7 Best Movies like The Postcard Killings
There are many other films like The Postcard Killings that fans of this suspenseful, crime thriller about serial killings would likely also enjoy.
- "The Postcard Killings" is an instant hit on Netflix, and fans of crime thrillers and true crime will likely enjoy it.
- Films like "Mindcage," "The Little Things," and "The Devil All The Time" share similarities with "The Postcard Killings" and would be appreciated by its fans.
- "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," "Solace," "Monster," and "The Silence of the Lambs" delve into the psychology of killers, providing a unique perspective for viewers who enjoyed "The Postcard Killings."
Based on the novel The Postcard Killers by best-selling author James Patterson and Liza Marklund, The Postcard Killings follows Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a New York City detective who takes it upon himself to solve a series of serial killings sweeping Europe. His newlywed daughter and her husband were victims themselves, giving the grieving Kanon a personal stake in finding and apprehending the killers. He teams up with journalist Dessie Lombard (Cush Jumbo) to try and solve the crimes while the killers continue striking fear into people across the continent, all leading up to The Postcard Killings' shocking ending.
An instant hit when it was added to Netflix, this film was likely enjoyed by fans of crime thrillers and true crime, even though The Postcard Killings isn't based on a true story. There are many other films out there like The Postcard Killings that fans of the film would likely also appreciate. A diverse genre full of terror, suspense, horror, and intrigue, some of these films are clear in their depictions of who's good and who's evil, while others are more ambiguous and give the viewers something more to consider.
7 PHOTOS
7. Mindcage (2022)
Available on Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more
In this film, detectives Mary Kelly (Melissa Roxburgh) and Jake Doyle (Martin Lawrence) attempt to solve a string of copycat murders that are eerily similar to crimes committed by The Artist (John Malkovich), an incarcerated serial killer. Kelly consults with The Artist in order to gain insight from him that could help them find the killer. As The Artist plays mind games with Kelly and offers her cryptic information in exchange for art supplies, Kelly and Doyle embark on a tense, cat-and-mouse game until the startling finale when the truth is finally revealed.
Like The Postcard Killings, this film focuses most of its time on the detectives trying to solve the case. The serial killer, or killers, in Mindcage also took significant inspiration from works of art in their killings and viewed their acts as works of art, just like the killers from The Postcard Killings. Considering these similarities, fans of The Postcard Killings would likely also enjoy and appreciate Mindcage.
6. The Little Things (2021)
Available on Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more
This grim slow-burn thriller sees Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington) working with Sergeant Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) to solve a string of murders plaguing Los Angeles. Deacon is traumatized by a grisly case from his past, impacting his investigation. As Baxter and Deacon become more desperate to solve the case, the film reaches a muted, yet startling conclusion which illustrates just how deeply entrenched the duo became in the case.
Similarly to The Postcard Killings, much of the movie is spent with the members of law enforcement attempting to solve the case. The Little Things expertly explores the psychological impact that cases like this can have on the people investigating them. Unlike The Postcard Killings, however, The Little Things doesn't give much of a look into the psychology of the killer, or killers, in the film, adding intrigue and leaving more for the audience to speculate upon as the credits roll.
5. The Devil All The Time (2020)
Available on Netflix
Based on the novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, The Devil All The Time takes place primarily in the small, rural town of Knockemstiff, Ohio. Many separate storylines in the film, dealing with issues such as grief, crime, the impact of religious fanaticism, and more, converge to tell a violent, tense, and unnerving story that takes place across decades. The film features an all-star ensemble cast, including: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Riley Keough, Mia Wasikowska, and more.
Just one of the multiple plots in the film follows Sandy (Keough) and Carl Henderson (Jason Clarke), a serial killer couple, much like Sylvia and Mac in The Postcard Killings. Also, like the ending of The Postcard Killings, in The Devil All The Time, one half of the killer couple is more reluctant about their murderous acts than the other, leading to a strain in their relationship that shapes the film's finale. Viewers who enjoy not only the horror of films that follow killers but also enjoy other, unnerving explorations of the darker sides of humanity, would likely appreciate The Devil All The Time.
4. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Available on Netflix
Based on the real-life serial killer, Ted Bundy, this film explores Bundy's (Zac Efron) relationship with his girlfriend, Liz Kendall (Lily Collins). The pair fall in love and Bundy seems to even play a role in the raising of Kendall's daughter as their relationship progresses. Kendall is horrified when Bundy is accused of violent murders against many women. When he is arrested and put on trial, Kendall is forced to finally face the truth.
The stellar performances of the A-list cast featured throughout Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile make the film a gut-wrenching look at how, sometimes, even the person that someone loves the most can be capable of truly evil things. This film is similar to The Postcard Killings in that it's centered around serial murders. Where it stands apart, however, is the way Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile explores how grisly crimes like this impact, and are perceived by, the loved ones of the killers themselves. This is a unique perspective that's not always seen in movies of this genre.
3. Solace (2015)
Available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more
This film stars Anthony Hopkins, known for his role as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, as John Clancy, a retired investigator with psychic abilities. He's pulled out of retirement by Special Agent Joe Merriwether (Morgan) to aid him in solving a series of strange, serial killings. Clancy's sixth sense becomes a central piece of finding and stopping the killer, ultimately leading to an unsettling conclusion that suggests the carnage may not be over yet.
Like The Postcard Killings, Solace stars Morgan as a law enforcement officer intent on stopping a serial killer. Considering this, fans who enjoyed his performance in The Postcard Killings would likely also appreciate this film. Audiences who appreciated the open-ended conclusion to The Postcard Killings would probably enjoy the disturbing seeds Solace plants in its tense final moments.
2. Monster (2003)
Available on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and more
Based on the real-life serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, this film explores Wuornos' (Charlize Theron) deeply unsettling descent into violent crime, her burgeoning relationship with Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), and how their relationship shapes Wuornos' eventual incarceration. The story unflinchingly showcases the devastating impacts of poverty and sexual violence. Headlined by Theron's and Ricci's dedicated and breathtaking performances, Monster lingers with the viewer long after the film's conclusion.
Monster is told largely from Wuornos' perspective, giving startling insight into her mind and the psychology of her crimes. Similarly, The Postcard Killings spends some time with the killers, giving the audience an understanding of why they've decided to become serial killers. Viewers who enjoyed the insights gained into the killers' minds in The Postcard Killings would likely be enthralled by Monster and the way the film gives an in-depth look into the mind of a killer.
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Available on AMC+, Amazon Prime Video, and more
This beloved classic follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a student at the FBI training academy intent on solving a string of serial killings. She consults with the brilliant, yet disturbed, incarcerated serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) in an attempt to glean insights to help her solve the case. As Starling tries to dig more into Lector's mind, he seems to peer right back, leading to the film's thrilling conclusion that hints that Lector's story isn't over yet.
In many ways, The Silence of the Lambs has become a treasured media artifact that any fan of horror, thrillers, and films about serial killers ought to see. Like The Postcard Killings, The Silence of the Lambs follows law enforcement officers attempting to solve the crime while also giving a fascinating look into the psychology of serial killers. Considering this, audiences who appreciated The Postcard Killings would likely also enjoy this film.
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