The best thrillers to watch on Netflix this May

We’re within the useless center of May and on the cusp of a number of large releases to the usher in the summertime season. If you happen to’re in search of a trio of blood-chilling, adrenaline-pumping, and heart-racing thrillers to tide you over till this 12 months’s summer time blockbusters, you’ve come to the appropriate place.

This month’s picks embody Todd Haynes’ 2019 authorized thriller based mostly on real-life occasions, an explosive motion thriller starring Scott Adkins, and a steamy neo-noir that includes a charismatic efficiency by a younger Jeff Bridges.

Editor’s decide: Darkish Waters

Director: Todd Haynes
Solid: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins

Followers of Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, and director Todd Haynes all appeared to miss one in every of their finer works of the previous few years: Darkish Waters, a authorized thriller that does for teflon pans what All of the President’s Males did for presidents’ males.

Primarily based on an equally riveting New York Times Magazine expose, and tailored by Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom), Darkish Waters stars Ruffalo as Robert Billet, an actual life company protection lawyer who’s principally guilt tripped into investigating a string of surprising deaths in West Virginia. However as he begrudgingly pokes round, Billet finds that every demise traces again to a chemical plant owned by DuPont, and what unravels is likely one of the nice atrocities dedicated on American soil by a significant company. Billet is aware of he can’t keep quiet, however doing so flips his profession and life at dwelling the wrong way up.

It’s easy however riveting drama, performed by Haynes in an often buttoned up model (followers may anticipate the psychological delirium of Protected or May December). In several fingers, and not using a sensitivity to the human plight and a curiosity for the way cracking open a case like this truly works, Darkish Waters could be fodder for Peacock docuseries shlock. However Ruffalo, haggard and relentless, and Hathaway, taking part in an virtually throw away half as his supportive however drained spouse, burrow a lot deeper than what an hour of Legislation & Order may do. And sure, I tossed all my teflon pans afterward. —Matt Patches

One Extra Shot

Picture: Sony Photos Leisure

Director: James Nunn
Solid: Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Alexis Knapp

The 2021 film One Shot took an opportunity on an experiment: A tactical army motion thriller all introduced in a single take. Star Scott Adkins and director James Nunn reunited for the sequel, One Extra Shot, which takes the stable basis and concepts of the primary film and expands on them in a extra profitable finish outcome. Crucially, the sequel is ready in an airport, which provides a special dimension to the motion and the one-shot gimmick. It was additionally a giant logistical trouble, because the film was filmed in a working airport. The fights are nice (particularly one set on a transferring practice, utilizing the hand rails as weapons and motion aids), and Adkins’ bodily efficiency in these films is breathtaking. It’s among the many extra immersive motion thrillers you can see. –Pete Volk

Towards All Odds

Picture: New Visions/Columbia Photos

Director: Taylor Hackford
Solid: Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges, James Woods

If you happen to’re in search of a steamy, slow-burn drama with picturesque sights and nice performances, Taylor Hackford’s 1984 thriller will completely be in your bag. Primarily based on the novel by Daniel Mainwaring, Towards All Odds stars Jeff Bridges as Terry Brogan, an getting older soccer participant who’s reduce from his group after struggling a debilitating harm. With no different choices, he accepts a job from Jake (James Woods), a infamous gambler, to discover his ex-lover Jessie (Rachel Ward), who occurs to be the daughter of Terry’s ex-boss.

Bridges and Ward have terrific on-screen chemistry collectively as their relationship deepens, and Woods predictably nails it dwelling as a smooth-talking villain with a expertise for conniving and manipulation. As if that weren’t sufficient, the movie itself was pivotal within the creation of 2010’s Tron: Legacy — director Joseph Kosinski modelled the character of CLU after Bridges’ efficiency in Towards All Odds. All in all, it’s a rattling stable thriller. —Toussaint Egan