Buzz
New York City: the birthplace of raw, revolutionary, and boundary-pushing cinema. In contrast to Los Angeles, New York gives filmmakers the freedom to express their artistry without the constraints of Hollywood. While often working with smaller budgets, directors here use financial limitations to fuel their creativity. The city's vibrant, high-energy atmosphere serves as inspiration for countless films that have become some of the most unnerving and suspenseful works of modern cinema.
10. Requiem For A Dream
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this harrowing 2000 psychological drama pulls no punches in depicting the catastrophic effects of addiction. With unforgettable performances from Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, and Marlon Wayans, the film follows four individuals on Coney Island as they descend into chaos, unable to escape their craving for their respective vices. It is a stark portrayal of the suffocating grip that addiction holds on its victims.
The legendary Roger Ebert praised Aronofsky's ability to convey the emotional turmoil of his characters, calling it 'fascinating.' On the movie's NC-17 rating, which many considered too harsh, he remarked, 'Anyone under 17 who is thinking of experimenting with drugs might want to see this movie, which plays like a travelogue of hell.'
9. Rosemary’s Baby
A groundbreaking psychological horror film from 1968, directed and written by Roman Polanski, Rosemary's Baby tells the chilling story of a woman's harrowing pregnancy. Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy (John Cassavetes), a young couple, move into their first apartment in New York City, where Rosemary soon becomes pregnant. Isolated in their apartment, she grows increasingly suspicious of the elderly neighbors. As her paranoia escalates, she believes they are part of a satanic cult intent on using her baby for their dark rituals.
Based on Ira Levin’s 1967 novel, Polanski’s screenplay brings to life a terrifying tale. In 1980, the 'quiet, pensive, and insecure' Levin reflected on his childhood influences for horror, saying, 'I don’t recall being scared at all. Now, I’m terrified.' Vanity Fair later described Rosemary’s Baby as 'the most cursed hit movie ever made.'
8. The Devil’s Advocate
Keanu Reeves plays Kevin Lomax in this 1997 supernatural thriller/horror directed by Taylor Hackford. Kevin, a defense lawyer in Florida, moves to New York with his wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), after receiving an offer for a lucrative position at a prestigious law firm. The firm’s enigmatic leader, John Milton (Al Pacino), soon draws Kevin into a world of temptation and dark secrets.
As Kevin becomes absorbed in his demanding job and enjoys its many luxuries, Mary Ann begins to experience terrifying hallucinations and starts to unravel mentally. As her condition worsens, Kevin comes to a shocking realization: his boss, John Milton, may actually be Satan himself.
Fun Fact: The private apartment of Donald Trump at Trump Tower, with its extravagant gold decor and panoramic views of Central Park, was used as the home of Kevin’s client, Alex Cullen (Craig T. Nelson).
7. Fatal Attraction
Adrian Lyne’s 1987 thriller is a gripping story of love, lust, and obsession. Dan (Michael Douglas), a successful lawyer in Manhattan, leads a content life with his wife, Beth (Anne Archer), and their daughter. However, his world is upended when he has a brief affair with Alex (Glenn Close), an editor. What begins as a casual weekend fling quickly spirals into a dangerous obsession as Alex insists on more, threatening Dan’s family and his life.
When Dan's family returns, he tries to distance himself from Alex, but her obsession only grows. Unable to accept the end of their affair, Alex becomes increasingly aggressive, stalking Dan and terrorizing his family. As her behavior becomes more erratic, Dan realizes that protecting his family is now his top priority, far above hiding the affair.
Producer Sherry Lansing initially wanted Barbara Hershey for the role of Alex, but Hershey was unavailable. Other actresses on Lansing’s wish list included Melanie Griffith, Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, and Debra Winger.
6. Dressed To Kill
This 1980 neo-noir slasher film, written and directed by Brian De Palma, follows New York City prostitute Liz (Nancy Allen) who witnesses the brutal murder of housewife Kate (Angie Dickinson). As the police suspect Liz to be the murderer, the real killer sets out to silence her, as she is the only one who knows the truth. Kate's son, the only person who believes Liz, teams up with her to uncover the mystery behind his mother's death.
De Palma, a New York native, found making the film in the city to be 'pretty terrific.' He commented, 'It’s so amazing to shoot all over the city and in different places. Of course, they did the interior of the museum in Philadelphia, but the film was shot in New York, so that was really cool.'
