The 10 Best Revenge Films
The 10 best revenge films. My opinion.
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- DirectorShane MeadowsStarsPaddy ConsidineGary StretchToby KebbellA disaffected soldier returns to his hometown to get even with the thugs who brutalized his mentally-challenged brother years ago.In this U.K. revenge drama Richard(Paddy Considine), returns to his home town to settle the score with a drug gang who abused his little brother Anthony(Toby Kennel), while he was away in the army. Beautifully directed by Shane Meadows, who brought us "This is England"(2006). This tale of revenge, brotherly love, and drugs gives a deeper emotional look at the revenge genre. With a stellar performance by Considine and the beautiful direction by Meadows this film exceeded my expectations. And I thought "Oldboy"(2003) was the best revenge film I've ever seen. When the credits rolled down the screen I was completely speechless, this movie floored me and made me think about what I would do if someone abused my little brother. This movie also demonstrates that revenge is not a cool or fun thing which "Kill Bill"(2003;2004) demonstrated. The revenge takes a toll on the protagonist and you can see it in the film. Throughout the film you feel a sense of melancholy/sadness and that's something I love most about the film, revenge is not a happy, funny thing it's a sad, awful thing to do. The film is realistic with its violence so you won't be seeing a guy get decapitated or blood spurting everywhere. It appalls me that this film has a 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you have not seen this film, SEE IT.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.In this South Korean revenge drama a man (whose name I can't remember whose played by a fantastic actor whose name I can't remember) is kidnapped on his daughter's birthday while being overly drunk. He's thrown in a hotel room (prison) where he eats the same food everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has no communication to the outside world, and uses the television as his looking glass to the outside world (television is his friend). After 15 years of confinement he's let out back into the world and has 5 days to seek vengeance on those who've done him wrong. Oldboy is one of those movies you have to see and then see it again. This is a disturbing , violent, sad, and down right griddy movie about revenge. This film has incest, hypnotism, torture, and a darker ending that will make you think about the decisions you made and how it can take an effect on you many years down the road. Director Park Chan-wook is responsible for the "Vengeance Trilogy" and this may be his best work. Wook makes a very somewhat surreal take on revenge. He also adds the qualities of the sadness to it as well. The violence in the film is brutal to watch and will make you cringe. The desperation of the protagonist is unbelievably heart pounding and heart breaking. Wook brought home the Grand Prix at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2003 along with many more accolades. The performances in this film are hands down spot on right on the point phenomenal. My favorite scene of the movie is the infamous (hallway scene) a beautiful one take that gave me chills up my spine just watching the cinematography and the down right brutal fight choreography. Oldboy is a film that can only be made in a foreign country and it proves it numerous times. Buckle up for when you'll see this movie because it's one hell of a ride.
- DirectorJeremy SaulnierStarsMacon BlairDevin RatrayAmy HargreavesA mysterious outsider's quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.After a couple years of living off the grid as a homeless drifter Dwight(Macon Blair), comes back to exact vengeance on the man who killed his father, who also just got released from prison. And that's all I'm going to tell you. This film is quite amazing to say the least. This is the directorial debut of Jeremy Saulnier whose next film "Green Room"(2016) will be coming out this year in Spring. The film has a lot of tension and it never let's you go, Macon Blair is terrific in the film and is definitely a talent to keep an eye out for. The scenes of violence in the film are very, very realistic. Some can compare the violence to horror, gore, and blood but it looks real. From the very first scene of the movie you can tell you're in for a bizarre, and dramatic experience. As the film progresses you get to know more about the character of Dwight, and his relationships with other people in the film, like his sister, and best high school buddy. You see the character of Dwight transform from a weak pathetic man into a strong pathetic man; as sad as it sounds. Blue Ruin doesn't have an original plot but the way it was told and brought to life gave it a new spin in the revenge genre. Amazingly this movie was made for $420,000 and it truly shows you don't need $500,000,000 to make a good movie, not saying that $420,000 isn't a lot of money but in the film industry it is very little. Saulnier was able to bring a great story to life with very little money and is a new independent filmmaker to look out for in the future.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsNam-mi KangJeong-nam ChoiHye-Sook GoAfter being wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years and having her child taken away from her, a woman seeks revenge through increasingly brutal means.In this South Korean tale of vengeance a young woman, Geum Ja-lee (Lee Young-ae) is convicted of the murder of a 5 year old schoolboy that she didn't commit. Before going to prison she is a kindhearted, positively spirited girl; after a sentence of 13 years she is a stone wall hellbent on exacting revenge on the man who has taken away everything from her. This film was directed by Park Chan Wook, and is the third installment of the "Vengeance Trilogy"(2002;2003;2005). The film starts off with a joyous singing group singing away to the release of our main protagonist's release from prison. This scene sets up the entire movie in showing the contrast of what will happen in the rest of the film. As if this may not come off as a surprise this is a very depressing film to watch. You feel sad about everything, there's no joyous or hopeful moment in the film. You pretty much know what's going to happen but it doesn't take away how its going to happen, and oh my god is that even more depressing to watch. The film drags on around the last 30 minutes and was overall predictable. Overall Lady Vengeance is a great revenge film that was a great close to the "Vengeance Trilogy".
