Rome. Revealing that she has been in this profession since her teenage years, we learn that although she now knows the game well, she is still guilty of letting her guard down and has been taken advantage of on more than one occasion.

The film begins in the same manner and we witness Cabiria’s run of bad luck continue. Her tendency to push away any genuinely caring person in preference of someone likely to just tell her what she wants to hear, further deepens our concern for Cabiria, whose dazzling charisma overcomes her presence as a brazen, reckless street tramp. We watch on as Cabiria continues her pursuit for love and treads a fine line between romanticism and realism.

Giulietta Masina absolutely shines here, in what is regarded as one of Fellini’s best works. A revealing and profound capolavoro that depicts true human characters and feelings, The Nights Of Cabiria is film-making at its very best.

4. The 400 Blows (1959)

One of the most well-known films from the French New Wave was Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. Released in 1959, this was the debut feature film that introduced the world to this great director and can be found on many ‘best foreign film’ lists. Also noted for containing one of the best child performances of all time, Jean-Pierre Leaud, who was 14 at the time, gives a truly remarkable portrayal of a mischievous young boy who is constantly in bother both at home and at school. With strict, unloving parents and an ironhanded teacher, the young boy falls into more trouble as time goes on, causing the authorities to get involved.

It can be argued that the following break in fourth wall is more of a general look at the camera than the audience itself, but nevertheless it was a rather unique shot for its time and provides an emotional and empathetic ending to a though-provoking film. At the end of the film, the young boy finally reaches the sea, then after a few steps in the ocean he turns and stares directly at the camera/audience. This ending has divided opinion on the interpretation of this scene, with the director himself admitting that his intention was for Leaud to hold his stare for several seconds longer.

Antoine Doniel is a 12 year old boy in Paris who struggles to fit in. Unwanted at home and often scolded at school, the boy soon falls into trouble with the police after becoming involved in petty crime. With no-one to depend on or trust, it’s not long before Antoine is sent to juvenile detention via psychiatric evaluation, as this is maddeningly deemed the only possible cause for his insolence. Constantly running from something throughout the film, Antoine follows trend in an iconic and beautifully shot coup-de-grace.

Reportedly based on the director’s life, The 400 Blows is an honest and emotional portrayal of youth in revolt. An intimate and powerful film from a highly respected and talented director, this is a bittersweet and intense journey of an ill-fated young boy’s life.

5. Psycho (1960)

One of the most famous and influential horror films of all time, Psycho shocked audiences (and still does) with one of the most iconic and disturbing murder scenes ever shown in cinema. Directed by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, the film stars Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles and Janet Leigh, the latter of which received an Oscar nomination for her performance. Psycho’s fourth wall break is possibly the most notorious of those on this list, with the break occurring at the end of the film, showing Anthony Perkins chillingly grinning directly at the audience.

Marion Crane (Leigh) is a young woman who is in need of some serious cash in order to get married to her boyfriend Sam. Later than day, Marion’s boss entrusts her to hold on to $40,000 for his client and bring it to the bank, however, the temptation proves uncontrollable and she takes off with the money. After attracting the unwanted attention of a suspicious policeman, she quickly stops at a used car dealership and exchanges her car, then carries on with her getaway.

When she gets caught up in a violent rainstorm she pulls into the nearest motel, which just happens to be the Bates Motel. Run by the seemingly charming but nervous Norman Bates (Perkins), he checks her in and brings her snack from the house behind the motel, which he shares with his mother. After deciding that she will return home the next day to face up to what she has done, she takes a shower before bed, beginning to feel a sense of relief that the situation had not escalated further regarding the stolen money.

Later on in the film, concerned for Marion’s whereabouts, her boyfriend Sam and sister Lila (Miles) hire a private detective to find her, which eventually leads them to Bate’s Motel. What follows is a gripping and horrifying finale as the new guests at the motel soon find themselves in danger when an alarming truth is uncovered.

A psychological masterpiece from Hitchcock, Psycho set the standard for horror movies upon its release in 1960. Now standing at over 50 years old, this still sends a chill down the spine, with superb performances, especially from Perkins, who perhaps played the role so well, he was inevitably typecast for the rest of his career. As perfect a horror film as you are likely to see, Psycho has often been copied but never equalled.

6. Black Sabbath (1963)

Black Sabbath is a trilogy of horror stories from legendary giallo director Mario Bava. Credited with being a major force in the Italian horror movement since the 1960’s, many of today’s great directors, from Burton to Tarantino, have all paid tribute to the influence that Bava has had on their careers. As already mentioned, Black Sabbath is presented in three separate stories, reportedly due to the success of Vincent Price’s 1962 Tales of Terror.

The three segments are titled, The Telephone, The Wurdalak and finally The Drop of Water. All three are stand-alone stories and have no connection with each other. This time the break in fourth wall occurs at the beginning and end of the film, from the legendary horror icon Boris Karloff, who also appears in one of the tales. The ending being the most infamous as it shows him riding a mechanical horse on set with film crew and equipment in full view.

The Telephone

A beautiful young woman named Rosy receives menacing phone calls from an ex-lover called Frank, who has just escaped from prison. Seemingly blaming Rosy for his conviction, Frank threatens revenge in an obvious psychotic manner. In need of solace from her would-be attacker, Rosy phones Mary, her estranged lover, to provide company which is thankfully granted. However, several shocks are in store for Rosy in this entertaining and brutal segment.

