This Morgan Freeman Psychological Thriller Is a Netflix Hidden Gem—and the Trailer Alone Is Giving Me Serious Goosebumps

One of the many reasons I look forward to the weekend is because I get to catch up on the long list of shows and movies I’ve had sitting in my watchlist. On that list is the psychological thriller Under Suspicion from Morgan Freeman, who like Denzel Washington, possesses a deep filmography worth exploring. Released in 2000, the film sees Freeman starring alongside the late, great Gene Hackman, and the trailer alone teases an intricate storyline full of dramatic curveballs and goosebump-inducing moments. In it, Freeman takes on the role of veteran Police Captain Victor Benezet, who suspects a prominent tax attorney (Hackman) is behind the murder of a young girl whose body he’d discovered just days prior.

Well, the tax attorney has to be hiding something, right? Why would he, of all people, just so happen to randomly find the body of a young girl? The suspicion from investigators is warranted, but the truth behind what’s actually going on is one that is surprising. A French film directed by Stephen Hopkins, Under Suspicion first made its debut at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, and is based on the 1979 novel Brainwash, and the 1981 movie Garde à vue. The film would go on to premiere in the United States in September of that year, where it received mixed reviews from critics. 

The reviews for Under Suspicion were and still aren't that favorable, as the movie currently holds a 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but the film is currently drawing a dedicated audience of its own, with one reviewer writing, “While this movie is very formulaic, it is highly underrated due to its theme and messages that left me in awe with its unforgettable third act.” Another reviewer adds, “The sparks of the film's intelligence in handling the intertwining storyline which unravels in the space of a restricted time setting is admirable and keeps the film interesting.”

The reviews point towards Under Suspicion being an underrated thriller that has you asking plenty of questions along the way, which is exactly why I’m giving it a watch.

You can stream Under Suspicion on Netflix.