13 Must-See Movies Like Parasite for Thriller Fans

Searching for movies like Parasite that challenge expectations with their bold storytelling and sharp social commentary? Our list highlights thirteen must-see thrillers for independent film fans who value originality, complexity, and a fresh perspective on class and society. Each recommendation was chosen for its unique blend of suspense, depth, and the kind of unconventional narratives that define Level 33 Entertainment’s approach to cinema.

1. Burning

Burning is essential viewing if you crave thrillers with depth, ambiguity, and a slow build that pushes you to sit with uncertainty. When we talk about “movies like Parasite,” Burning always tops the list for indie fans who want to be challenged, not just entertained.

What makes Burning unmissable for the serious cinephile?

• Psychological tension that grows steadily—every scene pulses with unseen threat.

• Fuzzy moral boundaries—what is real, and whose truth counts?

• Searing take on class, youth, and alienation in modern South Korea.

Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami and directed by Lee Chang-dong, this film exploded onto the global festival circuit and left critics wrestling with its mysteries. You get long, atmospheric takes and raw, lived-in performances—especially Steven Yeun’s enigmatic antagonist. The heart of the story is a working-class deliveryman who gets entangled with an old friend and her wealthy, secretive companion. Unanswered questions spiral as the film presses on issues of privilege, invisibility, and resentment—echoing the social critique central to Parasite.

If you crave stories that go beyond surface explanation—stories that force you to question everything—you’ll find Burning a must-see. This is a film that sits with you, opens itself slowly, and never quite lets you off the hook.

Key Ways Burning Delivers for Indie Thriller Fans:

• It refuses easy answers—ambiguity is intentional, not a flaw.

• Focuses on the emotional and economic anxieties driving its characters.

• Leaves room for multiple interpretations and spirited debate.

• Shines with visual skill—every frame feeds the tension.

• Rewards viewers who enjoy piecing together meaning themselves.

Don’t just consume—interrogate. Burning rewards those who want films to push boundaries and leave questions behind.

Craving another film that blurs lines between reality, illusion, and social commentary? Burning stands out in the canon for indie movie lovers who want to get a little uncomfortable and ask, “What did I just watch—and why do I feel this way?”

2. Shoplifters

Let’s move from psychological unease to an intimate family story packed with quiet rebellion and sharp class commentary. Shoplifters, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is a standout for anyone searching “movies like Parasite” who also values stories about bonds forged on the margins.

This film follows a ragtag group scraping by through petty theft and day jobs, forming a makeshift family in the process. It’s warm, humane, and heartbreakingly honest about what society chooses to overlook. Shoplifters won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, staking a bold claim that small, personal stories can deliver the most powerful critiques of inequality.

What can you expect here as an indie film enthusiast?

• Unconventional family dynamics that challenge traditional ideas of kinship.

• A layered, slow reveal of secrets—nothing spoon-fed or simplified.

• Lived-in realism that puts the dignity and struggle of marginalized people front and center.

Kore-eda invites you to question lines drawn by law versus the lines drawn by care and necessity. The performances feel as authentic as home videos, making you root for every character—even as you reckon with their choices.

Why Shoplifters Resonates with Fans of Social Satire:

• It approaches poverty and survival from the inside, not as tragedy porn.

• Calls out the hypocrisy and rigidity of mainstream morality.

• Balances warmth and devastation—never manipulative, always real.

• Shows nuance in every interaction and leaves judgments up to you.

If you finished Parasite wanting to see class conflict through a different cultural lens—one that swaps violence for emotional honesty—Shoplifters is your next stop.

Stories of society’s “invisible” families tell us as much about the mainstream as they do about those on the margins.

You’ll find yourself questioning what makes a family legitimate, what survival demands, and how stories like this reshape the conversation around dignity in indie cinema.

3. Memories of Murder

If you’re hooked on Parasite’s sharp tonal shifts and dark, unflinching look at society, Memories of Murder is a direct lineage you shouldn’t miss. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, it’s a masterclass in suspense, black comedy, and the pain of unresolved trauma.

This isn’t a typical police procedural. It’s inspired by real events—Korea’s first known serial murder case—and it throws you into a rural world where authority is fallible and justice is never assured. You’re not just tracking a criminal. You’re watching police flounder, community fracture, and society fail to find answers.

Here’s what matters for the indie-inclined viewer:

• You see raw, flawed characters who never get a clean arc or redemption.

• The film takes risks with tone—laughter flips to horror, suspense flips to absurdity.

• Ambiguous endings add more weight, leaving you thinking about it long after the credits roll.