The Wurdalak

Set in 19th Century Russia, Vladimir Durfe finds a headless corpse with a dagger still impaled, just for good measure. When he stumbles upon a small cottage whilst seeking shelter, it is revealed that the knife belongs to Gorca, the father of the household, who coincidentally has not been seen for several days. The family tell how Gorca has gone to fight again the Wurdalak, a living carcass, who feeds on human flesh and blood. Despite being warned to leave the house by the family, Durfe stays, after falling for the daughter. That night, at midnight, Gorca returns, but is it the real Gorca?

The Drop of Water

Based in London, we see Nurse Helen calling to a large house in order to prepare the body of an elderly lady recently deceased. After Helen takes advantage of the situation and steals a ring from the corpse’s finger, a series of disturbing and unexplained events haunt the nurse, seemingly in vengeance for the theft.

Each segment deserves its own recognition as shocking and creepy short stories. Obviously, the presence of Karloff in The Wurdalak, almost entitles this to be the best of the series, however my person favourite is The Drop Of Water, which proved to be exceptionally chilling and deeply psychological. All in all, Black Sabbath is a genuinely unsettling and atmospheric horror anthology. Definitely a must see for fans of the genre.

The following titles are all great films that contain recurring themes of loneliness or isolation. Many films explore these motifs through various means, such as a detachment from society, battling their own psychological demons or quite simply, being stranded in a place far, far away. In several of these films, we will observe how the ‘lonely’ characters will often find themselves thrown together with another, more often than not, of the same perception.

Slow-burning, brooding and emotionally charged, we hope you enjoy our picks on this quite captivating subject. Please note, the following films are listed in chronological order.

1. Wild Strawberries (1957)

Written and directed by the wonderful Ingmar Bergman, Wild Strawberries is not a far cry from most of his other work, in that it deals with thought provoking questions and themes of self-discovery. However, in this quite sublime drama, we are treated to a warmer, more optimistic Bergman and with fantastic results.

Victor Sjostrom plays Isak, a widowed 78 year old professor who is due to make the long journey by car, to receive an award for services to his occupational field. Along the excursion he is forced to confront recurring nightmares and visions, of fractured human relationships from his past. These contests are only heightened, when he is challenged by several encounters with people that are directly related with this anguish. The closer he gets to his lifetime achievement, the nearer he comes to the realisation of how things could have been.

Wild Strawberries is a metaphorically moving and exceptionally nostalgic road trip that in true Bergman fashion is jam packed with symbolism. This is a work of art from a genius director who was in the form of his life.

2. Red Desert (1964)

In Red Desert, Michelangelo Antonioni’s heart-breaking first colour film, we observe a woman’s sorry struggle with alienation and disorientation. Through brilliant use of colour, Antonioni delivers an emotional and visually stunning setting that channels our protagonist’s psychological anguish.

Monica Vitti plays Giuliana, a young mother whose husband, Ugo, is the manager of a local chemical plant. With an overworked and disengaged husband, Giuliana is starved of the emotional support and attention that she so desperately seeks. With this neglect, Giuliana’s mental state quickly collapses and we witness the crushing despair and depression of our pain-bearer.

A film that will always divide opinion, Red Desert is a slow burning and stylish character-study that one way or another will linger long in the mind.

3. Repulsion (1965)

Roman Polanski’s first English language film; Repulsion, is a psychological horror made in 1965. Starring Catherine Deneuve, the plot focuses on a young woman’s descent into madness after being left alone in her sister’s apartment. Repulsion is the first instalment in Polanski’s sinister ‘Apartment Trilogy’ and in this viewer’s opinion, the best.

Carole Ledoux (Deneuve) is a manicurist who is currently living with her elder sister in London. Beautiful but socially awkward, Carole would certainly not look out of place on one of Alfred Hitchcock’s feature films. When her sister leaves to go on vacation with her boyfriend, the already distracted Carole begins her downward spiral into insanity, thus exposing the true horror of her demented psyche. Cracks become craters, voices reveal rapists and every sound hides an ill-fated outcome in the delirious mind of this physically and emotionally abandoned young woman.

A claustrophobic and gory tale of sexual repression and isolation, Repulsion is a disturbing and unsettling tour de force that will go down as one of the most influential films of the genre.

4. Le Samourai (1967)

Jean-Pierre Melville’s effortlessly cool crime-drama, Le Samourai, is an example of minimalist perfection at its very best. With leading man, Alain Delon’s character literally brimming with composure and nonchalance, the result is a fusion of stylistic excellence and arresting suspense that makes Le Samourai a subtle yet breathtakingly absorbing masterpiece.

Jef Costello (Delon) is a hit man living in a barren single-room apartment in Paris that contains very little, barring a small bird kept in a cage. Void of emotion or expression, Costello is the personification of the lone wolf, vocally impassive and highly skilled with a poker-face to startle a statue. When the authorities begin to loom and a sophisticated game of cat and mouse develops, we witness an accumulation of the loneliness creep up in a remarkably fascinating conclusion.

Le Samourai is a simple story with a relatively basic plot that will leave you gripped as events unfold. Akin to our subject, Le Samourai is a low-key yet thoroughly engrossing spectacle that is well worth the high praise that it has gathered.

5. Silent Running (1972)

In his directorial debut, Douglas Trumbull brought us the wonderfully underrated and fascinating sci-fi drama, Silent Running.

Bruce Dern brilliantly plays Freeman Lowell, the outsider in a crew aboard a space shuttle that have been tasked with rehabilitating plant life that are preserved in domes attached to space freighters. Despite being trusted with such an important and momentous assignment, Lowell is the only crew member that displays any emotion or interest in their occupation of restoring what remains of our planets plants. However, when the team receive an order to destroy the domes and return home, Lowell faces a monumental decision in what he sees as a sacrifice for the greater good.

Despite being over 40 years old, this film has stood the test of time and still comes across as breathtakingly visionary. A poignant and thoughtful film, Silent Running is definitely sci-fi with a difference.

6. Solaris (1972)

Directed by the great Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972’s Solaris is a Russian sci-fi drama that is recognised as one of the best space films ever made. Another film on this list that contains little action, Solaris excels as a slow-burning psychological drama, with hauntingly stunning visuals, thought provoking scenarios and trademark Tarkovsky long takes.

Solyaris is an ocean-like planet that for years has been orbited by a Russian space station attempting to study this phenomenon. Due to a lack of progress and reports of strange activity, psychologist Kris Kelvin is handed the responsibility of investigating the peculiar goings on aboard the station. As Kris arrives to hostility, he sets off to enquire about these events, only to find himself confronted with these similar situations himself. When confronted by a chilling episode from his past, Kris gets trapped in his own feelings of emotional isolation and loneliness. The question is, are they real?

A complex and philosophically frightening study in confinement and alienation, Solaris is an epic vision by a supremely talented and grandiose director. Whilst probably not his best work, Solaris is still a beautifully insightful and captivating movie that makes a great companion for Kubrick’s own tour de force, ‘2001’.

‘Whom God wishes to destroy, he first turns mad.’ For many years both director and viewer have shared an attraction to watching ongoing battles between characters and their subconscious, with the latter more often than not, the victor.

Losing one’s mind is one of the most frightening prospects as within this; we lose our perception of the world around us, thus setting up a confusing and sometimes disturbing journey to those dark places.

The following films, in chronological order, all contain a character that at some point takes a turn to madness, some more than others. Some viewers may be disappointed that One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest is not included but for this reviewer, it was rather too obvious an inclusion. So read on and enjoy the ride.

1. M (Fritz Lang, 1931)

Easily one of the most widely known and influential films of all time, Fritz Lang’s M is a German crime thriller released in 1931. Concerning a psychopath child-killer at large in the streets of Berlin, M illustrates the panic and hysteria throughout the public, as not just police are forced into searching but fellow offenders too. The film is also noted as not only being regarded as Fritz Lang’s finest but also his first ‘talkie’ film.

The film opens to regular, run of the mill goings on, such as a woman setting the table, a man at work, children playing in the street, then a wanted poster for a serial killer who is targeting children. When the media generate a craze of rage, pressure mounts on local authorities, forcing them to aggravate the criminal underworld, in turn causing them to coordinate a manhunt of their own.

Soon, as the hunters close in on the killer, we monitor how desperate he becomes, a bitter, weak man who just can’t control himself. As the film progresses, mob mentality escalates and with our mentally-ill killer helplessly cornered, a dramatic, momentous climax follows.

Widely thought of as one of the best thrillers of all time, M is full of subtle horrors and haunting images that leave the viewer to interpret the gruesomeness of the killer’s actions. Discussed as one of the most incredible acting performances in cinematic history, Peter Lorre is spellbinding as our horrid and sickly child-killer. Overall, M is an intelligent, dark and exciting film that is light years ahead of its time.

2. Black Narcissus (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1947)

Released in 1947 by directing dream team Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, first time viewers could be forgiven for not expecting much from Black Narcissus.

After all, with the general summary describing how a group of nuns deal with conflict in a remote Himalayan convent, who could blame them? However, throw in themes of romance, tension and violence along with superb performances from Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron and Flora Robson and you end up with an emotional and erotic psychological drama that has achieved critical acclaim.

Clodagh, The Sister Superior (Kerr) and her group of nuns travel to a Palace built high in the Himalayan Mountains, in order to set up a school and hospital for the locals. With the fact that we are told an order of Brothers had an already failed attempt at the same task, we feel a certain sense of mystery, surrounding the location.

Why did they fail? When they arrive, the nuns are introduced to the local British agent, Mr Dean (David Farrar) and are left to their own devices in the beautiful and sensual Palace.

Surprisingly, it is not before long, that the nuns find themselves seduced by not only Mr Dean but possibly by the surroundings as well, which ultimately releases repressed and destructive emotions with disastrous results. We watch attentively as Sister Ruth’s (Byron) mental state deteriorates rapidly, whilst Sister Clodagh single-handedly tries to keep the sinking ship afloat.

Visually vibrant and with remarkable settings and cinematography, Black Narcissus is a deeply touching yet haunting experience, depicting a fragile nun painstakingly lose her grasp on reality.

3. I live in Fear (Akira Kurosawa, 1955)

Whilst probably, one of Kurosawa’s lesser known classics, I Live in Fear is certainly not any less influential. Kurosawa regular, Toshiro Mifune, stars as an elderly businessman whose detrimental fear of a nuclear attack prompts him to sell his business and move his entire family to Brazil. Released in 1955, it was only 1 year earlier that a hydrogen bomb was tested on Bikini Atoll, infamously exposing a Japanese fishing boat to radioactive ash, reportedly killing eleven.

Nakajima (Mifune), being convinced that Japan will be hit with a nuclear attack, decides that the only option of survival is to relocate to an area beyond the range of war, in Brazil. When his family hear of his intentions, they cry foul and propose to the courts that Nakajima is mentally incompetent and should be committed to an asylum.

With the children refusing to move for fear of giving up their comfortable lifestyle and their inheritance, his descent into madness deepens when explained that even in Brazil, he would not be immune from the fallout.

A chilling, dark and harrowing drama, I Live in Fear is a rather unsubtle display of a world in which the most atrocious dangers were revoked as standard procedure. A masterful performance once again from the ever reliable Mifune in this thought-provoking, metaphor-free, tale of tragedy.

4. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962)

Directed by Spanish film master Luis Bunuel, The Exterminating Angel is a 1962 fantasy drama that is as baffling as it is humorous. Regarding a group of Bourgeois guests inexplicably finding they are unable to leave a dinner party, a surreal and claustrophobic atmosphere looms, as feelings of isolation and imprisonment overwhelm the diners.

After a night out at the opera, the party return to the extravagant mansion home of Edmundo Nobile for a dinner party catered by servants. Despite appearing to be the only people left in the building, bar the butler, the party move themselves into the music room, where one of the women plays the piano.

As morning approaches, the group mysteriously find it impossible to leave and now feel hostage to this plush but joyless estate. As time continues to pass, they become argumentative and hostile to each other, resorting to desperate measures in order to survive.

A delicious, surrealist fantasy, The Terminating Angel is loaded with Bunuel’s distinct swipes at both the upper classes of society and indeed the church itself. A film best summarised by Bunuel himself in, ‘the best explanation of this film is that, from the standpoint of pure reason, there is no explanation’.

5. Shock Corridor (Samuel Fuller, 1963)

Already known for his usually low-budget and controversial material, director Sam Fuller added his new project to this list in 1963. With his mystery-thriller Shock Corridor, he created an unsettling, disturbing and at times outrageous cult favourite.

A film clearly well ahead of its time, it can be noted as being the inspiration behind several other psychological drama’s such as One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Shutter Island. Following a man feigning mental illness to get institutionalized in order to solve a murder, we look on as the closer he gets to cracking the case, the further away he detaches from his own mental disposition.

Johnny Barrett (Peter Breck) is an ambitious journalist, hell-bent on winning the Pulitzer Prize, and he figures that uncovering the details of a murder in a mental hospital is his sure-fire way in achieving his goal. He masterminds a plan that will enable him to be admitted to the hospital as a patient, talk to the three witnesses to the murder, thus solving the crime and collecting his award.

However, as Johnny’s greed and aggression gets the better of him, it soon becomes a race against time to accomplish his task before insanity catches up and results in much more than just a so called ‘act’ of madness.

Despite essentially thought of as a B-movie, Shock Corridor is a visually brilliant and shocking expedition into a man’s willingness to achieve his dream at any cost.

6. Onibaba (Kaneto Shindo, 1964)

Set in Japan around the 14th century, Onibaba is director Kaneto Shindo’s historical horror concerning a woman and her daughter in law, surviving through the only means they can, by killing travelling Samurai and trading their armour for food. Roughly translated into English as ‘Demon Woman’,Onibaba is paced much faster than the usual Japanese motion pictures of the same era.

Two wounded soldiers, possibly lost, are fleeing from battle through tall thick reeds when suddenly; they are attacked and killed with speers by an undetected source. Then two women appear, one old, one young, dismantle the soldiers of their armour and weapons and drop the bodies in a deep hole.

The duo then takes their spoils to a sleazy merchant to trade for food, where they discuss the events of an ongoing war. Clearly an arrangement that has so far been working for all parties, it is not until the surprise arrival of a neighbour named Hachi, returned from war, that things start to go wrong and the existence of the couple is upset.

When the mother enquires about her son, the husband of the young woman, who also went to war along with Hachi, he informs her that her son was killed in battle and that Hachi himself was lucky to survive.

With the newcomer now a regular fixture, the three continue to ‘exist’ within their concealed surroundings. However, when the older woman discovers that her daughter in law has been having a relationship with Hachi, she turns manic. Frightened that the two will up and leave, the mother turns to drastic measures in order to force them apart and continue living the life she wants to live.

A scintillating horror, dripping with both psychological and sexual tension, this is an intense and haunting period piece, which is beautifully filmed in black and white. Exquisitely directed through the hostile and doom impending reeds, Onibaba is an absolute must see for anyone with a serious interest in film.

Home Invasion has long been a sub-genre predominantly installed within the horror category and rightfully so. Home invasion occurs when someone unlawfully gains entry to a private dwelling in order to commit a violation upon the resident.

In most instances the perpetrator’s intention is to cause psychical or psychological violence. Through evolution, we have ingrained the image of our home being our safe-haven, a place to where we can retreat and feel protected from the outside world. But if cinema has taught us one thing, it is to never rest on our laurels.

The following films all contain instances of home invasion, some more than others. As one of the most crucial ingredients in these movies is tension, I have tried not to include spoilers but as ever, proceed at your own risk.

