Screenwriting : Quick Question for Screenwriters: Crime & Psychological Stories? by Sydney S

Count me as one-crime drama/film noir is my favorite. Classic noir like White Heat, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Taking Of Pelham One, Two, Three (1974), The French Connection, the Dirty Harry movies, etc. I am currently using those type of themes and reimagining them for a fresh take.

This is my favorite genre…I just completed a crime/psychological thriller with a supernatural twist. I’m a huge Michael Mann fan with Heat being my favorite.

I love psychological stuff, in fact my favourite for it is Revolutionary Girl Utena. I’m not particularly big into crime though I enjoyed both Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, so I doubt I’ll write a story in that genre anytime soon. That being said, psychological/surrealism is my jam and I love getting into my characters’ heads, especially when they have very weird thought patterns. It’s lots of fun lol

Yes.

i am interested

I love crime drama Sydney S and crime‑psychological stories that lane always pulls me in. Recently, I’ve been watching Dope Theif, The Godfather of Harlem, and Top Boy, which are probably my favorites so far. I’ve also seen a few scattered episodes of Peaky Blinders, a solid show, even though I haven’t finished it yet.

I have written one.... politics/espionage

Sydney S This is my favorite story to tell! From television: TRUE DETECTIVE, (S1!) SEVERANCE, THE SOPRANOS, THE WIRE, and film: Se7en, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, PULP FICTION, GONE GIRL, MYSTIC RIVER, JOKER, HEAT, and NATURAL BORN KILLERS. I love them all. I'm currently working on a feature that is a psychological thriller, and I just had a pilot get "Double Recommend" that was a crime thriller. The combination of suspense, and shocking twists, mixed with mind-numbing deception and fear makes it the most attractive way to tell a story that has a voice just needing to have something be said.

Sydney S True Detective for TV and Seven from film probably the best examples from my perspective. I just started outlining My Cousin From Kentucky yesterday and my goal is to achieve something tonally close to a danish series called The Chestnut Man.

I love writing psychological sci-fi and crime stories. I’ve actually completed projects in both spaces.

I’m currently developing a psychological thriller series, so this is exactly the space I’m focused on as a writer.

For me, the most compelling stories in this genre are the ones where tension comes from character psychology and internal conflict, not just external plot twists.

Really interesting to see how many writers are drawn to this direction.

My crime pilot I pitched two days ago on Virtual Pitch Fest received a YES from a producer. Sent him the copy of my script. Looking forward to hearing his thoughts.

Love those classics, Joseph - such a strong foundation. Excited to see your fresh take on noir themes!

That sounds like a fantastic mix, Paula psychological thriller with a supernatural twist is such a compelling space. And being a Michael Mann fan totally tracks. Would love to hear more about your project as it develops!

I love that, Banafsheh leaning into psychological and surreal storytelling opens up so many creative possibilities. I really enjoyed Sopranos as well! Getting deep into unique character mindsets is where some of the most memorable stories come from. That perspective is such a strength.

Thats amazing David, what are you currently writing about?

Great to hear, Adarsh - really glad you’re interested. This is such a rich genre to explore and develop in, and we’re actually bringing a lab focused on this space very soon, so stay tuned!

Great lineup, Dwayne that mix of crime and psychological storytelling is always so engaging. Those shows really pull you into complex worlds and characters, and Peaky Blinders is definitely a good one! I need to finish it too.

Very cool, Humphrey politics and espionage fit so naturally into this space. There’s so much tension and intrigue to explore there, would love to hear more about your project and what angle you’re taking!

You’re absolutely in the heart of this genre, Stephen what an incredible list of influences! Huge congratulations on the Double Recommend, that’s a big accomplishment. Your passion for the psychological and emotional depth really comes through!

That’s a great combination, Shaurya psychological sci fi and crime both offer so much depth and complexity. Really impressive that you’ve completed projects in both areas. What themes do you find yourself coming back to most in your work?

Those are fantastic references, Darrell True Detective and Se7en really set the tone. The direction you’re aiming for sounds very compelling. What drew you to that tone for this particular project?

Beautifully put, Ana that focus on internal conflict and character psychology is what really elevates a story. It’s great to see such a clear understanding of what makes this genre resonate, your series sounds very promising! What’s been the biggest challenge so far in balancing character psychology with the thriller elements in your series?

