Tyler Perry is behind the twisted thriller Mea Culpa on Netflix, and the movie is a throwback to the days of Hitchcock and DePalma, providing audiences with a gripping and often spicy movie filled with salacious characters and plot twists. If you liked the style and fancy going back to a bygone age of filmmaking, here are 10 thrilling movies like Mea Culpa you should also check out.
10 Movies Like Mea Culpa
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Obsession and lust drive this darkly iconic film that I am convinced started the term “bunny boiler” being used. Aging denizen of the quantum realm Michael Douglas and Nova Prime herself Glenn Close star in this sordid tale that should put you off one night stands for life. Despite the over-the-top ending, this is a gripping and seedy classic that is maybe a little too “of its time” but is still fondly remembered by a certain generation, and managed to get six Oscar nominations.
Gone Girl (2014)
Based on the novel of the same name, bored Batman Ben Affleck and Saltburn resident Rosamund Pike star in this psychological thriller, shocking viewers in the final act. A kidnapping and a growing sense of anxiety infuse this thriller, and you never really feel you know exactly what is going on, which puts this on our list. Tyler Perry is also in the cast so we had to have it on our list.
Sleeping With the Enemy (1991)
Julia Roberts stars in this tense and shocking entry, which follows the story of a woman who takes drastic measures to escape from the most toxic of relationships. She fakes her death and makes a new life for herself, but of course, her crazy husband soon discovers where she is.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Michael Douglas is back for this one, sharing the screen with scene-stealing chair seducer Sharon Stone in this notorious and iconic thriller that follows the story of a former rock star who is murdered during a sex act, and Detective Nick Curran, who is charged with finding out what happened. Controversial and very nineties, the film has one of the most paused scenes ever in movie history — if you know, you know.
A Perfect Murder (1998)
Good grief, Michael Douglas is also in this offering, although this one often flies under the radar regarding top ten lists. This time around Douglas plans to murder his cheating wife, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, and is pretty much a re-imagining of the classic Hitchcock film Dial M For Murder that starred A-List royalty Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. Plenty of suspense and twists put this on our list, and yes, you should also watch the original Hitchcock production too.
Fracture (2007)
Anthony Hopkins is a sinister murderer, both manipulative and confident, representing himself on trial and pitting his wits against Barbie’s punching bag Ryan Gosling, as the prosecutor in the case. The movie exposes flaws in the system and enjoys second-guessing the audience with its twists and courtroom drama.
A Fall from Grace (2020)
Tyler Perry is also behind this thriller, and there are a few similar elements between this and Mea Culpa. It follows another mystery, and a public defender given the case of a woman accused of killing her husband. Perry seems to be honing his skills in the genre and provides another twisty-turny film that finally unravels the real story behind the crime.
Jagged Edge (1985)
The Dude himself Jeff Bridges and Glenn Close, in her second appearance on the list, star in this classic eighties thriller directed by Richard Marquand, who you may remember from Return of the Jedi. The film was a huge box office draw, with its thrilling mystery and steamy on-screen chemistry featuring a brutal murder at a beach house that leaves bereaved husband Bridges with a huge inheritance, but he remains a suspect and has to hire a legal eagle to represent him. But at what cost?
Suspect (1987)
Cher, Dennis Quaid, and Liam Neeson star in this thriller that sees a deaf and mute homeless man suspected of murdering a Justice Department file clerk. Meanwhile, a public defender starts to believe his innocence and tries to find a defense, but is instead faced with deep-rooted corruption.
I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
Starring Betty Grable and Victor Mature, this is a classic noir that precedes and influences everything else on the list. A murdered starlet, set for Hollywood is the center of the story, told in flashback, and the main suspect will do anything to clear his name, but the only person that can help is the murdered woman’s sister. A classic thriller with a twist ending and some strange soundtrack choices.
Do you have any other recommendations for movies like Mea Culpa? Let us know!
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