20. Panic Room (2002)

David Fincher directed this 2002 crime thriller, starring Jodie Foster and a pre- Twilight Kristen Stewart. It tells the story of a mother and young daughter trapped inside their panic room, after three criminals force entry into their newly purchased property.

Having recently moved into their new home in New York, Meg (Foster) and Sarah (Stewart) are the victims of home intrusion when three criminals break in to the property. With the culprits (expertly played by Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto and Dwight Yoakam) intent on stealing the previous occupier’s secret safe, the unaware mother and daughter enclose themselves in the panic room. The only problem being, it is also the very same place as where the spoils are hidden. From then on, an exciting game of cat and mouse ensues.

An excellent, edge of your seat thriller, the movie contains skilful cinematography and sterling acting performances. An intense and certainly underrated thriller, Panic Room is an entertaining and suspenseful piece of cinema from a highly successful and talented director.

19. The Strangers (2008)

Released in 2008 and starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, The Strangers was a worldwide box-office success. It is another horror movie on this list that focuses more on suspense instead of gore. Described by the director, Bryan Bertino, as ‘inspired by true events’, The Strangers is a chilling account of home invasion at its most shocking.

Kristen (Tyler) and James (Speedman) are a young couple who are staying at James’ parent’s vacation home. Still up, due to a rejected marriage proposal, the two are disturbed by a late night/early morning knock at the door. When the caller is informed that they have the wrong house, the young couple decide to take a break from their debate. However, when the earlier refused comes back to call again, anarchy transpires. What started off as a romantic road trip has now transformed into a wicked fight for survival.

A startling and climactic tale of intrusion, The Strangers is a non-stop, thrilling horror that thoroughly delivers.

18. Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

Starring Hollywood heavyweights, Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster, Sorry, Wrong Number is a slick film-noir released in 1948 and set in New York. The story is told in a series of flashbacks and is almost played in real time.

Leona Stevenson (Stanwyck) is the bedridden daughter of a rich pharmaceutical business owner. Whilst trying to ring her already late from work husband Henry (Lancaster), she experiences a cross-wire connection and overhears a plot to murder a woman at 11.15. Without hearing any more details, she desperately calls the police to inform them, however with so little information; the policeman advises that they are powerless to investigate any further.

Certainly a film where the less known the better, you can look forward to a compelling and suspenseful ending. With death creeping outside her door, can Leona devise an escape? And where has her husband been all this time?

Very Hitchcockian in style, Sorry, Wrong Number is a classic insight into paranoia and helplessness. Containing superb cinematography and fantastic performances from both Stanwyck and Lancaster, this is a nerve-racking film that will have you on the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of Rear Window, you’ll love this.

17. When a Stranger Calls (1979)

The story of the babysitter and the killer is an urban legend that has now been reiterated many times on the big screen. Whilst a number of these become nothing more than a box office flop, the majority will have been inspired by 1979’s When a Stranger Calls. Starring Carol Kane as the terrorised babysitter, the film was a commercial success and is now regarded as a cult favourite. More of a psychological thriller than a typical ‘slasher’, it’s an effective spine-chiller that ends with a nail-biting climax.

Jill Johnson (Kane) arrives at the Mandrakis household to babysit their children whilst the parents go out for the night. With the children already asleep, Jill’s peace is disrupted by a serial telephone caller. At first, thought as no more than just prank calls, they become much more sinister and alarming when asking, “Have you checked on the children?” Becoming so spooked, she reports the incidents to the police who, after a tense period of time waiting, advise her that they have traced the calls and they are coming from inside the house!

Without wanting to give away any spoilers or explain the entire plot, what follows is a well-directed, atmospheric game of cat and mouse. A gritty and hauntingly realistic horror, When a Stranger Calls is a memorable reminder to all babysitters, to check the children, before a stranger calls.

16. Suddenly (1954)

Starring Frank Sinatra and Sterling Hayden, Suddenly is a 1954 drama from director Lewis Allen. With the U.S President scheduled to visit a small American town, the local community finds its peace interrupted by a violent lunatic, plotting an assassination attempt.

In this town lives the Benson family, which contains Widow Ellen, her 8 year old son Pidge, and Pop, the boy’s grandfather. With the tranquil town well-guarded by the gallant sheriff Todd (Hayden), the Benson family see no real cause for alarm when they get a knock at the door from the FBI.

What they don’t realise is that their house has been identified as the perfect location for an ambush on the president and that these self-proclaimed FBI men are actually hired assassins, intent on eliminating him. Fronted by the callous John Barron (Sinatra), the hoods take over the home and hold the family captive whilst they await the arrival of the President. Will the sheriff risk the lives of the innocent family and thwart the assassination attempt? Or can the crazed Baron get his shot at the President?

A tense and low-budget thriller, Suddenly is an entertaining and well-acted tale of suspense.

15. Wait Until Dark (1967)

One of the most impressive readings on an actor’s resume, is when they can successfully play a part in a film, that no-one would expect them to even attempt. In 1967’s Wait until Dark, Audrey Hepburn absolutely shattered her type casted role of the playful, but regal, good-time girl. Brilliantly directed by Terence Young, this thriller stars Hepburn as a young blind woman who is the victim of home invasion.