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJamie FoxxChristoph WaltzLeonardo DiCaprioWith the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.Welcome to the Wild South where it's 3 years before the Civil War and there's a slave named D-J-A-N-G-O(Jaime Fox). He has been separated from his wife Broom Hilda(Kerry Washington) and is determined to find her and reunite with his long lost love. A German dentist/bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) just so happens to be looking for Django to locate his previous owners who are wanted men. With the aid of Django, he and Schultz hunt down the men and the movie kicks off. After first seeing this movie I laughed, cried, and even cringed at some moments. Tarantino is always known for its revenge and bloody violence in his films, and I personally think Django surpasses "Kill Bill"(2003;2004). This film is funny and hard to watch, just like all Tarantino films. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a great villain as Calvin Candy, and Sam Jackson plays himself as always. Waltz steels the show through his Oscar award winning performance and Foxx gives the best performance of his career since "Collateral" (2004). Django gives a realistic look at slavery down in the South which is saddening to watch. Django is one of Tarantino's best film out of his filmography. Tarantino steps down to go to some darker places which he usually doesn't do and I appreciate him for taking a risk like that. Django is one film all Tarantino and revenge lovers must see.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCameron DiazDaniel Day-LewisIn 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher; his father's killer.Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), an Irish immigrant is released from prison to return to the Five Points to seek his father's killer William 'The Butcher' Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) and avenge his father's death. In the process he must become a member of 'The Butcher's' inner circle gang. Through this he forms a relationship with 'The Butcher' and so begins a psychological drama about revenge, friendship, and gangs. Directed by Martin Scorsese, and with a long run time of 3 and a half hours, this tale of vengeance is fantastically amazing. This might possibly my favorite Scorsese film, and has a surprisingly low score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 on IMDb. Anyway, as Amsterdam gets closer to 'The Butcher' you actually wonder whether he's actually acting his emotions out or is he truly having a father son like relationship with 'The Butcher'. This film has many actors in the film who all give amazing performances even if they didn't have a lot of screen time. You have the talents of Cameron Diaz, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, the ever so underrated John C. Reilly, and even Liam Neeson. Scorsese takes us back in time and brings us into the gang culture of circa New York. The story is definitely emotional, and heart pounding, Day-Lewis steels every second as always, and Scorsese gives us a gritty New York, which he has done many times. While watching the film you start to forget that this is a revenge film, and that's what's possibly the best thing about the film, you forget what Amsterdam's sole purpose is, and maybe he himself forgets. Gangs of New York boasts another beautifully directed film by Martin Scorsese, and compelling performances by all the actors in the film.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineMichael MadsenThe Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.Now a lot of you out there may be saying "Kill Bill is the best revenge movie ever made!". And I will respectfully disagree. And many of you may say that "Kill Bill Vol. 1 was the best of the two Kill Bill's!" Now I personally think Vol.2 is the strongest of the two. Now I'm not saying that they aren't bad movies, they're really good. Now that we got that out of the way let's get into this film. "Kill Bill Vol.2" picks up right after Vol.1, the Bride/the Black Mamba/the Betrix Kido, is continuing her reign of vengeance on Bill and the rest of the remaining Deadly Viper Gang. Now the thing I love most about this film is that it's more of a drama, you get to rest and cool off from Vol.1 to explore the characters of Bill, and Bud, and Elle. You get to know the characters and feel how they feel before the violence starts to rumble. Michael Madson is fantastic in the film and was great to see him work with Tarantino again. This is a much more slower paced film compared to the previous and takes its time to explain and explore. You get a back story of how the Bride became a total badass, and how Elle lost her eye...