Best movies like Shock to the System
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A gay detective tries to solve the murder of a college student.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, suspense, detective, sexual, surprise ending, neo noir, independent film, sexy
Best tv shows and movies like Shock to the System (2006):
Similar in 79%
On the Other Hand, Death (2008)
Plot Summary:
A mysterious client of private eye Don Strachey pays him cash to tail a woman who turns out to be an undercover officer; an older lesbian couple are victims of threats and vandalism; an old flame of his lover Tim shows up to support the older couple; neighbors are angry at the couple for refusing to sell out to a developer; and, parents are angry at one of the couple, Dorothy, for being a good guidance counselor to gay teens. Her partner, Edith, wants to move away; Dorothy is adamant about staying. When someone dies in a fire in their barn, the stakes get higher. Don, who does not believe in coincidence, gives the police enough information to stay on their good side as he pursues the truth.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 818
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, detective, queer cinema
Similar in 82%
Pornography: A Thriller (2009)
Plot Summary:
A Thriller weaves together three different but curiously related stories centering on the mysterious disappearance of quintessential “boy-next-door” porn star Mark Anton.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 596
Genere: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: psychological, suspenseful, rough, surreal, sexual, scary, mind bending, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 88%
In the Flesh (1998)
Plot Summary:
A police detective (Ed Corbin) assigned to work a gay bar on an undercover drug operation gets hooked up with a gay student hustler (Dane Ritter). After the student witnesses a murder, the cop provides him an alibi and invites him to stay at his apartment. There a homosexual relationship develops.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 602
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sexy, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy, sexual, detective
Similar in 88%
Death in Buenos Aires (2014)
Plot Summary:
Buenos Aires in the 1980s. Detective Chavez, a family man and a tough cop, once again must solve a mysterious crime. To reveal the identity of the murderer, Chavez must clarify the enigma waiting in ambush to capture his own heart. Passion surprises even the most astute detective. What will triumph: law or desire?.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: Argentina
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, realistic, tragic ending, exciting, suspense, lgbt cinema, crying, detective, queer cinema
Similar in 84%
Third Man Out (2005)
Plot Summary:
Chad Allen stars as gay detective Donald Strachey in this gritty series of crime stories based on the popular novels by author Richard Stevenson. "The Donald Strachey Mysteries" follow Strachey through upstate New York as he works on solving crimes while facing walls of opposition from members of the local police force. In "Third Man Out," Strachey is commissioned to protect gay activist John Rutka, known for "outing" prominent citizens. Strachey abandons bodyguard duty when he feels that Rutka is staging the threats against him. When Rutka turns up dead, Strachey is faced with an extensive list of enemies all with enough motive to kill.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, detective, sexual, surprise ending, neo noir, sexy, queer cinema
Similar in 89%
Hard (1998)
Plot Summary:
Hard is about a gay serial killer and the gay detective who is forced to go after him. It has an interesting story: the closeted gay detective is abruptly forced out of the closet after the killer handcuffs him to his bed and makes off with his badge. He then becomes a suspect himself... and all that.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 531
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: erotic, neo noir, independent film, mind bending, serious, realistic, suspenseful, sexual, crying, homoerotic
Similar in 82%
Cover (2007)
Plot Summary:
When someone is murdered on New Year's Eve, the prime suspect is Valerie Maas, a church-going home-maker whose life unravels when she discovers that her husband of many years has been leading a double life. Her strength of character and faith keep her going as the revelation of her husband's betrayal threatens to destroy all that they have known.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 686
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: serious, psychological, tense, suspense, mind bending, realistic, suspenseful, detective, black cinema
Similar in 82%
No Night Is Too Long (2002)
Plot Summary:
Young Tim Cornish's life has begun with great promise. Blessed with extraordinary good looks, Tim enjoyed much attention and cared little of broken hearts. At University he was a favored student in a prestigious creative writing course, but a chance meeting, a stolen kiss and a sudden flare of passion sets Tim on a journey of betrayal, heartbreak and murder. In a flashback, he tells his story of cruelty, love and a soul-destroying guilt that offers little chance for redemption.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, captivating, suspense, sexual, lgbt cinema, controversial, sexy, queer cinema, gay cinema
Similar in 89%
The Limit (2004)
Plot Summary:
An elderly woman turns the tables on her kidnapper.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, UK
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: psychological, rough, serious, tense, mind bending, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
Ice Blues (2008)
Plot Summary:
This new installment in the popular and critically-acclaimed Donald Strachey Mystery series finds America’s favorite gay private investigator, Donald Strachey (Chad Allen), taking on the most complicated case of his career. After his long-time partner, Tim (Sebastian Spence), asks him to uncover the source of an anonymous and generous donation to the Albany youth center, he gets caught in a whirlwind of deceit and danger. When the lawyer who presented the donation turns up dead, the hard-boiled Strachey must race against the clock to capture the killer before he strikes again.".
