Television series
Thriller
Other titles called Thriller: the 1973 series (ITV1), the 1979 film, the 2018 film.
- Crime thriller
- Dip in and out
Boris Karloff presides over an hour-long anthology that pivots from crime noir to psychological horror with unsettling grace. Each episode is a tight, standalone story—some gruesome, some sinister, all deliberately crafted to unsettle. It's for anyone who loves the modulation of dread, the pleasure of a perfect closed ending, and Karloff's warm, sardonic presence as a host who seems to know exactly what you're about to witness.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy old-fashioned anthology television where each self-contained hour is a neat little trap, and you like a host who winks at the camera before the door creaks open.
Skip it if you want a story that carries forward from one week to the next, since every episode resets with new characters and nothing builds across the run.
What it asks of you: Settle in for an hour at a time, with each episode asking for patience through slow, deliberate build-up before the sharper turns arrive in the last minutes.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Twilight Zone1959
Contemporaneous anthology series that similarly balances genre storytelling with genuine philosophical bite. Each episode delivers a complete, often darkly funny moral reckoning in under an hour.
But Can feel dated; some episodes rely on twist endings that are now fairly predictable. Pacing varies wildly across seasons.
Tales of the Unexpected1977
Roald Dahl-hosted British anthology with the same arch sensibility and impeccable craftsmanship. Dark, witty, and always landing its stories with surgical precision.
But Shorter episodes (around 25 minutes) and a smaller scope than Thriller. Some feel more whimsical than properly unsettling.
The Outer Limits1963
An anthology that leans harder into sci-fi horror with the same commitment to mood and practical effects. Features genuinely creepy practical creature design and some of the era's best atmospheric storytelling.
But Budget constraints show; some monsters are unconvincing by any standard. Pacing can drag in the middle acts.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Thriller
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Curse of the Cat People1944
Both understand that the most effective horror comes from lingering psychological unease rather than spectacle. Each episode of Thriller works the same way—what you imagine is worse than what you see.
A horror sequel that quietly reinvents itself as a melancholic ghost story about childhood loneliness and maternal grief. The scares are subordinate to genuine emotional darkness—unsettling in a way that lingers long after.
But Moves slowly and demands patience; there's very little action. If you want jump scares or creature effects, you'll be disappointed.
More like this (7)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962
Hour-long anthology with Hitchcock's caustic wit woven through crime and suspense stories. The longer format allows for richer character development and more elaborate setups than his shorter-form show.
But Hitchcock's involvement is mostly as a figurehead; quality varies depending on the actual director. Some episodes are more setup than payoff.
Night Gallery1969
Rod Serling's visual-art-focused anthology explores horror and the macabre with painterly atmosphere. Shorter stories that are often bizarre, sometimes brilliant, never quite what you expect.
But Inconsistent in quality; some segments are barely sketches. The visual gimmick wears thin, and Serling's narration occasionally overwhelms the material.
The Invisible Man1975
This sci-fi crime thriller anthology has the same lean efficiency Thriller perfected, with clever premises and tight resolutions. Each episode asks 'what if' and follows through with rigor.
But Sci-fi effects are extremely primitive even for the era. Some episodes are more quaint than thrilling by modern standards.
Peter Gunn1958
If you love the crime side of Thriller, this sleek detective series delivers noir atmosphere, sharp dialogue, and Henry Mancini's iconic score. Each episode crackles with style and urban menace.
But It's entirely crime-focused with no horror element. The lightweight plots sometimes feel secondary to the aesthetic.
The Saint1962
Stylish adventure-crime anthology starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar. Urbane, clever, and capable of genuine tension alongside the glamour. Each episode is a complete caper.
But Leans toward adventure and wit over anything genuinely dark or frightening. Often feels more concerned with charm than consequence.
In the Mood for Love2000
Both prize visual precision and mood over narrative rush. Thriller episodes often feel like miniature films with enormous emotional weight in a small space. This film does the reverse—an enormous emotional landscape compressed into 98 minutes.
Wong Kar-wai's film is an anthology in miniature: a series of charged, precisely composed moments about desire, suspicion, and the stories we tell ourselves. It has thriller DNA in its narrative architecture but expressed through visual poetry instead.
But Glacially paced with minimal plot; it's about atmosphere and emotion, not incident. If you need plot momentum, this will feel like watching paint dry in slow motion.
Anatomy2000
Both use episodic structure to explore how ordinary institutions harbor extraordinary darkness. Each segment reveals something new about the system; the full picture only emerges through accumulated detail.
A German horror film that functions as an anthology of small horrors accumulating into dread. Medical students are inducted into a secret society; each 'test' is a discrete nightmare. It has Thriller's episodic structure and its faith in slow-building terror.
But Unrated, genuinely gruesome in places. Sustained body horror and institutional cruelty—not for viewers squeamish about gore or exploitation.
People
Cast
Boris KarloffHost
Directing
- Edward K. DoddsAssistant Director
- Frank LoseeAssistant Director
Production
- Doug BentonAssociate Producer
- William FryeProducer