Memories of Murder earned major awards, yes. More importantly, it built the DNA that Bong Joon-ho would refine in Parasite. The sense of injustice, the class undertones, the way humor hides pain—all echo through both films.

Key Takeaways for Indie Thriller Lovers:

• Expect real stakes: procedural failure, community fear, unresolved grief.

• Characters and plot don’t fit into neat boxes. You have to sit in the discomfort.

• Stunning visuals and tight pacing keep you locked in.

• The film treats the serial killer story as a way to critique social order—never just a whodunit.

Great thrillers don’t just deliver answers—they force us to live with the questions society can’t handle.

If you appreciate indie films as spaces for asking tough questions, not just providing escape, Memories of Murder is unmissable. It’s a clear ancestor to Parasite and an anchor point for Asian cinema’s global reputation.

4. The Housemaid (1960)

You want to know where Parasite’s DNA starts? The Housemaid is ground zero—a 1960 thriller that shook Korean cinema and reset what the world thought movies could tackle.

Directed by Kim Ki-young, The Housemaid is a domestic horror film with sharp edges. A middle-class family hires a housemaid to keep up appearances. Control slips. Chaos erupts. Obsession and betrayal follow, all inside the supposedly safe walls of home.

This film doesn’t just provide shock value—it tears down the illusions of respectability and exposes just how fragile social order can be. It was decades ahead of its time in the way it handled taboo and taboo-breaker alike.

Indie Film Lessons Straight From The Housemaid:

• Dissects class, gender, and morality without preaching—they’re baked into every scene.

• Plays out almost entirely within a single house, cranking up the tension.

• Unpredictable—you never know where loyalty lies, or what anyone’s next move will be.

• Influenced generations of filmmakers explaining both class horror and social critique.

The Housemaid rarely gives you time to rest—twists and revelations drop throughout. If your taste leans toward tight, claustrophobic thrillers that say more with silence than dialogue, it’s a required film.

Hidden dangers and social collapse don’t start onscreen—they start from the unspoken deals inside every home.

Fans of experiential indie films won’t just see a curiosity from the past. You’ll spot the seeds that sprout into Parasite—layered commentary, the blurring of victim and aggressor, and a final act that leaves you staggered.

5. The Handmaiden

Now, upgrade the intrigue, add visual splendor, and throw in multi-layered deception—what do you get? The Handmaiden. This is Park Chan-wook in peak form, mixing erotic thriller, period drama, and razor-sharp social commentary.

Set in 1930s Korea under Japanese rule, The Handmaiden tells a twist-heavy story of power and manipulation. Every member of the small main cast is working an angle. Scenes repeat from shifting viewpoints, flipping your understanding and expectations with each pass. You can’t coast on first impressions—every detail might mean its opposite by the next act.

What stands out for the indie-minded viewer?

• Radical narrative choices—unspools the story from multiple perspectives, letting you play detective.

• Bold visuals filled with coded symbols of class, gender, and repression.

• A plot that turns its shocks into commentary, not just empty thrills.

The Handmaiden won dozens of international awards and became a landmark for queer and feminist cinema worldwide, not just in Asia.

Why This Film Hits So Hard for Fans of Narrative Complexity:

• It rewards rewatching—you always notice something vital you missed.

• Power, class, and autonomy drive every decision. You’ll question who is truly in control.

• Visual details tell the real story, not just the script.

• The combination of suspense, sexuality, and rebellion offers something unique in the indie canon.

Films that fully trust their audience to keep up often deliver the richest payoffs.

If what you want is mastery—high craft, subversive storytelling, and emotional punch—The Handmaiden needs to be on your list of movies worth dissecting.

6. Oldboy

If you want to feel shaken—rudely, brilliantly shaken—put Oldboy high on your list of “movies like Parasite.” Directed by Park Chan-wook, this isn’t a film content to provoke mild discomfort. It wants more. Oldboy takes vengeance, memory, and captivity and turns them into an all-out test of your nerve.

Our community of indie film lovers has always celebrated movies that take big risks, especially those with moral ambiguity. Oldboy is one of the loudest, most relentless examples out there:

• You get a protagonist who spends years locked up for reasons unknown.

• Violence and betrayal escalate with every act, each twist sharper than the last.

• The plot is ruthlessly unpredictable—no one gets off easy, viewer included.

This film’s impact runs deep in film circles for a reason. It’s not just the Grand Prix win at Cannes or the famous hallway fight scene. It’s the way Oldboy flips whose side you’re on, making you feel complicit. It tears down the idea of neat revenge stories, instead offering a tangle of generational trauma and unresolved guilt.