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 749
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, independent film, detective, queer cinema
Similar in 90%
Quo Vadis, Baby? (2005)
Plot Summary:
A private detective investigates her sister's suicide 16 years earlier.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, detective
Similar in 81%
Carambole (2005)
Plot Summary:
This film is based upon the book with the same name, by Håkan Nesser, one of Swedens most appreciated "crime-authors".
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 644
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, suspense
Similar in 79%
He Died with His Eyes Open (1985)
Plot Summary:
On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois, a French murder mystery based upon a novel of the same name, is an unusual, involving film with excellent performances by its entire cast. Police Inspector Staniland (Michel Serrault) is investigating the death of a pianist. While conducting his investigation and looking through the victim's apartment, he meets Barbara (Charlotte Rampling), the mistress of the murder victim. Barbara confesses to the crime, but Staniland, based on his observations and experience, does not believe her. He then sets out to find the truth, with surprising results. Both Serrault and Rampling are outstanding in this well-directed, well-paced film. On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois was also released as He Died With His Eyes Open and won the Jury Prize at the 1985 Montreal World Film Festival.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 730
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: neo noir, mind bending, serious, suspenseful, bleak, realistic, detective, gloomy, sexual, sexy
Similar in 90%
Fissure (2008)
Plot Summary:
Still reeling from a personal tragedy, Detective Paul Grunning is sent on a routine call to a local professor's home. When things turn deadly, he must navigate a fractured reality to solve the mystery before it's too late.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 139
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, suspenseful, disturbing, suspense, scary, tense, mind bending, realistic, surprise ending
Similar in 79%
Traces of Red (1992)
Plot Summary:
Jack, a Palm Beach detective, becomes involved in a case of multiple murders. All the women can be linked to Jack in some way. Jack and his partner have no leads, but numerous suspects. The murders continue, along with anonymous letters from the killer.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: neo noir, twist ending, rough, independent film, detective, erotic, mind bending, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 88%
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
Plot Summary:
A visiting city reporter's assignment suddenly revolves around the murder trial of a local millionaire, whom he befriends.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 41000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 155 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, southern gothic, suspense, enigmatic, intense, serious, realistic, gothic, suspenseful, crime thriller
Similar in 79%
Rites of Passage (1999)
Plot Summary:
When lawyer DJ Farraday discovers his father has been having an affair, the two drive out to the remote family cabin to talk things over. What neither expects is that DJ's estranged gay brother Campbell will already be there, apparently planning a weekend retreat with his boyfriend. But father and sons are forced to put aside their grievances when two escaped convicts show up and put everyone's lives in danger.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, serious, suspenseful, suspense, sincere, realistic, independent film, queer cinema
Similar in 81%
The Owls (2010)
Plot Summary:
Two middle-aged, lesbian couples accidentally kill a younger lesbian and hide the body, without reporting it to the authorities. Their guilt and long-kept, dark secret comes back to haunt them, as an unexpected stranger shows up in their lives, bringing tension and discord. Little do they know that this mysterious stranger has a plan which includes all four of them.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 184
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 66 min
Plot tags: neo noir, tense, serious, captivating, psychological, suspense, independent film, bleak, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 90%
Perfect Number (2012)
Plot Summary:
Based on the series by the popular Japanese novelist Keigo Higashino, this is a mystery drama that 'faithfully but freely' adapts the 3rd part in the series, . The story revolves around 3 characters: a woman who unwittingly killed her husband, a math genius next door who sets up a perfect alibi for her out of his attraction toward her, and a detective who closely traces her, finding the alibi suspicious.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: suspense, tense, serious, suspenseful, twist ending, captivating, surprise ending, twisted, unpredictable, realistic
