Best movies like Before He Wakes
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Initially cleared of "accidentally" killing her husband, an idyllic wife and mother comes under suspicion when police learn that her first husband also perished under similar circumstances. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that she'll stop at nothing to protect her secrets.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 250
Genere: Thriller, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like Before He Wakes (1998):
Similar in 84%
The Hawk (1993)
Plot Summary:
Housewife Annie Marsh suspects her husband might be The Hawk, a brutal serial killer. Complicating matters is the fact that she once was incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital. When she discovers she does not have the happy marriage she always believed and begins to piece together the times and dates of her husband's frequent absences, her fears begin to take hold, and her sanity deteriorates.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 488
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 75%
The Perfect Mother (1997)
Plot Summary:
Since self-made immigrant Nico Podaras's death, widow Elenie runs his lucrative garage, with an illegal side business, generously using the profits to keep control of their three sons' lives. Simpleton Dan is happy to sire the crucial heir without hesitation to keep unruly, immature wife Charlene in line, but goes to far, so she absconds pregnant. Firstborn John gave up his dream, fishery, to work in the garage. When he marries Kathryn, she starts questioning and resisting Elenie's matriarchal manipulation, but bares her a grandson. The conflict escalates, leaving John torn between loyalties.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 333
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: depressing
Similar in 81%
What Happened to Bobby Earl? (1997)
Plot Summary:
Rose Earl is proud as a peacock when Bobby, her eldest, whom she raised, like his kid brother Michael, to become moral men an model citizens, is the first member of the modest family ever to get accepted at college. It will take a while till she starts getting aware of it, but after he joins a respectable fraternity Bobby becomes ever more influenced by his roomy, the ambitious Tom Stahl, who promises him the world as they form an unbeatable team.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 239
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
Across the Line (2000)
Plot Summary:
Across the Line (2000) is a truthful representation of both hope and corruption, focusing on critical events transpiring at America's border with Mexico and known both to those who live on the "line" (physical and metaphorical) and to those with the courage to cross it. Further it is a fine example of the filmmaker's art, featuring convincing portrayals underpinned by a convincing script and the directorial talent of Martin Spottl.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 355
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 81%
Fate (2003)
Plot Summary:
Serial killers have plagued the American landscape for decades, committing gruesome atrocities, and providing some tough cases for criminal investigators to crack. This thriller follows the travails of two detectives who are on the trail of a bizarre murderer intent on slaughtering his victims, then using them as real-life puppets in a tale that he is trying to tell. The plot holds a key to the whereabouts of the monstrous deviant, but the detectives have to unravel it quickly before more unsuspecting citizens become theater fodder for the unhinged madman.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 177
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
Savage (2011)
Plot Summary:
There was a double homicide on the forgotten Swedish countryside several years ago. Two angry young men beat two young women to death, seemingly without any particular reason. The years passed but the images in our heads did not disappear. We tried to forget it, wrote screenplay after screenplay, but we always came back to those murders, and to telling the story about a part of Sweden that we never read about in newspapers, and that is populated by people whose thoughts and destinies rarely reaches beyond their village.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 353
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Sweden
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: independent film, mythical
Similar in 88%
Appointment for a Killing (1993)
Plot Summary:
Joyce thought she had made the dream marriage. Her husband, Stan, is a successful, handsome dentist, and Joyce, who grew up in poverty, cannot believe her good fortune. But her charismatic husband has a dark side that is about to engulf and destroy Joyce's entire world.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 206
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story (1993)
Plot Summary:
The take-down of an infamous leader of a small polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group, who ordered assassinations of his opponents.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 275
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 76%
Midnight Edition (1993)
Plot Summary:
After interviewing a convicted killer, a reporter becomes obsessed with his mesmerizing subject. When his life is threatened, he comes to his senses, but it may be too late to save his family.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 66