Core Elements for Indie Audiences Seeking Stories That Bite Back:

• Psychologically dense—with themes of memory, trauma, and manipulation.

• Visually audacious—uses color, cuts, and choreography to keep the energy at ten.

• Refuses comfort or moral clarity—nobody wins, everyone pays.

• Forces you to reconsider what you expect from thrillers and their so-called resolutions.

True indie greatness refuses to play by the rules—and Oldboy breaks nearly every rule there is.

If your appetite is for stories that refuse to end where you expect, push you into harsh truths, and stay with you like a stone in your shoe, Oldboy defines that experience.

7. I Saw the Devil

Now let’s go even darker—direct confrontation with cruelty, morality, and vengeance. I Saw the Devil, directed by Kim Jee-woon, is not gentle on its audience. And that’s exactly why indie fans turn to it when looking for true thrillers that disrupt, not indulge.

Here’s the setup: a secret agent’s fiancée is murdered by a serial killer. The agent hunts the killer, but instead of ending the chase, he decides to draw it out. Violence begets violence; rules crumble.

If your standards for “movies like Parasite” include unflinching explorations of power and powerlessness, this film delivers:

• The lines between justice and evil erode fast.

• Each act of revenge twists the moral stakes further.

• Vengeance is a cycle, not a cure. You experience both sides’ pain.

Why do indie fans flock to movies this raw? Because I Saw the Devil turns vengeance into a philosophy examination, not just a device to rack up body count. It’s a difficult film, one that won’t fit into conventional streaming queues or awards roundups, but it demands attention.

What You Get with This Film if You’re All In:

• Relentless pacing—no wasted scenes, no filler.

• Two powerhouse leads who act with their whole bodies.

• Visual style that amplifies despair and obsession.

• Questions that stick: When does revenge turn you into the very thing you hate?

The most powerful films don’t provide relief—they force growth and reckoning.

When you’re ready for a genre breakthrough, I Saw the Devil measures whether you want your thrillers to challenge what you believe about right, wrong, and everything between. That’s what sets standout indie fare apart.

8. The Chaser

For those who demand intensity, The Chaser hits the mark. This film launches you into a frantic search, using real-life horror as its backdrop. Think: tension that leaves you on edge, with every assumption up for grabs.

Na Hong-jin’s directorial debut follows an ex-cop-turned-pimp hunting for the women who have vanished from his ranks—right as the police seem more interested in paperwork than catching a killer. The inspiration? South Korea’s notorious serial killer cases, which adds weight to every scene and keeps you guessing.

What sets The Chaser apart for indie fans:

• Unconventional pacing—big reveals happen early, flipping thriller norms.

• Gritty realism—nobody is fully “good” or “bad.”

• A sense of urgency that doesn’t let up. You feel the desperation, the late-night streets, the moral ambiguity.

You’ll find it’s more than a crime story. The Chaser questions the very systems designed to keep people safe—and how those systems break down when it matters most. The anti-hero lead pulls you in, but the unpredictability is what keeps you watching.

Why Indie Fans Gravitate to The Chaser:

• You get flawed, fully human characters making real-time decisions.

• The film balances suspense with real emotional stakes.

• Twists are earned, not forced.

• Social critique is embedded—not tacked on for drama.

The Chaser shows you how fragile hope can be when the world stops following rules.

This is the kind of film that rewards viewers who crave risk, energy, and a willingness to sit in the discomfort of uncertainty. For those who don’t want “safe,” The Chaser proves indie thrillers can go further.

9. Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer brings class war onboard a speeding train—literally and metaphorically. While it marks Bong Joon-ho’s English-language debut, its radical energy and biting satire places it squarely in any “movies like Parasite” discussion. If you crave original worldbuilding and pointed, accessible critique, this is a must.

You’re introduced to a post-apocalyptic world: the last of humanity circles a frozen earth in a train split by class. The poor live in squalor, the rich in comfort. The revolt starts from the back, surging through each section with escalating stakes. Details in design and dialogue spell out the differences between privilege and want—nothing subtle here, but always clever.

What makes Snowpiercer essential for our readers?

• A concept that physically embodies class division—every movie set piece reinforces the theme.

• Characters who defy stereotypes. Heroes, villains, and victims all come with layers.

• Action that serves the story—each fight scene and confrontation moves the critique forward.

Snowpiercer connected with international audiences for a reason, sparking conversations and inspiring a series. If you appreciate movies that blend genres, push messages, and keep you thinking, this is the next stop on your journey.

What Indie Film Lovers Should Watch for:

• Visually inventive—pays off every metaphor with world-class set design.

