She Likes to Watch

Hey, can we panic now?

In M. Night Shyamalan’s latest scarefest, civilization is in crisis.

Due to an inexplicable ecological crisis, people throughout the world are falling unconscious. When they wake, they commit suicide in droves, creating a nightmarish situation in which society is slowly becoming unhinged.

In honor of “The Happening,” which opens Friday, MovieWeb.com has compiled a list of 10 psychological thrillers that will make you shiver, shriek and possibly soil your trousers.

Here’s the short list:

10. “Arlington Road”
9. “Room 1408″
8. “A Simple Plan”
7. “Requiem For a Dream”
6. “The Silence of the Lambs”
5. “The Others”
4. “Identity”
3. “Se7en”
2. “Frailty”
1. “Donnie Darko”

MovieWeb.com offers video clips from all 10 films but be forewarned: There’s plenty of violence, some foul language and at least one plot spoiler.

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Here’s my (quick) take on the list:

“Donnie Darko,” “Frailty” and “Se7en” definitely have their place among the spookiest, most suspenseful movies in recent years.

But what about “The Silence of the Lambs”? In what crazy world does psychotic Dr. Lecter and his fiendish prodigy not even make the top five?

Plus, it’s a pity the listmasters didn’t include some of the older thrillers that still pack a psychological punch. What about “Vertigo”? “Psycho?”

Heck, Alfred Hitchcock could fill an entire list by himself.

Also worthy of inclusion is the just-out-on-video “Funny Games,” which I hear will make your nerves jangle like piano wire. (The 1997 Austrian version is supposed to be even creepier.)

What’s your opinion? What freaky films deserve to be included as top psychological thrillers?

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Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.