Huge congratulations!! Wade that’s amazing news getting a yes from a producer is a big moment. Sending the script is a great next step, hope you get fantastic feedback and keep us posted on how it goes. What initially caught the producer’s attention in your pitch or concept?

Sydney S THE FINAL WARNING. The logline is in projects.

hey Sydney S I'm currently working in that space, a crime/psychological story with a strong internal conflict driving the external stakes.

What I've found is that the more pressure you put on the character, the more their true identity starts to surface and that's where it gets interesting.

For favorites, I'd say True Detective (season 1) for the psychological depth and films like Prisoners and The Departed for how they balance tension with character.

I like crime as a vehicle for a story that is ultimately about something else.

Sydney S Great question crime and psychological stories are definitely a space I’m really drawn to.

I find them interesting because they explore human behavior at a deeper level, especially the motivations behind actions rather than just the actions themselves.

One of my favorites would be Mindhunter I really like how it focuses on psychology and character rather than just crime.

More recently I loved UK series Adolescence, and a New Zealand drama After The Party. Another standout for me was Sharp Objects.

Hilariously, I just went through a bit of a crime/thriller binge obsession, and I recently wrote a blog here on Stage 32 to share some of my observations: https://www.stage32.com/blog/what-50-hours-of-suspense-taught-me-about-m...

Suffice it to say, I've really been feeling this genre lately. Lol!

Very much my lane. My co-creator and I are actually pitching a crime drama to studios right now, so I’m definitely drawn to that space.

What I love about crime and psychological stories is that, at their best, they are never just about the case. They are about what the case exposes in the people involved: obsession, damage, moral compromise, fear, grief. That deeper psychological layer is what makes the genre linger.

A few favorites for me would be Broadchurch, Mindhunter, and True Detective Season 1. They all understand that solving the crime is only part of the hook. What stays with you is the psychology underneath it.

I've got a crime caper story from an old 60s novel I found at the thrift store, which I'm planning to adapt to a period film. I think it'll be really stylish and fun!

On TV, I love The Wire, Homicide: Life on the Street (David Simon is a master), True Detective, The Shield, The Sopranos. So much great stuff has come out.

Side note: I wrote the only licensed fiction based on the Shield, a comic book miniseries, and Shawn Ryan supported me the whole way. I also had a good run with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami novels. Anthony Zuiker and his team were very supportive, and welcomed me as part of the CSI family. I even went to the CSI: Miami set to distribute copies of the first CSI: Miami comic to cast members, filmed for Access Hollywood. My original horror graphic novel Zombie Cop was used in the opening of an episode (see picture). Other crime shows I've written licensed novels for include NCIS: LA and NCIS: NO and Narcos.

On the big screen, just about anything Michael Mann does rules. The Godfather and Godfather II, of course. Lots of Scorcese's work. If there's crime and compelling characters, I'm there.

Currently, I would say a show high potential. A cleaning lady with high iq and help the case of police station. It is one of the most unique show in my opinion because of the blend on comedy and drama.

I love sci-fi, mysteries and drama.

My latest novel, Late Nights on Broadway is a crime drama/comedy. I have other story ideas just waiting on me to start writing them in the realm of crime drama as well, in due time. Would Oz be considered a crime drama? It's my favorite TV series of all time and believe it fits the crime drama category.

I'm in. It's all I know. I have enough real-world source material to write in this genre until the cows come home.

I’m definitely drawn to the psychological side more than straight crime.

I tend to be more interested in what’s happening inside the character than the mechanics of the crime itself—identity, perception, memory, that kind of thing. The crime element feels more like a pressure system than the main focus.

I’m working on a sci-fi project right now that leans into that space—less about solving something and more about what happens when your sense of self starts to break down.

As for favorites, Primer and Pi are ones i come back to frequently. For TV shows, I thought Mindhunter and The Patient were excellent at this.

I've completed a project set in a dystopian future around the concept of suppression of press freedom with corporations paying contract assassins to kill reporters who get too close to the truth. I've pitched it a few times here and been given notes for improving it, haven't put them in yet.

Dexter, not including the new movies (haven't watched them), remains a favourite for me. I'll never forgive that ending though haha.

Great question, Sydney.

I’m definitely drawn to the psychological side of storytelling — especially where tension comes more from perception and environment than overt action.

I’ve been working in the thriller space, exploring contained, high-tension concepts with a strong psychological layer.

Favorite shows would probably be Mindhunter and True Detective — both do a great job of balancing character, atmosphere, and underlying tension.

Curious to see how many others are leaning into that space as well!

Hi Sydney.

I'm writing a series about a young guy that ends up playing Cold War games beginning in Uruguay, South America in 1982. Lets say is 60% crime/psychological and the rest is romance, mystery, etc. Personally I like scandinavian/nordic TV series like 'Trapped" or 'Wisting' It has to be credible.

Favorite Crime Show - Friends and Neighbors Favorite Psychological Show - Shrinking

I’m currently working in the psychological horror space. What really fascinates me about psychology-driven stories is how you can create a powerful impact with very minimal resources — atmosphere, tension and the inner world of the character can carry so much weight.

For example, a scene where two men are simply sitting in a room feels completely ordinary until the audience learns that there’s a ticking bomb under one of them.

I'm going retro with Twin Peaks, the TV show was ok but I always loved Fire Walk With Me better.

Right now it's "The Hunting Party" and Kevin Bacon's "The Following". I have not watched TV series in this century before these two came along.

Misery de Rob Reiner y Mindhunter de David Fincher.

Chris Lewis i never got Twin Peaks. Whoosh.

I'm writing Psychological Horror

Check out Gangsterland and Mayor of Kingstown — both are really interesting projects worth watching.

Have a deep love for Neo Noir films like Fargo and Pulp Fiction.

I definitely write from a psychological lens and land in thriller spaces more than anything. Sending around one now that could be considered neo noir.

I am working on a drama movie, and I love the Mobland series.

Sydney S I have tended to shy away from crime/thriller as my natural tendency is to treat most subjects with humor and I decided it was time to stop avoiding the genre and try and see how it goes. I am excited! Pretty much finished outlining and start the writing tomorrow. Hope for a first draft finished by next weekend.

One piece of advice: if you really want to write a strong crime-psychological project, it can be extremely valuable to connect with people who have direct experience in that world — including former inmates or individuals who have been involved in illegal activities in the past. Trust me, it helps a lot.

Once, I was writing a screenplay about prisoners. I found a way to speak with a former inmate, and he shared a lot of real-life details with me that I used in the script. The film turned out quite interesting. It’s a pity it was never produced.

Wow… there are so many crime thrillers I’ve watched, listened to, or read that it’s almost impossible not to run into this genre of storytelling. And when I find one I truly love, I tend to study it obsessively — I’ll watch it at least seven times, often more — because by then I’m no longer watching as an audience member, I’m watching structure, tension, character mechanics, and control.

To avoid writing a full page, I’ll mention only two favorites.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle has always fascinated me. What made it so effective for me was that the premise is deceptively ordinary — a family hires help, something many people can relate to — yet the threat enters through intimacy and trust. Rebecca De Mornay’s calm demeanor was more unnerving to me than being trapped on a spaceship with a Xenomorph loose. What I admire most is that the film resists the immediate “psycho” reveal. Instead, it lets obsession infiltrate slowly, methodically, almost surgically. She doesn’t attack the family outright; she embeds herself inside its emotional architecture and destabilizes it from within. That level of precision in an antagonist is masterful.

My second is Fatal Attraction, which I find both fascinating and troubling. On the surface, the story is straightforward — a man has an affair, attempts to end it, and the woman refuses to let go. But what interested me, especially on repeated viewings, is how the film frames culpability and obsession. Michael Douglas’s character often struck me as remarkably callous, almost naive in believing an act of betrayal could simply be compartmentalized and discarded. That doesn’t excuse Alex’s behavior, but it complicates the moral framing.

What makes the film so brilliant, from a thriller standpoint, is how it weaponizes that complication. The “wronged woman” becomes the antagonist, and the audience is pushed into a very uneasy negotiation of sympathy and fear. From a writing perspective, that inversion is genius. From a woman’s perspective, it opens other questions I won’t go too deeply into here.

Lately, though, I often find true crime narratives even more compelling than fictional thrillers, perhaps because many reflect a recurring truth: the antagonist often appears more adaptive, more intelligent, more advanced in method than the systems pursuing them. Even when safety is restored, something unresolved tends to linger. That unsettled residue is powerful, though I’ll admit I may be a little old school — I still appreciate endings that feel earned and complete, whether tragic or hopeful. I like a thriller that leaves you haunted, but I also like one brave enough to truly end.

I’m currently working on a screenplay about a security expert who robs his clients, along with his enabling, thrill seeking, upperclass girlfriend. It’s Deacon Brodie meets Bonnie and Clyde.

I’m interested in both of these topics, and I enjoy both telling and watching this kind of story. I think the perspective the writer takes is really important. In my own work, I like to explore the root causes of crime and look at it from different angles. When dealing with such complex and controversial subjects, I also enjoy approaching them through questions. The Godfather is also one of the best films that can be mentioned, both in general and within this theme. Kind regards

All time favorite is Breaking Bad, no argument. Crime and psychological masterpiece!!! I have a unhealthy obsession for this show :) It shows a shocking, haunting perspective of loyalty, greed, and ego, while also showing how even an average joe, middle class family can spiral so terribly...

You know, first of all, when it comes to Breaking Bad, I don’t see Walter White as someone who “fell.” I actually think he rose. He released something that had been inside him his entire life — a darker side that was eating him from within, maybe even contributing to his illness. And once it was out, he finally became who he truly was. Yes, it was something destructive, even evil, but it was real. It was always there, waiting.

As for why people turn to crime, I’ve mentioned before that I’m very interested in exploring the other side of the equation. On one hand, of course, there are the individuals who commit crimes. But on the other hand, there’s the system — society itself — which defines the rules and decides what is illegal.

That second side is what fascinates me.

For example, take drugs. They’re illegal in most parts of the world. But what if they weren’t? Would there be less violence around them? Lower prices, fewer black markets, fewer incentives for organized crime? It raises uncomfortable questions.

I’m not saying there are easy answers. But I do think there are deeper layers worth exploring — including how much of crime is shaped not just by individuals, but by the structures and systems around them.

That’s a perspective I’d really like to explore more in my work.

By the way, here’s a fun little observation about Breaking Bad. If you change just one letter in the second word — swap the “a” for an “e” — you get “Breaking Bed.” And suddenly, it feels like a completely different genre.

It's Law and Order SVU followed by Law and Order and CSI Miami. Films would be Nuremberg To Kill A Mockingbird Thief Havoc (TomHardy) Seven Capone (TomHardy) Nolan's Inception Dirty Harry Escape from New York Mystic River The Dark Knight/The Dark Knight Rises Each of these resonated with me as one who has enjoyed watching a wide range of films. Thief particularly stands out as its a cinematic exercise in Existentialism (I majored in Philosophy as an undergrad at UCLA.) Mystic River one could argue had Macbethish overtones. Dirty Harry was Classic Eastwood while Unforgiven explored the morality of killing and if its ever justified.

These films while routine in their subject matter the directors allowed the viewer to bring his or her own interpretation to what is being portrayed on screen.

@Stephen Barber I too love the same movies and shows you mentioned!!! True Detectives, The Bone Collector, Fargo, Zodiac, Joker are too good.

Sydney S I’m definitely drawn to crime and psychological storytelling, especially narratives that explore the deep human mind, trauma, and hidden motives behind actions. I’ve been developing concepts that blend thriller elements with emotional depth, often focusing on complex characters and layered investigations rather than just surface-level crime. My next story also driven by this.

I’m particularly interested in stories where psychology drives the plot as memory, perception, and moral ambiguity are themes I love working with.

As for favorites, I really enjoy shows that balance suspense with character study - Mindhunter, Nocturnal Animals, Zodiac, Mulholland Drive and American Psycho are some of the ones that stand out to me for their depth and storytelling style.

Curious to hear what others are working on too!

Can't get enough of the crime-drama space at large and, specifically, psychological thrillers. Something about the best ones' intricacy (and act three twists you never saw coming) has always appealed to me as the epitome of surgical filmmaking.

I definitely find myself drawn to crime and psychological stories. A few of my recent favorites for shows are Tokyo Vice, True Detective, and Mind Hunter. *Tokyo Vice is very under the radar and so good in my opinion.

I do have a show which I wrote a pilot for.

A period piece where investigators deal with kidnappers, murders, and a violent supernatural element at the core of it all.

I also have the pieces coming together for a couple features that are a mix of crime, heists, and lots of action. These take place in more current day settings.

One type of crime / psychological movie or TV show I like to watch but I am not drawn to writing is the slow-burn crime drama. Maybe one day.

Silence of the Lambs. Brilliant performance by Anthony Hopkins. One of the greats with subtext as far as expressions. Delivers with the eyes.