Crime Thrillers Told From The Perspective Of The Criminal’s Family

Most crime stories center on the criminals themselves or the investigators pursuing them. However, a growing number of stories are taking a different approach, focusing on the families – spouses, children, and parents – who are affected by criminal activity. These narratives delve into the emotional and physical hardships faced by those connected to criminals, showing how innocence can be lost or how families struggle to survive when crime enters their lives.

‘Animal Kingdom’ (2010)

After his mother’s accidental overdose, Joshua Cody goes to live with his grandmother and uncles, only to discover their family business is actually a dangerous criminal operation involving armed robbery and drug dealing. The grandmother, known as Smurf, controls her sons and Joshua through manipulation, determined to maintain their criminal empire. Joshua finds himself caught in a web of police scrutiny and the unpredictable behavior of his uncles, and must fight to survive. This Australian film provides a gripping and unsettling look at a crime family through the eyes of its youngest member.

‘Widows’ (2018)

After her husband dies during a robbery and leaves behind a huge debt, Veronica Rawlins receives a death threat. To protect herself and her family, she brings together the wives of the other robbers to finish the job her husband planned. These women, now forced to become criminals, must learn to navigate a dangerous world of corruption and betrayal while dealing with their grief and fighting for their future. Director Steve McQueen uses the framework of a heist movie to explore themes of loss and how people cope with difficult circumstances.

‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010)

Ree Dolly goes on a risky journey through the Ozark Mountains to find her missing father, who put their house up as collateral for his bail and then disappeared. She encounters resistance and threats from both family members and dangerous locals who are determined to keep secrets hidden. Ree faces harsh treatment as she struggles to keep her siblings safe and prevent her ill mother from losing their home. The film portrays a harsh and bleak world where family bonds are strained by the devastating effects of methamphetamine addiction.

‘A History of Violence’ (2005)

Edie Stall is shocked to learn her husband, Tom, has a hidden, violent past. After he expertly defends their diner from robbers, she finds herself questioning the man she thought she knew. She struggles to understand how the loving father of their children could once be a professional killer. Their son, Jack, is also affected by this discovery and starts to show signs of aggression himself. The story explores whether someone can truly leave their violent history behind.

‘Road to Perdition’ (2002)

Young Michael Sullivan accidentally sees a murder committed by gangsters and discovers his father is a tough guy working for the Irish mob during the Great Depression. When the mob tries to silence them, father and son are forced to go on the run. As they travel, the father desperately tries to steer his son away from a life of violence. This moving story about family is directed by Sam Mendes.

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ (2011)

Eva Khatchadourian is haunted by shame and lives as an outcast after her son commits a horrific school shooting. She desperately tries to understand what drove him to such violence, questioning whether he was born with a tendency toward cruelty or if her own parenting played a role. The story alternates between cherished memories of the past and the bleak reality of her present, as she’s ostracized by her community. Eva obsessively revisits every moment she shared with her son, Kevin, searching for clues she might have overlooked. This intense psychological thriller explores the crushing guilt of a mother who worries she unknowingly raised a monster.

‘I’m Your Woman’ (2020)

When Jean’s husband double-crosses his dangerous associates, she’s forced to flee with their baby. Unfamiliar with his criminal life, she must quickly adapt to a violent world to stay alive. A man named Cal offers assistance, guiding her through a network of hidden locations and near-disasters. Unlike typical gangster films, this story centers on Jean’s experience, showing her journey from a helpless bystander to a fiercely protective mother.

‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ (2007)

Driven by desperation and greed, two brothers attempt to rob their parents’ jewelry store, hoping for a fast payday. The robbery goes horribly wrong, tragically resulting in their mother’s death. Unaware that his own sons are responsible, the father becomes consumed with finding the killers. The story unfolds through the eyes of each family member, jumping between different points in time, revealing a heartbreaking tale of family dysfunction and its devastating consequences.

‘We Own the Night’ (2007)

In late 1980s New York, Bobby Green runs a nightclub popular with Russian gangsters. He’s deliberately separated himself from his father and brother, both of whom are high-ranking police officers. When his brother is targeted in an assassination attempt, Bobby is forced to confront his choices and decide where his loyalties lie. He ends up going undercover, using his nightclub to help his family bring down a powerful drug lord. The film delves into the conflict between family ties and the seductive pull of a life of crime.

‘At Close Range’ (1986)

Brad Whitewood Jr. wants to reconnect with his father, who is the head of a criminal organization in a rural area. Brad and his friends start their own gang hoping to gain his father’s approval and make some money. However, when the police begin investigating their criminal activities, the father sees Brad as a problem. Brad comes to the heartbreaking realization that his father values his own safety above his family. This story is inspired by the true experiences of a well-known crime family in Pennsylvania.

‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ (2012)

Jason learns a shocking truth: his biological father was a daring motorcycle stunt rider who turned to bank robbery. As he tries to understand his family history and cope with problems at home, Jason finds himself caught in a feud with the son of the officer who fatally shot his father. The story unfolds over fifteen years, revealing how the past actions of these men continue to impact their sons’ lives. It’s a multi-generational tale exploring how legacies, and the weight of the past, are impossible to escape.

‘Trespass Against Us’ (2016)

Chad Cutler wants to escape his family’s life of crime to protect his children. His father, Colby, leads a group of outlaws who travel in caravans and rob rich properties. Colby controls Chad through manipulation and threats, forcing him to participate. As the police close in, the pressure mounts on Chad to cooperate with them. The film explores how hard it is to overcome a harmful upbringing and the expectations of your family.

‘The Kitchen’ (2019)

When three wives in Hell’s Kitchen find their mobster husbands imprisoned, they step up to protect their families. They take control of the criminal operations their husbands ran, quickly proving to be even more effective – and ruthless – than the men before them. Their success doesn’t go unnoticed, drawing the ire of the Italian mafia and creating tension in the neighborhood. This story is based on a comic book series celebrating female strength in a dangerous world.

‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)

When teenage Jacob Barber is accused of murder, his parents, Andy and Laurie, find their lives falling apart. Andy, a prosecutor, bends the rules to try and protect his son, while Laurie starts to question Jacob’s innocence as unsettling details about his past come to light. The family endures intense public attention and loses their place in the community. This series delves into the lengths parents will go to in order to avoid facing difficult truths about their children.

‘Good Time’ (2017)

Connie Nikas gets his brother, Nick, who has developmental disabilities, involved in a bank robbery that quickly falls apart. Nick is arrested and sent to jail, while Connie manages to escape. The film follows Connie’s frantic night as he runs all over the city trying to raise bail money or find a way to free Nick. He’ll exploit anyone and everyone he meets in a desperate attempt to save the only family he has, fueled by a complicated and destructive love.

‘Little Odessa’ (1994)

Joshua Shapira goes back to his old neighborhood in Brooklyn, a Russian-Jewish community, with a dangerous job: a contract killing. While there, he attempts to rebuild a relationship with his ailing mother and connect with his younger brother, Reuben, all while hiding from their violent father. Reuben admires Joshua, even knowing the dangerous life he leads. The film explores the strain this secret life puts on their brotherly bond, set against the gritty backdrop of Brighton Beach, and portrays the sadness of a family torn apart.

‘Bloodline’ (2015–2017)

The Rayburns are a well-respected family who own a successful hotel in the Florida Keys. Their peaceful life is disrupted when their troubled brother, Danny, comes back and wants a share of the business. Danny’s secret involvement with drug trafficking puts his siblings in a difficult position, forcing them to compromise their values to save the family’s reputation. The series explores how hidden secrets and long-held lies can destroy even the most seemingly flawless families, and how this leads to growing conflict and betrayal among the siblings.

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Marty Byrde uproots his family – his wife and two children – from Chicago to the Ozarks in Missouri, all to secretly wash money for a dangerous drug organization. His wife, Wendy, quickly becomes a key player in their illegal activities, navigating both crime and local politics. As their children, Charlotte and Jonah, discover the truth, they’re drawn into helping their parents survive. The show follows how this ordinary family becomes corrupted, accepting violence and deceit as part of their everyday lives, with each member constantly striving for control and security.

‘American History X’ (1998)

I’ve been thinking a lot about this film, and it really gets under your skin. It centers around Danny, a young guy whose older brother, Derek, is in prison for a terrible hate crime. The scary part is, Danny is starting to get pulled into the same hateful world that ruined Derek’s life. When Derek gets out of prison, he’s a different person and desperately tries to steer Danny away from that path. It’s a really powerful story, told from Danny’s perspective, and you see firsthand how this ideology destroys a family and the long road to healing. It’s heartbreaking, but ultimately a really important film about the consequences of hate.

‘Run All Night’ (2015)

After witnessing a murder, Mike Conlon becomes a target for a dangerous mob boss. His estranged father, Jimmy, a former hitman, is forced to come out of retirement to protect him. To save his son, Jimmy must betray a longtime friend and they both spend a terrifying night on the run from both the police and hitmen across New York City. The story centers on a father trying to make amends for his past by ensuring his son’s survival.

Please share your favorite family-perspective crime thrillers in the comments.

2025-12-01 08:20