9 Movies Like She Walks in Darkness You Must See

Directed by Agustín Díaz Yanes, Netflix’s ‘She Walks in Darkness’ or ‘Un fantasma en la batalla’ is a Spanish political thriller film that follows Amaia Mateos Ginés (Susana Abaitua), a young undercover officer with the Spanish Civil Guard. Her mission is to infiltrate ETA, a terrorist organization that is involved in widespread violence in Spain and France during the 1980s and 1990s. Despite an initial peace agreement with the Spanish government, hardline factions within ETA refuse to renounce violence. As attacks on the public escalate, the Civil Guard steps in to protect citizens and dismantle the terrorist-separatist group.

Amaia is tasked with risking her life to uncover secrets that could help law enforcement end the violence. However, after successfully joining the group through deception, Amaia begins to realize the immense danger she has put herself in. The narrative offers a poignant exploration of political extremism and its violent consequences. If the suspense elements, unique characters, and the intense visual style of the narrative entertained you, these films, similar to ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ will be worthy additions to your watchlist.

9. The Constant Gardener (2005)

Helmed by Fernando Meirelles, ‘The Constant Gardener’ centers around the lives of British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) and activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz), a couple. It follows the heinous murder of Tessa in an isolated part of Kenya. The circumstances point towards the actions of a doctor named Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundé), who may be involved in the killing. While the British High Commission in Kenya assumes that they will be the only ones investigating the death, Justin springs into action and hopes to bring his wife’s killer to justice.

The husband goes on an arduous journey across the globe, seeking answers to difficult questions. As secrets and conspiracies lurk in the background, Justin finds himself at greater risk. Based on John le Carré’s eponymous novel, the British thriller-drama film focuses on elements of political intrigue and suspense in ways similar to’ She Walks in Darkness.’ The two stories feature complex characters who get involved in dangerous scenarios and conspiracies.

8. Breach (2007)

In ‘Breach,’ Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney) assigns FBI computer specialist Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) to work with senior agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), with the secret task of investigating the agent’s sexual behavior. Finding the allegations against Hanssen baseless, Eric finds him to be a devout family man. As he builds a closer bond with the man he is investigating, it is shockingly revealed to him that his new friend is actually a man responsible for leaking state secrets to the Soviet Union.

With the unexpected information at hand, the computer specialist must decide if he can look beyond personal connections and find the truth. Directed by Billy Ray, the spy thriller film resembles the world of ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ due to its exploration of how personal relationships developed by people can complicate professional assignments in the field of spycraft and deception.

7. The Lives of Others (2006)

‘The Lives of Others’ or ‘Das Leben der Anderen’ is a German drama film set in 1984 East Germany. Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler suspects playwright Georg Dreyman, a seemingly loyal citizen, after attending one of his plays. Though he is initially driven by a minister’s personal vendetta against Dreyman and his partner Christa-Maria, his perspectives change. As he begins a process of surveillance against the couple, he develops empathy for them. Due to his complex emotions, he begins to protect them from danger, even at the cost of his own demotion. However, an unexpected event alters his fate. On the lines of ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ the film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck looks at the lives of spies and the complex emotional dynamics they deal with, especially when they have to investigate people close to them.

6. A Most Wanted Man (2014)

Based on John le Carré’s eponymous novel, ‘A Most Wanted Man’ takes place in a period after the 9/11 attacks. Gunter Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a counter-terrorist expert in Hamburg, works alone. He targets jihadists and focuses on investigating a recently arrived man named Issa Karpov (Grigory Dobrygin), whose reasons for being there are unclear. An American social worker believes he’s innocent and tries to convince Gunter not to target Issa. When Gunter learns of a coming national security threat from jihadists, he plans to stop it while also saving Issa. Directed by Anton Corbijn, the espionage thriller film, akin to ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ explores the idea of secret investigations and the human cost of being involved in the dangerous world of spycraft and intelligence.

5. Body of Lies (2008)

‘Body of Lies,’ directed by Ridley Scott, follows CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who works with Jordanian security head Hani Salaam (Mark Strong). He strives to find a religious figure behind incidents of deadly bombings in Europe, who is seemingly a great threat to Western and American interests. Despite Hani’s demand for transparency, Roger and his Langley boss, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), devise a secret plan to catch the cleric after Hani rejects a particular strategy proposed by Ed.

As the individuals become engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse, the line between friend and foe starts to vanish. Based on David Ignatius’ novel of the same name, the action thriller film deals with deception and secrecy like ‘She Walks in Darkness.’ While the former deals with international threats, the latter deals with a spy mainly working within the home territory to prevent danger. The stories are spiritually connected due to their exploration of complex characters living assumed identities.

4. The Infiltrator (2016)

‘The Infiltrator’ revolves around the mysterious and dangerous life of a US Customs Service special agent named Robert Mazur, AKA Bob Musella (Bryan Cranston). During the intense and dangerous decade of the 1980s, in order to prevent the spread of drugs, he gets involved in the ruthless world of drug trafficking, often crossing paths with consequential figures within the underworld. Due to his talents and charisma, he is unexpectedly tasked with his most dangerous mission yet, which involves the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Based on the eponymous autobiography by Robert Mazur, the crime drama thriller film directed by Brad Furman delves into ideas of courage, deception, and brilliance. Due to its focus on secret infiltrations, friendship between agents and criminals, and a tense visual style, it shares similarities with the world of ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ and its secretive characters.

3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

In ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,’ after a failed operation in Budapest during the height of the Cold War in the 1970s, the chief of British Intelligence, known only as Control (Sir John Hurt), retires from his post. However, he begins to suspect that his agency could possibly be housing a secret Soviet mole. This leads to an investigation headed by another retired man named George Smiley (Gary Oldman), who finds himself pushed to the limits.

Based on John le Carré’s eponymous novel, the film deals with ideas of secrets and survival. With the volatility of the sociopolitical reality threatening the nation, it is up to George to somehow find the truth and expose the identity of the infiltrator. Helmed by Tomas Alfredson, the British spy thriller film, on the lines of ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ looks at the ideas of political infiltration and spycraft in all their complexities. Both stories are clever games of deceit where the line between friend and foe becomes increasingly difficult to spot.

2. Argo (2012)

Directed by Ben Affleck, ‘Argo’ is a political thriller set during the height of the diplomatic tensions between Iran and the US during the Iranian Revolution. The narrative follows six Americans who escape the U.S. Embassy during the storming of the building by the revolutionaries. Nearly two months after the incident, the CIA and the State Department decide to rescue the hostages, who are seemingly being sheltered at a Canadian diplomat’s house.

This leads to the hiring of an exfiltration specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), who risks his life against overwhelming odds when he goes to Tehran to save the Americans at risk. Adapted from Tony Mendez’s memoir ‘The Master of Disguise’, the film delves into themes of secrecy and intelligence. It is also adapted from the Wired article ‘The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran’ by Joshuah Bearman. Akin to ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ it explores the art of deception in dangerous spaces. Both stories feature protagonists who must risk their lives in order to save the lives of others.

1. Munich (2005)

Based on the book ‘Vengeance’ by George Jonas, ‘Munich’ revolves around the lives of Israeli spies who are tasked with a dangerous mission in the aftermath of the Palestinian terrorist organization called Black September killing Israeli athletes during the Munich Summer Olympics. The team of Mossad operatives, headed by Avner Kaufman (Eric Bana), risks their lives in order to capture the people responsible for the murders and achieve justice.

As the operatives begin to go deeper into the mystery, they find their Jewish identities and morality challenged in a complex world where friends and foes don’t seem to exist. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the historical thriller drama film resembles the world of ‘She Walks in Darkness,’ due to its grounded portrayal of the human side of spycraft. The narratives are spiritually connected due to their commentary on conflict, identity, and loyalty in a violent world.