The year 2022 saw awesome psychological thriller shows winning hearts with their engaging plotlines and fabulous performances. These web series ticked all boxes of entertainment — suspense, drama, and mind-blowing twists — that ensured you are hooked to the screen. In these psychological thriller shows, the protagonist and the audience are equally psyched. And, if you are looking for a web series that offers such intriguing content, here’s a roundup of the year’s best psychological thriller shows.
1. Rudra: The Edge of Darkness – Disney+Hotstar
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn makes his OTT debut with this dark, psychological thriller web series. The show is an official remake of the superhit British thriller, Luther, starring Idris Elba in the lead role. In the Indianised version, we see Ajay as DCP Rudraveer Pratap Singh (Rudra), using his super brilliant mind and detective skills to nab psychotic culprits. But, the cases start taking a toll on Rudra, who is dealing with the setback of being suspended for four months after an investigation goes wrong. This action-packed series will keep you on tenterhooks as every episode features some scariest maniacs.
IMDB rating: 6.7
2. Mithya – Zee5
Directed by Rohan Sippy, this intriguing psychological thriller stars Huma Qureshi, Rajit Kapur, Parambrata Chatterjee, Avantika Dassani, and Samir Soni in pivotal roles. Adapted from the British series Cheat, the show chronicles the journey of Hindi professor Juhi Adhikari (Huma) and her student Rhea Rajguru (Avantika). Juhi’s peaceful life is disrupted after the impulsive Rhea becomes obsessed with her. Mind games begin as the two strong-headed women stand against each other. As startling secrets begin to unfurl, the narrative gets addictive as twists and turns keep you glued to the screen.
IMDb rating: 7
3. Severance – Apple TV
This is one of the most mind-boggling psychological thriller shows. The narrative gives a scary peek into what science can do and how the workplace, at times, can seemingly look like a prison. The story revolves around Mark (Adam Scott), working at Lumon industries, who consent to participate in the company’s ‘Severance’ programme. Under this programme, employees undergo a medical procedure that separates their work memories from their non-work ones. Every episode takes the viewers on a tension-filled journey as the ‘severed’ employee Mark and others, start experiencing hallucinations. Mark feels there’s a larger conspiracy at play and starts investigating. The lines between reality and fantasy blur as the severed employees carry on with their lives inside the company.
IMDb rating: 8.7
4. The Patient – Disney+Hotstar
This captivating series stars Steve Carell as therapist Alan Strauss, who is kidnapped by a serial killer, Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson). The latter, however, doesn’t want to kill Alan. Rather, he makes a strange request from Alan in exchange for his freedom and the promise of not killing him. Sam wants Alan to use his skills as a therapist and help him curb his urge to kill people. Steve successfully breaks away from his comic actor image as he slips into the therapist’s skin, taking the audience on a psychologically thrilling ride as he treats Sam.
IMDb rating: 7
5. Black Bird – Apple TV
Taron Egerton stars as James Keene Jr (Jimmy), who is sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling drugs and weapons. He can apply for parole but gets an enticing offer that will let him walk out free of all charges. Jimmy has to elicit a confession from the notorious serial killer and rapist Lawrence Hall, aka Larry, (played by Paul Walter Hauser), who has murdered as many as 14 women. However, Jimmy finds it increasingly difficult to finish his mission when he finds disturbing truths about Larry. This dark web series takes you on a chilling ride as you enter the mind of a serial killer through Jimmy. This is one of the most disturbing psychological thriller shows as you understand more about the serial killer.
IMDb rating: 8.1
6. The Tourist (2022) – Amazon Prime Video
‘Mr Grey’ of the Fifty Shades trilogy, Jamie Dornan, stars in this exciting psychological thriller that promises an adrenaline-fuelled ride. Elliot Stanley (Jamie), an Irishman, wakes in a hospital in Australia, with no recollection of himself or his past life. He is diagnosed with amnesia. To find his identity, he must make do with the little clues that he has on hand, especially before someone from his past catches on to him. The narrative keeps getting interesting as we know more about Elliot, who might not be what we have thought of him to be. The second season is set to release in 2023.
IMDb rating: 7
7. Shining Girls – Netflix
Based on the novel of the same name, the series stars Elizabeth Miss, Wagner Moura, and Jamie Bell in lead roles. It revolves around Kirby Mazrachi (Elizabeth), an archivist, trying to catch the person who assaulted her. For years, she’s been desperately searching for the assistant who was never caught. One day she stumbles upon a murder case that seems eerily similar to her attack. To dwell deep into the cases, she takes help from Dan Velazquez (Wagner), a reporter. As the two dig deeper into the heinous crimes, Kirby starts to lose grip on reality.
IMDb rating: 7.4
8. Suspicion – Apple TV
The lives of five people take an unexpected turn when they find themselves on the suspect list for the disappearance of the son of Katherine Newman, a media mogul. The five then embark on a deadly mission to prove their innocence. As the drama escalates, the testimonies of every person involved starting to look untrustworthy. More mind games ensue with the clock ticking to find the missing child. The drama will keep you hooked as anticipation builds to know who the real culprit is and who is innocent.
IMDb rating: 6.2
9. The Watcher – Netflix
Naomi Watts stars in this thrilling web series that is loosely based on a true story. A married couple moves into their dream home but their happiness is short-lived when they start receiving letters from a stalker. Claiming to be The Watcher, the stalker is always omnipresent, watching every move of the couple. But, what is it that the stalker wants? What’s his/her connection with the couple that warrants such a treatment? Is it just mind games or does the stalker have a motive? The excitement increases when startling revelations leave you unsettled.
IMDb rating: 6.5
