16 Entertaining Films Where the Killer is Hiding in Plain Sight

In the world of cinema, there’s nothing quite as chilling as a killer who successfully conceals their true identity, often in plain sight. These 16 movies masterfully keep audiences guessing as the murderer lurks undetected.

1. The Usual Suspects (1995)

Bryan Singer’s iconic crime thriller keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they try to uncover the identity of the enigmatic Keyser Söze. The film’s intricate plot and brilliant performance by Kevin Spacey make it a classic example of a hidden killer.

2. Primal Fear (1996)

In this legal thriller, Edward Norton plays Aaron Stampler, a seemingly innocent altar boy accused of murder. Norton’s mesmerizing portrayal keeps audiences in the dark until the shocking truth is revealed.

3. Saw (2004)

The Saw franchise is notorious for its intricate traps and hidden killers. Jigsaw, the mastermind behind the deadly games, proves that evil can thrive right under your nose.

4. Prisoners (2013)

Denis Villeneuve’s suspenseful thriller follows a desperate father, played by Hugh Jackman, who takes matters into his own hands when his daughter goes missing. As the plot unravels, the true villain emerges from the shadows.

5. Scream (1996)

Wes Craven’s self-aware slasher film keeps audiences guessing until the very end. The killer’s identity is shrouded in mystery as they taunt their victims with horror movie trivia.

6. Clue (1985)

This classic murder mystery film based on the popular board game is filled with eccentric characters, all with secrets to hide. The killer’s true identity remains a delightful mystery until the final revelation.

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

In this gripping adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel, Rooney Mara’s Lisbeth Salander uncovers a dark family secret. As she investigates a decades-old disappearance, the killer’s true nature slowly comes to light.

8. Frailty (2001)

Bill Paxton directs and stars in this psychological thriller, playing a father who believes God has tasked him to kill demons in human form. As the story unfolds, the true nature of his mission becomes increasingly disturbing.

9. Copycat (1995)

Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter team up in this crime thriller to catch a serial killer who patterns his murders after infamous killers of the past. The killer’s hidden identity keeps the characters and the audience in suspense.

10. The Bone Collector (1999)

Denzel Washington plays a quadriplegic detective, and Angelina Jolie is his assistant in this suspenseful thriller. Together, they hunt down a serial killer in New York City, with the killer hiding in plain sight.

11. Kiss the Girls (1997)

In this adaptation of James Patterson’s novel, Morgan Freeman’s detective character investigates a serial kidnapper and murderer who manages to elude capture through cunning manipulation.

12. Along Came a Spider (2001)

Morgan Freeman reprises his role as Detective Alex Cross, this time pursuing a kidnapper hiding in plain sight, close to the investigation itself.

13. Taking Lives (2004)

Angelina Jolie stars as an FBI profiler on the trail of a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. As she delves deeper into the case, the killer’s true face becomes more and more elusive.

14. The General’s Daughter (1999)

John Travolta plays an army investigator probing the murder of a high-ranking officer’s daughter. The closer he gets to the truth, the more he realizes that the killer is someone he least expects.

15. The Lovely Bones (2009)

Peter Jackson’s haunting drama follows a young girl who watches over her family from the afterlife after she is murdered. As her family seeks justice, they come to realize that the killer is far closer than they ever imagined.

16. A Perfect Getaway (2009)

In this suspenseful thriller, a group of hikers becomes suspicious of other vacationers they encounter on a remote Hawaiian island. The film keeps audiences guessing about the true identity of the killers until the shocking reveal.

14 Little Lies That Everyone Tells at Some Point in Their Life — Have You?

Have you ever been a liar-liar with your pants on fire? We all have, at some point in our life, told lies. Some are big, while others are to spare someone’s feelings, but a lie is a lie. Here are 14 lies that we tell or have told someone in our lives.

• 14 Little Lies That Everyone Tells at Some Point in Their Life — Have You?

15 Songs That Will Emotionally Break You Every Time You Listen

Are there any songs that emotionally destroy you? There are several that move me, but none like the final song on this list. It guts me every time. Here are 15 incredibly moving songs that will wreck you.

• 15 Songs That Will Emotionally Break You Every Time You Listen

14 Really Dangerous Things That People Treat as If Entirely Safe — Do You?

Is there anything you do or notice others doing like they are safe when they aren’t? While I am confident, the list is long — after someone asked an internet community: “What’s really dangerous but everyone treats it like it’s safe?” — Here are their honest confessions. Do you agree?

• 14 Really Dangerous Things That People Treat as If Entirely Safe — Do You?

15 American Customs That Foreigners Admit Make Absolutely No Sense

I recently ran into a fun question on a popular internet forum. A member asked the Non-Americans what American custom makes no sense to them. Here are their honest confessions.

• 15 American Customs That Foreigners Admit Make Absolutely No Sense

15 Once True Things That Are No Longer Truth Anymore — Do You Remember?

So many things that were once true in my lifetime are no longer true today. For example, my math teacher told us we needed to learn math because we wouldn’t carry a calculator in our pocket all day. While it’s still true that you need to learn math, you do have that calculator today. Here are several other former truths.

• 15 Once True Things That Are No Longer Truth Anymore — Do You Remember?