Genere: Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: neo noir, independent film
Similar in 87%
In Broad Daylight (1991)
Plot Summary:
The fanatically uncompromising Len Rowan and his family insult and terrorize the citizens of a small town for years. One day the comment of a saleswoman about Len's son not being able to pay his sweets triggers off his persecution complex. As revenge for the believed insult, the whole family starts stalking the shop owner and her husband... until this escalates and the old man gets badly injured. Len is arrested, but gets off, free on bail. His clever attorney delays the court session for more than a year - while Rowan keeps threatening the witnesses. But then, the people feel they've had enough of this and decide to take the law in their own hands.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 819
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: spooky
Similar in 78%
Gone in the Night (1996)
Plot Summary:
A couple is unjustly accused of the murder of their daughter. Based on a true story and book of the same title.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 785
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 190 min
Plot tags: dark
Similar in 87%
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter (1992)
Plot Summary:
The sequel to "A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story" in which Betty Broderick is on trial for the murder of her ex-husband and his new wife.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 639
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013)
Plot Summary:
True story based on Jodi Arias, a seductive 28-year-old aspiring photographer found guilty of killing her former lover, Travis Alexander, who was found nude in his home shower with a slit throat, 27 additional stab wounds and a bullet to the head. While investigating the violent killing, Mesa, Arizona police retrieved a digital camera from Alexander’s washing machine, revealing shocking images authorities claim Arias took during their sexual escapades, as well as during and after his murder. While Jodi pled not guilty and contends she killed Alexander in self-defense, police concluded that when he broke off their relationship, she stalked her ex-boyfriend and seduced him one final time before murdering him in cold blood. Her subsequent trial has been grand theater, dominating the cable news networks as she testified in her own defense and offered explicit insight into the sex, lies and obsession that led up to Alexander’s murder.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspense, disturbing, psychological, sexy, crime thriller
Similar in 86%
A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992)
Plot Summary:
After sixteen years of marriage and four children, Betty Broderick's high-powered attorney husband decides to leave her for a younger woman with whom he's been having an affair. Hurt by his betrayal and feeling helpless against his legal expertise, Betty begins a campaign of vandalism and verbal assault. Her rage consumes her and ultimately leads to a terrible and violent act.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, biting, suspense, ridiculous
Similar in 76%
Murder or Memory: A Moment of Truth Movie (1994)
Plot Summary:
A mother fights to prove her 14-year-old son is innocent of a murder he confessed to under hypnosis.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 143
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: factual
Similar in 78%
Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story (1995)
Plot Summary:
True life drama about a working mum (Henner) whose life is put back in jeopardy when the man who was convicted of stalking her (Savant) and killing her cousin comes up for parole.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 138
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
If Looks Could Kill (1996)
Plot Summary:
The true story of John Hawkins as featured on America's Most Wanted.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 299
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 89%
Night of the Hunter (1991)
Plot Summary:
A false preacher ingratiates himself with a dead man's family to find where he hid the money from a robbery.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 337
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: psychotronic
Similar in 84%
Freak Out (2003)
Plot Summary:
In 1977, teenager Wayne (Nick Foster) gathers his two friends, female runaway Rhonda (Sarah Ogg) and disco club hopper Tim (David Gobble), for a drug party located in the suburban home of quiet recluse Dean (Brad Jones). But unknown to Tim and Rhonda are the horrible secrets which lie in Dean's basement storage room. Dean is the uncaptured child murderer who uses his basement as a torture dungeon with the help of Wayne and fellow teenager David (Buford Stowers). When the drugs and alcohol mix get higher throughout the night, not even so called friends are safe from the sadistic bloodlust of Dean. Inspired by the true story of notorious serial murderer Dean Corll.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 101
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 82%
Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders (1994)
Plot Summary:
TV movie based on the novel "Blood Brothers," about the murder of Jose Menéndez and his wife Kitty by their sons, Erik and Lyle.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 165
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 86%
Amy Fisher: My Story (1992)
Plot Summary:
This sensational true story of a near fatal attraction left Mary Jo Buttafuoco paralyzed for life and made Amy Fisher America's most infamous teenager. Imprisoned 5-15 years for a crime she confessed to Fisher has nothing to lose by telling how it was-her way, her story. Deception, Promiscuous Sex, and Violence.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 248
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: neo noir
Similar in 77%
Blue-Eyed Butcher (2012)
Plot Summary:
Lifetime biopic based on the story of Susan Wright. Susan appeared to be the model wife and mother, living the fairytale life, literally married to Mr. Wright. In a shocking turn of events, the media dubs Susan Wright the "Blue-Eyed Butcher" when her loving husband is discovered buried in the backyard, with close to 200 stab wounds.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: suspense, bleak, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 82%
A Is For Acid (2002)
Plot Summary:
John George Haigh, the notorious "acid bath murderer" in 1940s England, becomes the subject of this dramatisation.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 816
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: psychological, suspense, disturbing
Similar in 87%
Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story (1993)
Plot Summary:
Elizabeth Montgomery plays serial killer, churchgoer, and grandmother Blanch Taylor Moore in this, one of her last films before her untimely passing. Childhood memories of her womanizing and abusive father fill Moore with a hidden rage towards all men. Her former boyfriend, first husband and father all died of arsenic poisoning. Now her fiancé, the town's minister, is stricken the same way. Based on the true crime book Preacher's Girl: The Life and Crimes of Blanche Taylor Moore, the film is buoyed by Montgomery's startling performance, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until its final moments.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 309
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Deadly Intentions (1985)
Plot Summary:
Katherine married Dr. Charles Raynor. She later discovers that Raynor is a sadist who torments her physically and mentally. She divorces him and take their child away. He then decides to kill her but when his plot is discovered he is charged with attempted murder and brought to trial.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 444
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: spooky
Similar in 80%
The Todd Killings (1971)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of '60s thrill-killer Charles Schmidt ("The Pied Piper of Tucson"), Skipper Todd (Robert F. Lyons) is a charismatic 23-year old who charms his way into the lives of high school kids in a small California town. Girls find him attractive and are only too willing to accompany him to a nearby desert area to be his "girl for the night." Not all of them return, however. Featuring Richard Thomas as his loyal hanger-on and a colorful assortment of familiar actors in vivid character roles including Barbara Bel Geddes, Gloria Grahame, Edward Asner, Fay Spain, James Broderick and Michael Conrad.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 404
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: slasher, splatter, independent film
Similar in 77%
Death Benefit (1996)
Plot Summary:
Steven Keeney is a big corporate lawyer who decides to take on a small-time murder case to discover the true circumstances behind the death of a young girl. Virginia McGinnis is the one suspected of pushing the women off the cliff to collect on a small insurance policy. The further he goes into the case the more he reveals about the background of the suspect. Keeney finds support from others who also want to find out the truth behind the case.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 175
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychological, independent film
Similar in 81%
Rampage (1987)
Plot Summary:
Rampage delves into the subject of legal insanity, so often the default defense in modern-time gruesome crime trials. Alex McArthur plays an outwardly normal guy who goes on incredible killing and mutilating sprees until (and even after, when he escapes for a short time) he's captured. When he comes to trial, the liberal DA (Michael Biehn) is torn between his own leftist leanings and the reality of the heinous crimes for which the accused is being tried. He must argue for the death penalty.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: christmas horror, cult classic, action thriller, independent film, psychological, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 86%
Unabomber: The True Story (1996)
Plot Summary:
The real story behind the hunt for Theodore J. Kaczynski, later known as the Unabomber, a terrorist who sent several bombs through the mail, alarming authorities and society. The movie follows a postal inspector who tracks down the suspect; a obstinate detective; and Kaczynski's brother, who suspected of Ted after the publishing of his manifesto explaining the reasons for the bombings.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 495
Genere: Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989)
Plot Summary:
The true chilling story of the "two of a kind", killing cousins Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, better known as the Hillside Stranglers, is told in this TV drama.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 754
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful