10 Excellent Overlooked Thrillers from the 90s That You Should Watch

      Tom Jolliffe presents a collection of essential 90s thrillers that have been overlooked…

      The 1990s produced an abundant array of thrillers. In the previous decade, as the blockbuster phenomenon and diverse genre cinema gained traction, traditional potboiler thrillers took a bit of a backseat. Unlike the intense American cinema of 1968-1977, this new wave of the 90s featured obsessive stalkers, relentless serial killers, and femme fatales, giving rise to numerous iconic films that often paid homage to Hitchcock-style storytelling.

      Titles like Basic Instinct, Seven, The Usual Suspects, Primal Fear, and Fight Club emerged, offering a rich variety of narratives. While some were psychologically intricate, others epitomized the spirit of their era (with Fight Club standing out as quintessentially 90s yet still relevant). Amidst this impressive collection, several films were underrated at the time and have become somewhat unfairly forgotten. Here are 10 remarkable thrillers from the 1990s that deserve a second look…

      **Blue Steel**

      Kathryn Bigelow boasts a repertoire of cult classics from her early career. Films like The Loveless, Near Dark, Point Break, and Strange Days each possess unique qualities that have helped them amass dedicated followings. Before Bigelow transitioned to awards-heavy projects with The Hurt Locker, she made Blue Steel, an underrated 1990 thriller focused on obsession.

      With Bigelow's signature visual storytelling flair, Blue Steel features Jamie Lee Curtis portraying a strong, sexually confident character striving for success in a male-dominated police force. Ron Silver plays a Wall Street trader who picks up a gun from a crime scene after Curtis’s character shoots an armed robber, thrusting her into a web of trouble. He becomes increasingly fascinated not only by the gun's power but also by her.

      While Blue Steel may dive into some classic 90s melodrama, Bigelow’s energy gives it a certain pulpy essence and a distinct female perspective, imbuing this masculine genre with its unique style. Curtis shines, and Silver’s portrayal as an underrated villain degenerates into a tribal maniac by the film’s conclusion.

      **The Interview**

      Not widely recognized outside of Australia, The Interview is a gripping thriller in the Hitchcock-Welles tradition, set mainly in a police station's interview room. The film becomes a cat-and-mouse game between suspect and law enforcement, with both parties engaging in mind games. The distinctions between innocence and guilt blur as detectives pursue results by any means necessary.

      Hugo Weaving, who plays our suspect, skillfully presents a perspective that makes him an unreliable narrator. The film’s pacing is superb, and watching it with minimal prior knowledge of the plot enhances the experience as increasingly complex events unfold.

      **The Hand That Rocks the Cradle**

      Following the success of Fatal Attraction, this film contributed to the wave of obsessive character thrillers during that period. Directed with precision by Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential), it rises above its straightforward premise thanks to its craftsmanship and cast.

      Annabella Sciorra and Matt McCoy invite a young woman (Rebecca De Mornay) into their home as a nanny for their son. She harbors ulterior motives, initiating an obsessive game to dismantle their family unit (with Sciorra’s character indirectly responsible for the nanny’s husband’s death). Sciorra senses something amiss, but her suspicions are dismissed as the film escalates towards a more theatrical third act. De Mornay delivers a stellar performance, though her role seems to have been counterproductive for her subsequent career.

      **Single White Female**

      This story of obsession unfolds as a young woman (Bridget Fonda) discovers that her new roommate (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is becoming increasingly infatuated with her, gradually infiltrating her life. The film, deeply rooted in Hitchcockian sensibilities, features a complex interplay of characters within confined spaces. Leigh's performance stands out, showcasing her talent as one of the most underrated actresses of her generation, possibly spotlighted again through Quentin Tarantino's work.

      Like many films of its kind from that era, it stretches the bounds of logic in its climax—yet this, in many ways, contributes to its continued enjoyment. Director Barbet Schroeder, known for his character-driven pieces (like Barfly), infuses the film with psychological depth.

      **Snake Eyes**

      Brian De Palma, a legendary director known for his sweeping visual style, teams up with star Nic Cage, who was at the peak of his box office appeal and establishing himself in action films at that time. Although De Palma seemed to be on a downward trajectory following his adaptation of the 1960s TV show Mission Impossible, Snake Eyes represents a blend of his trademark visual flair and Cage’s exuberant talent.

      Though Snake Eyes may not rank among De Palma's best works, it stands out as the last significant thriller in his film