The film starts with a man named Sam being handed a doll by a complete stranger, whilst he is in an airport. Unbeknown to him, the doll is filled with Heroin. With the doll in seemingly high demand, three crooks arrive at Sam’s home to fetch the reward. With Sam sent out on a mock work engagement, that leaves Susy (Hepburn), a recently blinded young woman, alone in the property.

After gaining entry due to a detailed but innocuous story, it is not before long that things start to get complicated, especially with the help of Suzy’s helpful young neighbour, Gloria. Can Suzy outsmart the conmen that not only seem hell-bent on acquiring the doll but in destroying her in the process?

In this superb, gutsy thriller, the director brilliantly constructs suspense by letting the viewer see more than what the victim can. Then, ingeniously, he throws us into the same position as our on-screen hero, as Suzy smashes all the lights, leaving us all in complete darkness. Wait until Dark is an outstanding tight-knit shocker, that culminates in a pinnacle of suspense and terror.

14. Black Christmas (1974)

Often cited as the first ‘slasher’ movie in modern cinema, Black Christmas is a 1974 horror, directed by Bob Clark. Using innovative camerawork and clever POV shots, the director exquisitely creates a tense and menacing atmosphere throughout the film. The story concerns a group of girls staying in a sorority house that are bothered by a disturbed prank caller. What at first seems to be just a twisted deviant turns into a suspected homicidal maniac.

Despite constant phone calls from the man they call ‘the moaner’, most of the girls dismiss the pest as nothing more than a nuisance. That is, until one of the sorority girls goes AWOL and along with another young girl reported missing, a search party is initiated. When the tragic young girl’s butchered body is found, it is not before long that the body count starts rising and panic amongst the sorority ensues. With the police now firmly on the case, is there a link between the killer and the caller? And will anyone in the sorority be left alive to find out?

With fantastic performances from Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder as members of the sorority, Black Christmas is a scandalously overlooked gem from the horror genre. A film that will leave you with more questions than answers, Black Christmas asks, if you make sure you have locked your windows and doors, how do you know that the killer isn’t already inside?

13. Cape Fear (1991)

With an all-star cast of Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis, this 1991 thriller tells the story of a convicted rapist, released after 14 years imprisoned and hell bent on revenge. With superstar director Martin Scorsese at the helm, Cape Fear is a gloriously gripping spine-chiller.

Sam Bowden (Nolte) plays the part of a lawyer, with his wife Leigh (Lange) and teenage daughter Danielle (Lewis). Fourteen years have passed since Sam’s client Max Cady (De Niro), was deemed guilty of the rape and battery of a young woman and imprisoned for such crimes. However, with each and every day spent incarcerated, the more enraged Max becomes. Due to his belief that he was double –crossed by his representative, Max plots revenge on Sam and his family. As the film progresses, we witness how this bloodthirsty psychopath intrudes the lives and home of the Bowden family, determined to achieve his retribution at any cost.

Cape Fear is one of eight hugely collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro and although this is perhaps not the strongest in their filmography, it’s certainly one of the most frightening. A remake of the 1962 classic of the same title, this is a merciless and violent film illustrating one man’s vengeance and spiteful obsession.

12. Haute Tension (High Tension) (2003)

Now we travel to France for another relentless and bloody horror, this time from director Alexandre Aja. Released in 2003, Haute Tension is an uncompromising and suspenseful film with violence and gore in abundance.

The film follows two young woman named Alex and Marie, who travel to Alex’s parents’ house for the weekend. Upon arrival, the two women are affectionately greeted by Alex’s’ parents and younger brother. After a pleasant evening consisting of a tour of the house followed by dinner, Alex and Marie retire to their separate bedrooms to get ready for bed. Unbeknown to them, a night of devastation and extreme brutality is lying in wait.

With brilliant gut-wrenching twists, Haute Tension is an unsettling and twisted modern take on the classic ‘slasher’ genre.

11. Hard Candy (2005)

Starring Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy is a 2005 psychological thriller concerning a 14 year old girl and a suspected paedophile. In this, his first feature film, director David Slade expertly creates an intense, fast paced atmosphere with superb camera work and first class performances from the lead actors.

After back and forth emails, Hayley (Page) and Jeff (Wilson) arrange to meet up face to face for the first time, at a local café. Despite several hints at telling Jeff exactly how young she is, Hayley successfully encourages Jeff to take them both back to his place. Unknown to Jeff however, is that Hayley has been tracking him down for some time, ever since she suspected him for a paedophile and even murderer. With Hayley maniacally intent on torturing a confession out of her victim, what happens if this charming, accomplished, professional photographer is not as guilty as first thought? What starts off as a reserved, simple drama turns into a ferocious and unrestrained emotional shocker.

Hard Candy is a savage and remorseless film that is not for the easily disturbed. Undeniably a tough nut to crack (excuse the pun) Juno , this isn’t.

Described as a story which emphasizes the psychology of its characters and their unstable emotional states, the following films are benchmarks for what a successful psychological thriller should aspire to be. Instead of displaying legions of gore and violence, their main objective is to play with your mind. To leave it up to you to construct the tension of what you have just witnessed.

As the great perplexer David Lynch once said: “when you are spoon-fed a film, more people instantly know what it is. I love things that leave room to dream and are open to various interpretations. It’s a beautiful thing.” So read on and enjoy the ride.

25. Das Experiment

Das Experiment is a 2001 German thriller from director Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Moritz Bleibtreu as Tarek Fahd, or later only to be known as Prisoner 77.

Tarek reads a newspaper advert regarding a social experiment in a simulated prison. With a financial reward given, provided participants complete the full 14 day stay, it’s an offer this reader can’t refuse. The 20 curious volunteers are first divided up into Prisoner and Guards and are then asked to remain in their role throughout.

Monitored and observed by scientists, the trial takes a plummet into the dark depths of human behaviour. With the prisoners becoming more than disenchanted with the guard’s superiority, the guards take matters into their own hands, becoming merciless, brutal enforcers of their dungeon.

A gruelling yet compelling watch, what makes Das Experiment even more powerful, is the fact that it is based on actual events. Known as the Stanford Prison Experiment, this was concocted as a study of the psychological ramifications of becoming a prisoner or guard.

24. Kill List

In Kill List, we are presented with a film that has obviously been heavily influenced by some of the horror heavy-weights. Take The Wicker Man(1973), add a dash of Race With the Devil and a pinch of Rosemary’s Baby and presto! Kill List doesn’t fail to deliver!

Two ex-army pals, Jay (Neil Maskell) and Gal (Michael Smiley), are now plying their trade as hit men (the latter rather reluctantly). After agreeing to another ‘hit’, the two comrades are in the middle of the assignment when they comprehend that they are involved in something much more sinister than anticipated.

From English director, Ben Wheatley, in just his second feature film, Kill List is a formidable beast that contains graphic scenes and is not for the faint-hearted.

23. Angel Heart

Angel Heart is an American psychological thriller directed by Alan Parker and stars Mickey Rourke and Robert DeNiro. Released in 1987, but set in the 50’s, it was well ahead of its time and has now reached cult status.

Mickey Rourke stars as Harry Angel, a rugged private investigator that has been hired by a man named Louis Cyphere (DeNiro), to uncover the whereabouts of a disappeared singer, Johnny Favourite. Along the way, Angel meets several characters that all share information on the story of Favourite. However, with these characters being killed shortly after meeting with Angel, he finds himself a lot more involved than he could ever care to have wished for.

With Rourke in top form, giving possibly his best performance and the genius casting of DeNiro in his role, Angel Heart is an atmospheric, intelligent, bloody horror, with much duplicated but never surpassed twists. An unforgettable classic.

22. Tell No One

This French thriller stars Francois Cluzet as Alex Beck, a man continuously struggling with grief after losing his wife 8 years ago. When Alex receives material hinting that his wife is alive and well, a complex chain of events results in a chaotic manhunt for him.

With an excellent supporting cast of Marie-Josee Croze, Andre Dussollier and Kristin Scott Thomas, this suspenseful tale is comparable to the work of Alfred Hitchcock. Full of twist and turns, with such a well-executed plot, Tell No One is a frantic, edge of your seat chef-oeuvre.

21. Timecrimes

Released in 2007, Timecrimes is a Spanish sci-fi thriller based on time travel. Directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Karra Elejalde, the film was shot on an extremely low budget, without any CGI or flashy special effects. Easily one of the more intelligent and complex time loop movies, it is frantically paced and superbly executed.

Timecrimes introduces Hector (Elejalde), who is currently renovating his house, along with his wife in the countryside. Whilst surveying the nearby woods through his binoculars, he spots a young woman undressing.

Curiously he enters the woods to investigate, when suddenly he is attacked and chased by a man covered in bloody bandages, wielding a pair of scissors. Can Hector escape from this madman? And exactly why was he assaulted in the first place?

Certainly a prime example of cinema where the less known is for the better, Timecrimes will continuously keep you on your toes and have you doubting your own thoughts, much like our Hector.

20. A Tale of Two Sisters

Asia is well known for being the cutting edge of horror movies, with emphasis given to the build-up of tension and creepy atmosphere, the premeditated pacing and menacing images, A Tale of Two Sisters, is no different. The highest grossing Korean horror, this masterpiece is a brilliant, visceral horror, brimming with bewildering twists.

The story embarks with a teenage girl named Soo-Mi (Su-Jeong Lim) being cared for in a mental hospital, why she is there, we are not told. In the next scene, Soo-Mi is shown travelling and arriving with her father and younger sister Soo-Yeon (Geun-Young Moon), to their lakeside estate. They are welcomed on arrival by the daughter’s stepmother, Eun-Joo (Jung-ah Yum), much to the disgust of the daughters.

From this moment on we witness the bitter divide between stepmother and stepdaughter, with the uneasy tension flourishing within the household. With the mysterious presence of an intrusive ghost only heightening the already strained atmosphere, the feeling of impending doom leads to a heartbreakingly shocking finale.

A gut-wrenching, modern day horror, this 2003 gem is a tour de force of Korean cinema, by director Kim Jee-Woon.

19. The Secret in Their Eyes

‘El Secreto de sas ojos’ is an Argentine crime drama from 2009. Directed by Juan Jose Campanella, the film stars Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil. With outstanding storytelling and immaculate acting, this movie will have you hooked from start to finish.

In 1974, Federal Justice Agent, Benjamin Esposito (Darin), is delegated to the crime of a brutal rape and murder of a young woman. Upon promising the husband that the killer will be caught and will serve life in jail, two innocent men are accused and held, by a competing co-worker, in order to get a quick conclusion.