• High-concept, but still deeply personal. You care about every loss.

• Deliberate pace and structure mirror the film’s uprisings—urgency driving every decision.

• You get class commentary with action and high stakes.

When films put societal hierarchies on rails, you see how entrenched—and how breakable—these divisions are.

If you admire bold risks and want genre with meaning, you can’t skip Snowpiercer.

10. Ready or Not

Ready or Not turns the trope of “outsider vs. the wealthy” into a suspense-packed, blood-spattered game. It’s a smart horror-thriller with teeth, blending laughs with palpable danger—a perfect fit for indie fans who want social commentary and fun in equal measure.

The setup: A woman marries into a rich family, only to discover survival is now a game—literally. The comedic beats never overshadow the dark undertone, as the film savages rituals, privilege, and the desperation to maintain status.

Why does this film resonate with the indie crowd?

• It satirizes the upper class with sharp wit—every character is an exaggeration, but not a caricature.

• Strong, resourceful main character refuses to be a victim—she adapts, fights back, and earns your respect.

• Twists pile up—each more absurd and satisfying than the last.

This isn’t just another horror flick. Ready or Not knows exactly what it’s doing, poking fun while making you root for the underdog.

Ready or Not’s Indie Credentials:

• Surprises at every turn—predictable is not on the menu.

• Humor that highlights the absurdity of wealth and tradition.

• Strong pacing—never lingers, never lets you get bored.

• Commentary is clear: tradition and wealth are often shields for cruelty.

The most satisfying thrillers let outsiders win by rewriting the rules.

This is a film for those who want a fresher, wilder kind of indie thriller. Social satire has rarely been this sharp—or this entertaining.

11. The People Under the Stairs

Class critique and horror meet head-on in The People Under the Stairs—a film that was ahead of its time. It’s Wes Craven at his most subversive, deconstructing what lies beneath the surface of the “perfect” family home.

You follow a young boy trapped in a house owned by a monstrous, rich couple. What looks like a Gothic fairy tale is actually a shot at gentrification, systemic greed, and social stratification. Craven doesn’t hide his intent; the film uses secret doors and hidden rooms to reveal the rot at the center of privilege.

Why does this matter for fans of unconventional indie movies?

• It exposes the gap between appearance and reality—we see the cost of wealth built on suffering.

• Stakes are real—the safety of children and outsiders is always in peril.

• Dark humor runs throughout, but never undermines the horror.

This film still resonates because housing and class remain urgent topics. Indie enthusiasts will spot the DNA that runs through Parasite and beyond.

How The People Under the Stairs Delivers for Indie Audiences:

• Blends satire and suspense—a tricky mix, handled confidently here.

• Memorable villains—the “respectable” become monstrous.

• Tightly contained setting amps up tension—no escape, nowhere to hide.

• Timeless critique—gentrification and exploitation framed as horror.

When privilege hides monsters, thrillers reveal them.

Dive into this one for a mix of horror, comedy, and biting insight—proof that old-school indie films can still lead tough conversations.

12. Burning (Double Feature Suggestion: Cure)

For those who like their thrillers ambiguous and atmospheric, pairing Burning with Cure offers next-level depth. Both films dig beneath everyday life, exposing slow-burn anxieties and violence that never fully resolves. If you believe the best movies resist simple answers, these two deserve your attention.

Start with Burning—a modern Korean touchstone. Then cue up Cure by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a minimalist Japanese crime thriller that keeps dread hovering over every interaction. Both share DNA in their refusal to explain everything or point fingers—audiences are left to confront uncomfortable truths.

Why are these two so rewarding for indie fans?

• Slow pacing lets tension seep in—you notice details, not just plot twists.

• Characters act from deep, unsettling motivations. Not everything is explained.

• Violence, when it arrives, is shocking because it’s earned, not gratuitous.

Both films reward close watching and rewatching. You’ll leave with theories, questions, and possibly a new favorite director. Cure’s minimalist style also directly influenced Bong Joon-ho, so you can trace the indie thriller lineage straight from one film to the next.

Why This Pairing Stays With You:

• Both films use ambiguity as a tool—not every mystery is meant to be solved.

• Psychological depth forces you to look at your own assumptions about guilt and responsibility.

• Subtle critiques of modern alienation and isolation run through each story.

• Indie cinema takes risks—these films prove those risks pay off.

When thrillers resist closure, they become part of your thinking long after the film ends.

If you crave complexity, layered emotion, and class-conscious subtext, grasp the opportunity to double up on these slow-burn essentials.

13. Mother (Madeo)

Mother (Madeo), from director Bong Joon-ho, delivers a character-driven thriller that packs emotional force along with sharp social critique. Here, a mother will do anything to protect her intellectually disabled son, accused of a terrible crime. What unfolds is equal parts whodunit, black comedy, and exploration of justice gone off the rails.

Why does Mother strike a chord with indie film enthusiasts? It’s a study in extremes—how far will someone go for family? At what point does protection cross into obsession? The film’s unpredictable pacing keeps you alert, offering moments of absurdity right alongside devastation.

Kim Hye-ja’s central performance is ferocious and nuanced. The moral questions? Never easy. Every discovery leads to another doubtful layer. No heroes stand unexamined.

Why Mother Is Essential for Indie Fans:

• Shifts tones with skill—from despair to absurdity and back.

• Questions the justice system—who gets protected, who gets blamed.

• Central character’s choices force you to empathize and judge at the same time.

• Visual and narrative precision—every shot, every twist means something.

The best indie thrillers make your loyalties waver—and your heart race.

If you want a story where social issues and storytelling fuse into something unforgettable, add Mother to your queue.

What All Great Movies Like Parasite Have in Common

If you’ve made it this far, you know: not every thriller can stand beside Parasite. The best “movies like Parasite”—ones we’re passionate about sharing—build a tension that goes beyond plot. They upend expectations, play with genre, and leave you questioning where your loyalties lie.

Let’s break down what separates these films from the mainstream. This is your roadmap for picking the next must-watch indie thriller and getting the most out of every minute.

Core Qualities That Set These Films Apart

We see patterns. These films share DNA:

• Genre-blending—comedy, horror, and drama fuse into bold, original stories.

• Relentless social commentary—you’re not just following a character, you’re examining a system.

• Dark humor and moral ambiguity—no easy comforts, no cartoon villains.

• Refusal to play safe—risk-taking is the rule, not the exception.

Every choice, every beat, serves a purpose—unmasking class divisions, exposing hidden rot, using space and silence as weapons.

Why Indie Audiences Crave This Experience

You’re not here just for plot. You thrive on:

• Stories that make you work. You’re piecing together meaning, not waiting for a clean ending.

• Characters who defy cliché. No easy heroes, no perfect victims.

• Directors who trust you. If you pay close attention, you’re rewarded with layers of meaning and surprise.

The indie film world thrives on this ethos, and so do fans like you—open to discomfort, ready for nuance.

What To Watch For: A Fast Checklist

When seeking the next Parasite-level hit, look for:

• Distinct director vision that sets the tone and style immediately.

• Class and power dynamics woven into every aspect, not just the script.

• Visual symbols—stairs, rooms, doors, and spaces—as clues to status and struggle.

• Tension that rises until it’s almost unbearable, then shatters expectations.

• Endings that don’t offer simple closure, but keep the conversation going.

Independent movies reward close attention, open minds, and a taste for risk. They give you more—every rewatch, every pause, every detail.

The Indie Advantage: Why the Mainstream Can’t Compete

Mainstream movies often chase formulas. Indie films like the ones on this list break them:

• You get authentic voices, not calculated compromises.

• Social critique is sharp, current, and unavoidable.

• Every scene feels deliberate. No filler, no safety nets.

• There’s space for the marginalized and the unconventional—stories rarely told elsewhere.

You support new perspectives and emerging filmmakers when you dig deeper into this world—something we take pride in every time we bring new titles to passionate audiences.

Why Korean and Non-Western Thrillers Hit Different

Let’s answer a common question: Why do thrillers from Korea (and beyond) stand out? Because they embrace cultural specificity while connecting to universal fears. They’re informed by national trauma, an openness to experiment, and investment in art that respects the audience.

Expect to see:

• Narrative risks—surprising structure, bold character arcs.

• Unique visuals—locations and homes that symbolize bigger truths.

• Social urgency—class and power are never background noise.

These are films you never outgrow. They meet you where you are—and push you further.

If you seek originality, risk, and impact, these films become lifelong touchstones.

Every time you choose an indie thriller with grit and guts, you’re part of this movement. You’re shaping what cinema can be.

Conclusion

You’re not seeking just another thriller—you’re looking for a film that tests boundaries and speaks to deeper truths. Each of the movies on our list delivers bold vision, layered storytelling, and a powerful challenge to your expectations. These films redefine what suspense, satire, and cinema can do.

Level up your indie film journey. Go after stories like these—because you deserve movies that thrill, question, and inspire. Keep digging. Keep demanding more. This is how you turn every movie night into a discovery.