Psychology

These films show us a side of science which concerns the human mind. 

1. Take Shelter; Jeff Nichols Click here to see trailer

This movie is advertised as a scary, end of the world thriller, but once you start watching you realise what is more scary - being the only person who can hear and see the horror and not being believed. Curtis (Michael Shannon) has a loving family and a good job, when he starts to have horrific apocalyptic nightmares and hears thunderous noises during the day. No one else can hear these noises, and are very suspicious when he puts his life aside to build a storm shelter. The townsfolk and his wife's family suspect he is suffering from schizophrenia, as his own mother does as well. 

2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Milos Forman Click here to see trailer

Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) plays the court system by pretending to have a mental illness in order to avoid punishment for his numerous crimes. He is sent to a state mental hospital and while in there meets a large array of people who fall for his charisma and free spirited thinking. The nurses are not quite so impressed though. 

3. Side Effects; Steven Soderbergh Click here to see trailer

This film shows how people may lie, keep secrets, betray, and even murder, to get what they want. When Emily's (Ronney Mara) life is taken away from her after her husband (Channing Tatum) is arrested, she spirals into a dark depression and seeks help from a famous psychiatrist Dr Banks (Jude Law). The medication she is put on though has some serious side effects, one of which is sleepwalking. This sleepwalking gets her into more trouble than she could imagine, and Dr Banks faces the brunt of media outrage and strives to clear his name. 

4. Stonehearst Asylum; Brad Anderson Click here to see trailer

If you would like to enjoy this movie's twists and turns, do not watch the trailer! I gives away almost everything. Based on the story by classic horror writer Edgar Allen Poe, you can expect a dark and strange tale. A young and enthusiastic worker Edward (Jim Sturgess), comes to the asylum to be taught by a well respected psychologist. His coworkers seem to be hiding something though, and he is helped by beautiful pianist Eliza (Kate Beckinsale) to discover the secrets of this hospital. 

5. A Beautiful Mind; Ron Howard Click here to see trailer

Genius John Nash (Russel Crowe) makes his mark of the academic world by creating a new concept in mathematics. He is soon picked up by the pentagon to break their hardest codes. This job is shrouded in mystery though, and keeping his stress, fear, and work a secret from his wife and friends becomes unbearable - especially because they don't believe what he is doing to be real. 

6. Girl, Interrupted; James Mangold & Jonathan Kahn Click here to see trailer

I was never much of a fan of Angelina Jolie until I saw this film. Set in the 1960s, young Susanna (Winona Ryder) attempts to commit suicide after ending high school and not wanting to go to college. She is placed into a mental hospital by her parents. Although she despises it at times, she ends up making close friends with many other of the girls there - but most of all the sociopathic free spirit, Lisa. 

7. Donnie Darko; Richard Kelly Click here to see trailer

This sci-fi is based on the strange mind of young man Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his imaginary friend who has him do bizarre and specific crimes. After Donnie survives a plane's engine falling through the roof, he becomes fascinated with time travel and starts to see into the future. 

8. A Dangerous Method; David Cronenberg Click here to see trailer

We've all heard of the famous psychologists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, and this film shows us some of the secrets and scandals behind the pair and their work. Jung (Michael Fassbender) meets a young Russian woman (Keira Knightly) who seemingly has severe mental disorders and uses her as an experiment subject for a new therapy. He also falls for her charms and begins an affair with her.