5. American Psycho
Christian Bale portrays Patrick Bateman in this 2000 black comedy psychological horror film co-written and directed by Mary Harron. By day, Patrick is a charming, young New York City investment banker whose world revolves around preserving his appearance, social standing, and competing to be the most admired by his colleagues. By night, however, he gives in to his dark impulses, torturing, killing, and occasionally even consuming those unfortunate enough to cross his path.
What begins as a depiction of a narcissistic serial killer’s daily routine morphs into a psychological maelstrom as reality begins to disintegrate. Patrick's desperate attempts to cover up his tracks blur the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined, leaving the audience questioning whether any of his deeds actually happened.
At one point, the studio doubted Bale’s star power for the role of Bateman, and American Psycho nearly became an Oliver Stone film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. However, activist Gloria Steinem allegedly dissuaded DiCaprio from taking on the role to maintain his appeal with young female fans from Titanic. In an odd twist of fate, Steinem later married David Bale, Christian Bale’s father, just five months after the film's release, becoming Bale’s stepmother.
4. Eyes Wide Shut
Stanley Kubrick's final film, 1999's Eyes Wide Shut, is an erotic psychological mystery. It follows the story of Bill (Tom Cruise) and Alice (Nicole Kidman) Hartford, an affluent New York City couple. Bill, a respected medical doctor, and Alice, a devoted mother, live a seemingly perfect life until one night, after using marijuana, Alice reveals that she once harbored intense sexual fantasies about another man, fantasies so powerful she would have left their family for him.
This new information awakens something in Bill, who had previously prided himself on being free from jealousy. He becomes consumed with this knowledge, replaying the scenario over and over in his mind. His obsession drives him to wander the streets of New York City late at night, where he stumbles upon a secret society’s masked ball. The following day, after returning to his seemingly normal life, he learns that a woman he encountered at the party has been found dead.
One character cynically remarks, 'Life goes on. It always does until it doesn’t.' Stanley Kubrick passed away just four days after finishing the film.
3. Taxi Driver
In this 1976 psychological drama directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a reclusive insomniac who drives a cab through the gritty streets of New York City. After crossing paths with a campaign worker named Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), Travis hatches a plan to assassinate a presidential candidate. After narrowly avoiding a campaign event with a gun in hand, Travis shifts his focus to Iris (Jodie Foster), a 12-year-old prostitute he feels compelled to rescue.
Fun Fact: Jodie Foster, who was only 12 years old during the filming, wasn't allowed to take part in the most graphic scenes. Instead, her 19-year-old sister, Connie, stepped in as Jodie’s body double.
2. Jacob’s Ladder
In this 1990 psychological horror film directed by Adrian Lyne, Jacob (Tim Robbins), a war veteran, finds himself waking up in a New York City subway after returning from the Vietnam War. Now working as a postal clerk, he lives in Brooklyn with his girlfriend.
Jacob is haunted by the memories of his past life and the tragic death of his child. As he struggles to cope, he begins experiencing intense flashbacks and disturbing hallucinations. His reality begins to fracture as people and places distort into terrifying and nightmarish forms.
Lyne had considered a range of major stars for the lead role, with Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino all expressing interest. However, both Don Johnson and Mickey Rourke ultimately turned down the opportunity.
1. Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s unforgettable 2010 psychological horror film takes viewers on a relentless, heart-pounding ride from start to finish. The film features flawless writing, direction, and performances. Natalie Portman stars as Nina Sayers, a dancer with a New York City ballet company, still living at home with her overbearing mother, portrayed by Barbara Hershey. Nina, innocent and naïve, is thrilled when the company’s artistic director Tomas (Vincent Cassel) selects her for the highly coveted role of the Swan Queen in their upcoming Swan Lake production.
However, the role demands that Nina portray two very different characters—the pure, innocent White Swan, which she embodies effortlessly, and the sultry, wicked Black Swan, a part more suited to her rival Lily (Mila Kunis). As tension grows between the two dancers, the fierce competition and mounting pressure to retain the role and deliver a flawless performance send Nina spiraling into madness, plunging her into a destructive journey of self-doubt and turmoil.
Initially, Aronofsky had contemplated weaving ballet into the plot of The Wrestler, envisioning a storyline about a love affair between a wrestler (the embodiment of 'low art') and a ballerina (the symbol of 'high art'). However, he soon realized that blending the worlds of wrestling and ballet would be too vast a concept for just one film.
