We're all fed up of hearing the B-word. Tearing the country apart and cementing divisions that just a few years ago hadn't yet risen to the surface, Brexit is one of the most momentous forthcoming events of our generation. Nobody knows what's going to happen in the coming months, and we're not going to make any bold predictions.
Instead, we've been looking to the movies archive and sifting through some of our favourite political thrillers. Sometimes, the fictional land of politics can be even darker than the real world. With that in mind, here are seven political thrillers even scarier than Brexit.
7) The Amateur (1981)
When terrorists kill the girlfriend of Charles Heller (John Savage), the mourning boyfriend turns his grief into a path of revenge in what is one of the most thrilling political offerings to come from the world of movies. As a CIA worker, he's able to blackmail information out of his colleagues and higher-ups, but this leads to their own hunts for revenge against none other than Charles himself.
With deception and chaos around every corner, The Amateur is a film that keeps you guessing, and ends with a jaw-dropping shoot-out sequence that you'd be a fool to ever forget.
6) Rendition (2007)
Omar Metwally steps into the shoes of Egyptian-born Anwar El-Ibrahimi in Rendition, starring alongside the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard. Though he's enjoying his quiet life with pregnant wife Isabella (Witherspoon), Anwar's peace is shattered when he's arrested on suspicion of terrorist activities upon his return to America from South Africa.
Intense and illegal methods including torture are used by the authorities in secret, in a movie that's sure to have you shouting at your screen. Is there any justice in the world? Perhaps not in Rendition...
5) The Recruit (2003)
We've seen the story of a young man with no ambitions or dreams turned into somebody who does good countless times, but The Recruit offers you someone you can actively root for from start to finish. Colin Farrell plays bartender James Clayton, who's spotted by CIA instructor Walter Burke (Al Pacino) and invited to a top-secret CIA training facility.
What follows is an alluring and enigmatic story; and one that you can completely believe happens in real life. They do say fact is sometimes scarier than fiction!
4) Unthinkable (2010)
You begin to wonder exactly who's the villain and who you should root for in Unthinkable, when a former US soldier and Muslim convert Yusuf, played by Michael Sheen, is interrogated by a man who enjoys his job far too much.
Samuel L Jackson plays the torturer H, working alongside Carrie-Anne Moss's character, Special Agent Brody. The pair work to extract information from Yusuf before he pulls through on his threats to explode nuclear bombs in unknown locations. You'll be holding your breath from start to finish.
3) The Devil's Double (2011)
In the past few years, Dominic Cooper has proven himself to be one of the most talented actors to have come out of the UK. One of his most defining roles is actually a dual one, where he plays Saddam Hussain's son Uday Hussein AND the lookalike who works as his double, Latif Yahia.
A feared figure, Uday is a man not afraid to murder, rape and lie his way through life, all whilst enjoying the finest cars, parties and locations that the world offers up to him. Latif may not want to work under him, but the family's demands should not be mistaken as a request.
Whilst based on real-life figures, there was plenty of artistic license used by director Lee Tamahori. A thrilling and exciting watch throughout.
2) The Ghost Writer (2010)
Pierce Brosnan takes on the role of former Prime Minister Adam Lang in The Ghostwriter; a man whose memoirs are to be written up by the nameless titular ghostwriter, played by Ewan McGregor. Olivia Williams and Kim Cattrall round out an impeccable leading cast.
The film sees McGregor's character discover that his ghostwriting predecessor passed away in incredibly suspicious circumstances, leading to his curiosity getting the better of him and an investigation that uncovers some truly shocking truths. A must-see for anybody who enjoys digging their nails into their pillow, and hanging off the edge of their sofas!
1) The Whistleblower (2010)
Rachel Weisz is always a treat for audiences, and here she plays US police officer Kathryn Bolkovac who is offered a peacekeeper job in Bosnia, in exchange for some quick money. It doesn't take long for her character to gain a promotion and end up as the head of gender affairs, but what she uncovers disgusts her to the core.
Whilst this is a work of fiction, it is unfortunately based on a real story. The harrowing events that took place in our world were even more harrowing than those we see on screen, with children trafficked as sex workers. Despite happening so long ago, this still isn't a moment in history that everybody is aware of. That's a problem!
MORE: Brexit is our Villain of the Year, 2018!
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