Conspiracy thrillers are never out of fashion in the film industry. One person fighting back against a secret government plan only they know about is an excellent hook for a story. Franchises like The Bourne Identity and Mission Impossible prove how well this concept can stand the test of time.
The long-running franchises tend to overshadow some of the standalone films in the genre, but there are some excellent hidden gems available for those that are craving excitement. With well-laid assassination plans, corrupt government agencies, and weird cults trying to harvest an ancient power there's something for everyone with these underrated conspiracy thrillers.
Enemy of the State
This 1998 thriller was directed by the late Tony Scott and stars Will Smith and Gene Hackman. Smith plays Robert Clayton Dean, a lawyer who becomes mixed up in a plot to assassinate a congressman by rogue NSA agents. Unfortunately for the rogue agents and Dean, a biologist has recorded the murder as part of his wildlife surveillance and as he runs, he slips the video into Dean's bag.
Once the agents identify him, they set about ruining his life and framing him as he fights to clear his name and bring the truth to light. The film is fast-paced and dramatic, leaving the audience almost no time to catch a breath. Smith puts in an excellent performance and is a likable and desperate man who is easy to root for against Jon Voight's rogue NSA agent.
Red Eye
This Wes Craven-directed thriller takes place in the skies on a red-eye flight to Miami. Hotel manager Lisa (Rachel McAdams) is heading back home and after a brief conversation with a man, Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy), at the airport bar, Lisa boards the plane. To her surprise the man from the bar is seated next to her, and they settle in for an uneventful trip.
The man with the not-so-subtle name that's a nod to Jack the Ripper, soon reveals himself to be a domestic terrorist looking to take out the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. He reveals that Lisa is integral to the plot because the target is staying at her hotel. From here it becomes a tense cat and mouse game where Lisa attempts to warn others on the plane without getting her or others killed. Red Eye is a slim 85 minutes long and wastes none of it, with the tension ramping up quickly and staying there. McAdams portrays a strong and capable protagonist while Murphy is supremely creepy.
Hudson Hawk
Hudson Hawk is a bizarre oddity of a film that was a failure on release but has since found a cult following. The mix of slapstick comedy, cartoonish sound effects and crime caper as well as Bruce Willis' leading performance as Eddie "Hudson" Hawk. Hawk is a cat burglar and safe-cracker who ends up on the wrong side of every criminal organization in the area along with the CIA and his parole officer. On top of that Mayflower Industries is a massive conglomerate looking to build a fabled machine that turns lead into gold.
The film is a completely over-the-top conspiracy adventure thriller, with Hawk having to deal with everything from the mafia to a secret Vatican agency, and it's non-stop action. Hawk has to decide who to trust, how to stop Mayflower and deal with a fleet of CIA agents named after candy bars. While this isn't the most serious film, it is a thrill ride from start to finish and Andie MacDowell's dolphin impression needs to be seen.
Halloween III: Season of The Witch
Famed for being the only Halloween film without Michael Myers, Halloween III is a horror film, but it is also a conspiracy thriller. Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins) is drawn into a conspiracy centered around Silver Shamrock, a company that produces Halloween novelties and masks. After a man is killed is mysterious circumstances under the care of Challis, his daughter comes to Challis for help. The two agree that something strange is happening related to Silver Shamrock and take a journey down to the factory.
Once inside the factory they uncover a plan to use microchips implanted in each mask to kill huge swathes of the population when the chips are activated by a special commercial presentation by the company. Those in charge of Silver Shamrock have stolen a piece of Stonehenge and are using fragments of it in the making of the masks which enable them to kill. People affected by the masks will be killed as swarms of insects and snakes tumble from their bodies. With witch cults, androids and catchy jingles, Halloween III is an unlikely conspiracy thriller, but it definitely is one.
The Nice Guys
Directed by Shane Black and set in 1977, The Nice Guys stars Russell Crowe as Jackson Healy and Ryan Gosling as Holland March. March is a Private Investigator hired to look into the death of porn star Misty Mountain, whose aunt swears she is still alive. March ends up teaming with Healy, a violent enforcer hired by friend of Misty, Amelia, to find out what has really happened to her.
The film has become something of a slow building phenomenon, especially since it was added to the Netflix roster. A comedy conspiracy thriller with a similar style to Shane's previous film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys has a fast pace "now what?" feel that doesn't get old as March and Healy come up against blue faced thugs, Amelia and the automotive industry in an effort to discover the truth about Misty Mountain.