7 dark and disturbing psychological thrillers that will haunt you long after they end

Some stories don’t just frighten you — they burrow into your mind, linger in your thoughts, and leave behind an eerie aftertaste. Dark, disturbing psychological thrillers belong to that rare category of cinema where fear isn’t loud or sudden, but slow, creeping, and deeply emotional. These films and web series build their tension through quiet dread, unreliable characters, twisted relationships, and human behaviour that pushes past the limits of comfort.

If you’re someone who enjoys stories that challenge the mind, blur the line between reality and madness, and leave you thinking long after the credits roll, these seven psychological thrillers streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5, YouTube, and JioHotstar are perfect for you — but they are certainly not for the faint-hearted.

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1. Iraivan – Netflix

Iraivan is far more unsettling than a typical crime thriller. The story follows Arjun (Ravi Mohan), an emotionally unstable police officer on the trail of a terrifying serial killer known as the Smiley Killer, chillingly portrayed by Rahul Bose. The killer leaves behind twisted clues designed to torment the police and push Arjun deeper into obsession.

As Arjun descends into darkness, the film explores the psychological toll of violence and trauma. Brutal crimes, a suffocating atmosphere, and a protagonist struggling with his own mental cracks make Iraivan a disturbing and intense watch.

2. Barot House – ZEE5

Barot House tells the chilling story of Amit (Amit Sadh), his wife Bhavna (Manjiri Fadnis), and their children, whose peaceful life collapses when their young daughter is murdered. Suspicion creeps into the household, and soon Amit begins believing that their young son might be responsible.

The film masterfully portrays paranoia, fear, and the fragile relationship between parents and children. With its slow-building tension, emotional breakdowns, and unpredictable turns, the movie creates an atmosphere of dread that deepens with every scene.
Its final reveal is disturbing and unforgettable.

3. Mother! – Netflix

A psychological nightmare wrapped in symbolism, Mother! follows a woman known only as Mother (Jennifer Lawrence), whose peaceful home life with her poet husband (Javier Bardem) turns into a surreal, suffocating nightmare when unwanted guests arrive.

What begins as a quiet domestic drama spirals into chaos, emotional manipulation, and symbolic violence. The house itself feels alive, mirroring Mother’s collapsing mental state. Instead of relying on typical horror elements, the film digs into existential dread, obsession, destruction, and the pressure placed on its protagonist. The emotional intensity and claustrophobic storytelling make this film deeply unsettling.

4. Us – ZEE5/Youtube (Buy/Rent)

Jordan Peele’s Us blends home-invasion horror with psychological tension as Adelaide Wilson and her family face their violent doppelgängers — twisted shadows of themselves.

The film builds fear through eerie imagery, silent stares, and unpredictable behaviour from the doubles. As Adelaide confronts buried childhood trauma and hidden truths, the movie layers social commentary with emotional terror. It’s a disturbing reminder that sometimes the monsters we fear most look just like us.

5. Hereditary – Amazon Prime Video

Perhaps one of the most disturbing psychological horror films of the past decade, Hereditary begins as a slow, painful portrait of grief. After the death of their secretive matriarch, a family begins experiencing strange events that expose long-buried trauma.

Annie (Toni Collette) slowly unravels under the weight of guilt and paranoia, dragging the family into a terrifying mental freefall. The dread in Hereditary isn’t just from supernatural elements — it comes from the emotional fractures, psychological breakdowns, and a sense that something is horribly wrong, even in the most ordinary moments.

6. Behind Her Eyes – Netflix

This psychological thriller series begins with a simple love triangle — Louise (Simona Brown), her psychiatrist boss David (Tom Bateman), and his enigmatic wife Adele (Eve Hewson). But as Louise becomes entangled in the couple’s unsettling marriage, the story transforms into something far stranger.

The show weaves in emotional manipulation, gaslighting, dream sequences, and eerie symbolism that grows more disturbing with each episode.
Nothing is as it seems, and the final twist is one of the most shocking psychological reveals in recent years.

Also Read: 7 slow-burn thrillers that prove silence can be the most terrifying sound

7. The Patient – JioHotstar

The Patient is a tightly crafted, claustrophobic psychological thriller. Dr. Alan Strauss (Steve Carell), a therapist, is kidnapped by his patient Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson), who calmly admits he is a serial killer seeking help to control his murderous urges.

Held captive in a locked basement, Alan is forced into therapy sessions that become psychological battles for survival. The confined setting traps both Alan and the audience, making every conversation feel like a ticking time bomb. The fear doesn’t come from violence alone, but from Sam’s chilling unpredictability and Alan’s desperate attempt to understand — and outsmart — him.