Similar in 88%
The Monkey's Mask (2000)
Plot Summary:
The Monkey's Mask is a 2000 thriller film directed by Samantha Lang. It stars Susie Porter and Kelly McGillis. Porter plays a lesbian private detective who falls in love with a suspect (McGillis) in the disappearance of a young woman. The film is based on the verse novel of the same name by Australian poet Dorothy Porter.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sexy, realistic, suspenseful, sexual, noir, neo noir, clever, serious, contemplative, talky
Similar in 87%
The Badge (2002)
Plot Summary:
A sheriff begins an investigation into the death of a local transsexual after hearing that high ranking politicians may have been involved. Although he is homophobic, his investigation causes him to be rejected by others, forcing him to seek help from the people he once despised.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, atmospheric, detective, neo noir
Similar in 89%
Hate Crime (2005)
Plot Summary:
Robbie Levinson and Trey McCoy suddenly encounter intolerance and hostility at the hands of their new neighbor, Chris Boyd, the son of a fundamentalist preacher.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, realistic, tense, touching, exciting, rough, psychological thriller, lgbt cinema, disturbing
Similar in 77%
The Deep End (2001)
Plot Summary:
With her husband Jack perpetually away at work, Margaret Hall raises her children virtually alone. Her teenage son is testing the waters of the adult world, and early one morning she wakes to find the dead body of his gay lover on the beach of their rural lakeside home. What would you do? What is rational and what do you do to protect your child? How far do you go and when do you stop?.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: neo noir, tense, suspenseful, suspense, emotional, psychological, intense, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 77%
Cruising (1980)
Plot Summary:
A serial killer brutally slays and dismembers several gay men in New York's S/M and leather districts. The young police officer Steve Burns is sent undercover onto the streets as decoy for the murderer. Working almost completely isolated from his department, he has to learn and practice the complex rules and signals of this little society.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: West Germany, USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: disturbing, suspenseful, psychological, detective, sexual, erotic, sexy, cult classic, intense, slasher
Similar in 75%
Skeletons in the Closet (2001)
Plot Summary:
A father suspects his son to be a murderer...or is he just paranoid and trying to cover up his own past which involves his wife being killed in a fire?.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 712
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: psychological, bleak, serious, suspenseful, realistic
Similar in 90%
Murder in Greenwich (2002)
Plot Summary:
The story of Martha Moxley, 15 year old girl murdered in Greenwich in the 1970's, her murder going unsolved for 25 years.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, suspense, novela, talky
Similar in 85%
Lucky Day (2002)
Plot Summary:
Nora Barkin is an aspiring actress who supports herself by working for a courier service. No sooner has Nora's friend and coworker Bill Reagan jubilantly announced that he possesses a lottery ticket worth 13 million dollars than Bill is killed by an unknown assailant. Though discouraged from doing so by investigating detective Marinello, Nora insists upon trying to solve Bill's murder herself.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 345
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, realistic, suspenseful, mind bending
Similar in 75%
The Caller (2008)
Plot Summary:
Jimmy Stevens, a senior VP at an international energy firm, blows the whistle on his company's deadly and corrupt practices in Latin America. Knowing he will be assassinated for his betrayal, he places an anonymous call securing the services of private detective Frank Turlotte to trail him from a distance.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychological thriller, detective, neo noir
Similar in 90%
Gone but Not Forgotten (2005)
Plot Summary:
An Oregon woman vanishes. In her wake remains a single black rose & a note reading gone but not forgotten. Now a man stands accused: a private eye has gone missing: a detective knows more than she lets on: & a tough female attorney has entered a web of duplicity revenge & multiple murder.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 705
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 150 min
Plot tags: tense, realistic, psychological, serious, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
The Rosary Murders (1987)
Plot Summary:
A killer of Detroit clergy confesses to a priest (Donald Sutherland), who turns sleuth because he cannot tell the police.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: disturbing, atmospheric, bleak, serious, neo noir, suspense, independent film, tense, rough, realistic