When it comes to the sci-fi thriller genre, there is an eclectic array of classics from which to choose. Some lean into horror elements, like Ridley Scott’s Alien, or even time travel, as James Cameron delivered in The Terminator. There are bold, original ideas capable of monumental blockbuster box-office returns, as Christopher Nolan has demonstrated with movies such as Interstellar and Inception. Still, for every classic like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and John Carpenter’s The Thing, numerous hidden gems remain unrecognized.
Some films overcome their flaws to find a cult following, as seen with Event Horizon and even Blade Runner, which underwent multiple edits before finally finding the perfect version, which most now point to as 2007’s The Final Cut. However, there are others that are already perfect from start to finish that didn’t connect with audiences upon release. Some have found a fan base that helps tout them as the classics they rightly deserve to be called. Still, others remain buried, never given their proper due, despite the endless creative sci-fi stories that pack in thrilling mysteries, action, and even horror. Thankfully, for fans of the genre seeking perfectly crafted hidden gems, there are plenty of options that are more than worth watching.
‘Dark City’ (1998)
Long before director Alex Proyas was delivering misguided projects like Gods of Egypt, he was a visionary filmmaker delivering impressive entries like The Crow and the cult classic Dark City. The intense thriller has audiences following John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), who is suffering from amnesia, while also on the run from the police who believe he committed a series of murders. However, that seems to be the least of his worries, as a race of powerful beings has been revealed to be changing the world and its people every night.
The intense mystery fuels an engrossing, unique sci-fi story that packs a shocking twist ending, with practical effects and visual splendor unrivaled at the time. It also features a stellar cast, with Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt delivering stellar performances. Noted film critic Roger Ebert did a commentary track for the film’s DVD release, continuing to praise it, as he did in his review, calling Dark City, “a great visionary achievement, a film so original and exciting, it stirred my imagination like Metropolis and 2001: A Space Odyssey.“
‘Strange Days’ (1995)
Before director Kathryn Bigelow won an Academy Award for Best Director for 2010’s The Hurt Locker, she was proving why she was already a phenomenal filmmaker with the underrated 1995 sci-fi film Strange Days. The film helped to pioneer the age of techno-thrillers, with a plot that saw people able to use the recorded memories of others, in a voyeuristic way, with some users mirroring drug addiction. Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett lead the cast, the pair embroiled in a murder plot, with the film’s finale playing out on New Year’s Eve 1999.
It doesn’t hurt that James Cameron co-wrote the screenplay for Strange Days, lending his talent to an innovative concept rife with sci-fi thrills wrapped in a noir-style mystery. There is plenty of social commentary stemming from the era, like police brutality and the pensive years leading up to the new millennium. Given the talent on hand for Strange Days, it’s one movie that deserves more recognition.
‘Timecrimes’ (2007)
Timecrimes is a twisty time-travel narrative that finds the protagonist caught in an intricate loop of events. What begins with Hector spying on someone with binoculars turns into a paranoid mystery, as he sees a man in bloodied bandages commit an assault, leading him down a path of bizarre consequences. After he mistakenly gets into a time machine in pursuit of the bandaged man, Hector embarks on a series of events in which he must unravel the truth and prevent a paradox from destroying time.
While Timecrimes features a complex time-travel plot at its heart, it embraces a minimalist style, allowing the grounded protagonist to easily navigate its intricacies for the audience. The ambitious feature from writer and director Nacho Vigalondo (Colossal) is a masterful effort in perfectly crafted suspense, blending bold ideas with a low budget for impeccable results. It doesn’t hurt that Timecrimes also holds an impressive 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Colossus: The Forbin Project’ (1970)
Colossus: The Forbin Project is a film that feels decades ahead of its time. In an effort to prevent future wars, the US government gives control of its nuclear arsenal to an AI. That turns out to be a terrible idea, as the AI becomes sentient and takes control of the world, enforcing peace through surveillance and the ever-lurking threat of complete nuclear annihilation. Non-compliant locations are targeted to enforce a totalitarian rule, with human freedom being the price of their bold project.
The Forbin Project is speculative sci-fi at its best, embracing the fears of nuclear threat that thrived during the Cold War era, and extrapolating it for maximum effect. The suspense makes each scene palpably tense, with the scenario deriving fear through feeling grounded and plausible. It even takes bold swings in the final moments, proving to be a forgotten classic that bucks the cliché endings of most movies, which tend to play it safe for mass audience appeal.
‘Captive State’ (2019)
Captive State may be one of the most underrated sci-fi thrillers of the last decade. Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) delivers a tense narrative set 10 years after the alien occupation of Earth began. The stellar cast features John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Alan Ruck, and Jonathan Majors, who play characters on both sides of the fight. Some humans have taken to helping the alien forces enslave humanity, while others are part of a resistance, working to bring the invaders down.
While an alien threat is at play, much of Captive State focuses on an espionage-style thriller, often feeling like a spy movie rather than a sci-fi one, making it an original take on the genre. The movie paints a gritty, grounded reality, showing audiences that an intense story feels tangible even amid alien ships. The atmospheric feel and distinct world-building truly set Captive State apart, with it flying under the radar when it hit theaters in 2019.
‘Fast Color’ (2018)
Fast Color is likely one of the best superhero movies that sci-fi fans have never heard of. While it isn’t the typical Marvel or DC story, it does offer a unique take on characters dealing with superpowers in a grounded reality. Ruth has been on the run for years, with her powerful abilities making her a target for government forces. When she is discovered, she returns home to her mother and the daughter she was forced to leave behind, weaving intimate family drama and tense elements of trauma, all while Ruth is being hunted.
Fast Color is bolstered by stellar performances from Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lorraine Toussaint, and it embraces a simple approach to superhuman abilities. Some impressive visuals stand out, but the film is driven by family stakes, saving its power for awe-inspiring moments. While most movies in the genre lean into bombastic action spectacle, Fast Color embraces understated cinematography, with the characters being a distinct driving force.
‘The Vast of Night’ (2019)
The Vast of Night stands out for its quick-fire, genuine-feeling dialogue that fits the 1950s setting, and the low-budget technical achievement from some of the film’s phenomenal long takes. The story plays out over a single night in New Mexico, centering on Fay, a local switchboard operator, and Everett, a radio DJ, who pick up strange signals. What follows is a tense mystery in which the two search for answers to a possible extraterrestrial mystery.
Director Andrew Patterson puts his talent on display with Fay’s lengthy single-shot sequence at the switchboard, which runs for almost five minutes, with actor Sierra McCormick putting on an impeccable display as she nails her lines while constantly swapping cables. There is also a stellar drone shot that is made to look like a single take, flying from the switchboard through town to the gym, which includes numerous locations and actors. Beyond the technical achievement, the atmospheric storytelling lends itself well to the tale of possible UFOs, which stuns viewers by exceeding the trappings of its budget.
‘The Medusa Touch’ (1978)
The Medusa Touch is a dark mystery thriller that turns out to have deep sci-fi elements. Richard Burton, Lee Remick, and Lino Ventura lead the cast in a story that follows Detective Brunel as he investigates the violent beating of John Morlar. What Brunel begins to piece together is that John has powerful telekinetic powers, capable of causing catastrophic disasters by merely thinking about them. The engaging supernatural premise opens the door to a unique thriller that plays like a police investigation.
Aside from Burton’s commanding performance as John, The Medusa Touch delivers expertly crafted, albeit deliberately paced tension, with director Jack Gold (Aces High) using some amazing practical effects in the finale that really let the story cut loose after slowly ramping up the suspense. The sci-fi thriller even tackles complex moral questions, like the abuse of power, with a twisty ending that is sure to leave audiences shocked.
‘The Whisperer in Darkness’ (2011)
The Whisperer in Darkness is one of the best adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, and the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society even distributed it. Director Sean Brannery crafts a love letter to the author’s work, with a mostly faithful adaptation of the story that expands on the narrative to round out the third act. The film perfectly blends cosmic horror and unique sci-fi ideas, with some excellent creature work thrown in for good measure.
The story follows a folklorist named Albert who heads to the remote hills of Vermont in 1927 to investigate reports of monsters. While he finds what he was looking for, audiences are mired in a suspenseful investigation in which Albert uncovers a terrifying truth far more horrifying than the creatures he encounters. While The Whisperer in Darkness flew under the radar in 2011, it has since found a cult following, earning 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Coherence’ (2013)
Coherence comes with a simple setup that sees a group of friends gathering for dinner at one of their homes. For a while, the friends chat, catching up and allowing the audience to get to know the dynamics at play. However, their quiet dinner is turned upside down when a passing comet transports them to an alternate reality where they encounter versions of themselves. Things only get more complicated from there, as it’s revealed that there are more than just the two overlapping realities, with glow sticks of varying colors becoming the defining beacons of who came from where.
Coherence succeeds thanks to masterful tension that allows the characters and the plot’s strength to outshine the film’s low budget. The movie rewards close viewing, making every frame important to understanding the high-concept narrative that thrives on paranoia in the vein of classics like The Thing, albeit without the gore. The film didn’t have the money to advertise. Still, it has built a loyal fan base over the years that continues to champion it to mainstream audiences, often using its stellar 89% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score as a selling point.
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