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HBO Max has really cornered the market in a lot of ways. Sure, one could make the argument that prestige television has found a new home on Apple TV+, the premium streamer is still pumping out quality shows and movies. And the future does look bright, as fans will be treated to even more Game of Thrones spin-offs and prequels, as well as superhero fare like Lanterns.
While those sound intriguing, I actually enjoy HBO Max mostly for its thriller shows. From tense cop mysteries to horror-tinged supernatural shows, the streamer has a little something for everyone. But some of the best that it has to offer are the ones that leave me lost in my own emotions, unable to comprehend what I just watched for days or weeks.
The Outsider
Not your average detective show
Based on the Stephen King book of the same name, this is a mystery show that is not what it seems. After a murder seems like an open-and-shut case, contradicting facts come to light that throw everything we think we know on its head. Like most King stories, there’s a big supernatural element at the center, including the existence of a creature that takes the form of humans to escape its horrific crimes. It’s a dark and terrifying tale, and what it has to say about identity and trauma will keep you up at night.
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The Outsider is a slow-burn thriller, but once it picks up, it rides that momentum all the way to the finish line. And with a cast including the likes of Ben Mendelsohn, Jason Bateman, and Cynthia Erivo, there’s plenty of talent to keep you invested. There were talks of a second season, but it has seemingly not come to fruition. Personally, I think that’s a good thing, because the ending is serviceable enough as is.
Oz
Classic prison thriller/drama
Oz is one of those shows that I avoided for a long time. Not because I thought I would hate it, but because I had seen some of its more brutal clips and didn’t know if I would have the stomach for it. But once I watched it, I kicked myself for waiting too long. There’s something about this show centered on the lives of prisoners that stuck with me long after its six seasons had wrapped.
It’s one of those paranoia-fueled thrillers that kept me awake some nights. It’s not a horror show by any means, but some of the events that these prisoners go through, and the tragedy baked into them, left me in something of an existential crisis. This was the first one-hour drama ever produced by HBO, and they kicked things off with excellence.
Oz
TV-MA Crime Drama Release Date 1997 — 2003-00-00 Network HBO Max Showrunner Tom Fontana Writers Tom Fontana, Bradford Winters, Sunil Nayar, Sean Jablonski, Sean Whitesell
Cast
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Ernie Hudson
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Terry Kinney
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Harold Perrineau
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Eamonn Walker
Genres Crime, Drama Powered by
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Mare of Easttown
Murder mystery anchored by an incredible performance
Maybe not a thriller in the traditional sense, but filled with highly tense moments that absolutely wrecked my emotional state, Mare of Easttown is a murder mystery show that truly rises above genre conventions. A lot of that is due to the brilliant performance from Kate Winslet, but the writing by Brad Ingelsby does a lot of heavy lifting as well.
Centered on the murder of a teenager, Mare of Easttown does a fantastic job of exploring the world of its fictional suburb. The characters feel alive, especially Mare herself (Winslet), as they deal with the fallout of this grizzly crime and the effects it has on everyone’s lives. I’m a sucker for a good murder mystery, but this was so much more than that.
Mare of Easttown
TV-MA Drama Mystery Crime Release Date 2021 — 2021-00-00 Network HBO Showrunner Brad Ingelsby Directors Craig Zobel
Cast
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Kate Winslet Marianne 'Mare' Sheehan
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Jean Smart Helen Fahey
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Julianne Nicholson Lori Ross
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Angourie Rice Siobhan Sheehan
Genres Drama, Mystery, Crime Powered by
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True Detective
The first season, at least
Another murder mystery show that one wouldn’t think would be as thrilling as it is, True Detective succeeds because of its performances and the strange nature of its decades-spanning case. I’m specifically talking about the first season here, because True Detective is an anthology series, and I don’t believe future seasons quite measure up to the first.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s performances are the stuff of acting legends, and they’re the reason that first season has remained beloved since its first season. But the occult elements and gripping action sequences are also big elements that make this season such a delight.
True Detective
TV-MA Drama Mystery Crime Release Date January 12, 2014 Network HBO Max Showrunner Nic Pizzolatto Directors Cary Fukunaga
Cast
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Matthew McConaughey Rust Cohle
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Colin Farrell Ray Velcoro
Genres Drama, Mystery, Crime Powered by
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Tokyo Vice
Gorgeous visuals with disturbing themes
I wasn’t immediately sold on this series because its protagonist, Jake (Ansel Elgort), is the least interesting aspect, but everyone else is just too good to ignore. I love that it explores the darker side of Tokyo and the criminal element without devolving into stereotypes or white-savior complexes. It would have been very easy to fall into that trap.
Unfortunately, Tokyo Vice was canceled after just two seasons, which is a shame because I believe there was still some fuel left in the tank. The ending of the second season is still somewhat satisfying, however, and well worth the time investment.
Tokyo Vice
Crime Release Date 2022 — 2024-00-00 Directors Josef Kubota Wladyka, Michael Mann, Alan Poul, Hikari Writers Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast
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Ansel Elgort
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Rachel Keller
Genres Crime Powered by
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Sharp Objects
Amy Adams at her best
Let’s finish things off with yet another murder mystery that features some truly chilling moments throughout its eight-episode run. Sharp Objects shines because of its writing, Gothic atmosphere, and a truly career-defining performance from Amy Adams as an investigative reporter who returns to her hometown to investigate two murders.
This alone would be enough to recommend the series, but Adams’ empathetic performance as Camille moves beyond the realm of murder mystery. She’s a deeply complex character, with a history of mental health issues and alcoholism. This could have been a disaster in the wrong actor’s hands, but Adams is not in the wrong hands. I actually liked this more than the book it’s based on.
Sharp Objects
Crime Drama Mystery Release Date 2018 — 2018-00-00
Cast
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Amy Adams
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Patricia Clarkson
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Chris Messina
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Eliza Scanlen
Genres Crime, Drama, Mystery Powered by
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HBO is making some of the best thrillers around
As far as thrillers that really live in your brain afterward, there’s no better network out there than HBO Max. These are just some of the examples that prove that claim, and they’re absolutely worth your viewing time. But if you’re on the lookout for something else, check out these crime documentaries that will chill you to the bone.