Expertly told the story continuously flickers back and forth to 1999 where the case is still unresolved and still troubling Esposito. With the co-operation of an alcohol dependant assistant and a love-that-never-was ex-boss Irene (Villamil), the case is reopened.

Revealing incredible, gut-wrenching outcomes and a thrilling finale, this is a truly touching, emotional masterpiece of world cinema.

18. Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s ladder is a psychological horror directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Tim Robbins. Portraying the horrors of his time serving in the Vietnam War, Jacob Singer (Robbins)journey to uncover the truth is told in shocking flashbacks and visions.

Jacob wakes in a New York City subway alone, in his postal worker uniform. Continually reminded of his ex-wife and the death of his son Gabe (a very young Macauley Culkin), these thoughts are meshed with progressively hellish hallucinations.

After meeting with his old Army friends, they concur that they too have been experiencing the same horrors. However, after discovering a breakthrough in the reasoning behind these visions, Jacob involuntarily finds that the truth is not relinquished amicably.

In what is considered by many to be Tim Robbins best performance, Jacob’s ladder can leave you depressed, heartbroken and confused. Nonetheless, with such a strong, atmospheric plot, you’ll want to watch this one again.

Everyone loves a twist in a film, so why not have the twist in realising: “Hey, we never found out their name!” The common link which ties these movies together is that their main characters’ real names are actually never mentioned. This leaves the character void of an identity and creates an aura of mysteriousness. 

So without further ado, here are 20 great films featuring unnamed protagonists.

20. Layer Cake (2004)

Daniel Craig plays a large scale cocaine dealer/businessman who has made his fortune and wants out. Between a problem with Serbian gangsters amongst other things, Daniel Craig’s character (along with the viewer) come to the realisation that there is no retirement in this line of business.

Another film with a superb score, we are also treated to a maze-like script that has us completely gripped. Sienna Miller makes a memorable appearance in this clever and witty London gangster movie brought to us by another directorial debutant in Matthew Vaughn.

19. Zombieland (2009)

A shy, geeky kid (Jesse Eisenberg), only referred to as Columbus, teams up with a gun-toting Zombie killer (Harrelson) along with two savvy sisters in Ruben Fleischer’s fun, gore fest movie.

Woody Harrelson is memorable as Tallahassee in this road trip across Zombie-infested North America in his search for the last Twinkie. In that search he meets Columbus, who has survived thus far using his survival rules. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play the headstrong sisters who initially take Tallahassee and Columbus as fools and steal their ride.

Also featuring in this ‘American Shaun of the Dead’ is Bill Murray with a typically outstanding madcap cameo performance.

18. Antichrist (2009)

This film brings another Danish director in Lars Von Trier to the foray as “He and She” decide the best way to cope with tragic loss is by taking in exposure therapy at an isolated cabin in the woods.

With the film intersected in four chapters this shows the stages in which He and She experience their nightmare journey to the depths of a dark, bleak and evil place. Willem Dafoe, himself a therapist and Charlotte Gainsborough, the mournful inconsolable wife, masterfully star in this brutal yet beautiful horror that will likely leave you mentally exhausted, yet gasping for more.

With scenes of sexual intercourse, self-disembowelling, self-mutilation, genital bashing and violence, beware, this film will haunt you for days.

17. Dogtooth (2009)

This Greek drama directed by Giorgos Lanthimos tells the story of Father and Mother who keep their children, namely Older Daughter, Son and Younger Daughter, oblivious to the outside world.

Father and Mother along with the three siblings live in a secluded property surrounded by a large fence to prevent the children from learning about life outside the family home. Instead of regular words, the children are taught these with alternative meanings, e.g. ‘Sea is the leather chair’ and ‘Highway is a strong wind’. However, things inevitably do not always go according to plan especially when a non-family member decides to mix things up in the house leading to unsettling circumstances.

Certainly one of the more puzzling films on this list, with instances such as the seemingly everyday appearance of a stray cat (striking fear into the heart of the children), leaves you with the uncomfortable notion of the power parents have over their children and how easily they can be manipulated. This film will leave you not knowing whether you should be laughing, crying or just simply thinking ‘what did I just watch?’.

16. Drive (2011)

‘The Driver’ is a stuntman/mechanic by day and a getaway driver by nightcall. Accompanied by his auto shop owner boss in Bryan Cranston, the two get involved in a heist which leads to an ill-advised love interest, an out of patience hot headed mafia boss, a blood soaked hotel room and a slight altercation in an elevator.

Ryan Gosling plays the strong and silent type perfectly. The scorpion embalmed jacket he wears evokes the use of the Scorpion and the Frog fable.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s ultra-cool Drive has Gosling as a man equally as suited to a certain Sergio Leone western trilogy and along with an electronic pop soundtrack this made Drive a hit at Cannes in 2011.

15. El Mariachi (1992)

El Mariachi marks the debut feature film from Robert Rodriguez. Apparently shot on a budget of a mere $7000 it spawned 2 follow up films in Desperado and Once upon a time in Mexico.

Carlos Gallardo plays ‘El Mariachi’, the young musician who has just arrived at the wrong place at (most definitely) the wrong time, in the middle of a violent feud between local gangsters.

When the inevitable case of mistaken identity happens it forces ‘El Mariachi’ into a kill or be killed state of affairs, especially when the affairs involve the woman he loves and his most beloved guitar.