(s). Director Quentin Tarantino, brings the cool sounding dialogue, bloody violence, and dark humor to the screen as he does in every single one of his films. Out of all of Tarantino's work these two films will have to be on the lower half. "Kill Bill Vol.2" boasts fun bloody action with Tarantino's typical style of story telling.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsTerence StampPeter FondaLesley Ann WarrenAn extremely volatile and dangerous Englishman goes to Los Angeles to find the man he considers responsible for his daughter's death.Wilson (Terrence Stamp), an English ex-con travels to Los Angeles to avenge the death of his daughter Jennifer/Jenny (Melissa George). Once in L.A. he seeks the aid of Eduardo (Luis Guzmán) who was mutual friends with Jennifer. While uncovering the mystery of his daughter's death it all seems to lead to a man named Valentine (Peter Fonda). From acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, who brought us "Traffic"(2000) and even "Magic Mike"(2012). This might be Soderbergh's most underrated film to date, and is definitely one of his best films. This film has very unconventional editing and story telling which definitely kept my attention and gave the film an almost unpredictable feel to it. Stamp gives a strong performance and Luis Guzmán makes every second of his screen time count. The Limey is a great revenge film that is more of a mystery than anything else.
- DirectorAlex ProyasStarsBrandon LeeMichael WincottRochelle DavisA man brutally murdered comes back to life as an undead avenger of his and his fiancée's murder.On the night before a rock guitarist Eric(Brandon Lee), and his fiancee Shelly, get married they are both tortured and murdered by an inner city gang. On the one year anniversary of their deaths Eric is brought back to life and given two days to avenge his and his fiancee's death. From the director of "Dark City"(1998) Alex Proyas, and the stellar farewell performance from Brandon Lee, this supernatural ghost story of second chance revenge is spellbounding. Based off of the graphic novel of the same name created by James O'barr, the film definitely serves the source material and O'barr justice. The film and graphic novel take the revenge genre and give it a whole new spin by combining it with a ghost story. The Crow has an original idea which is beautifully brought to life by beautiful story telling and cinematography. Most of the movie takes place during night which blends well with the dark and gritty city that it takes place in. In my opinion, the city in which the characters live in resembles Hell, Eric resembles a fallen angel who never got to spread his wings, and the character of Top Dollar (Michael Wincott), resembles the Devil, who throughout the film is the number one crime thug to fear. There's a scene in the film where Eric is playing the guitar on the roof of his eerie looking apartment, you see the sun rise and it looks beautiful, but you can still see the muck of the city that taints it black. The Crow is a beautiful supernatural revenge drama that still holds up to this day as a one of a kind film.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsSong Kang-hoShin Ha-kyunBae DoonaA recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.After Ryu (Shin Ha-kyun), a steel mill worker is fired from his job he kidnaps his former bosses daughter to hold her up for ransom to pay for his sister's kidney transplant. And so goes on an oddly bizarre story of revenge. This film is the very first installment of the "Vengeance Trilogy"(2002;2003;2005) and directed by Park Chan-wook. Though this is my least favorite out of the "Vengeance Trilogy" it is also my lowest rated film on this list. This movie isn't awful but it isn't a masterpiece. The performances by Shin Ha-kyun and Song Kang-Ho are very powerful but their performances can't save half the flaws the film has. Personally I didn't really care about the characters in the movie because all of them make bad and somewhat idiotic decisions. The pros of the film is the performances, the cinematography, and the somewhat bland story. Hate me if you want but Sympathy was somewhat a disappointment to me. It is a very down to Earth revenge drama that is very slow, maybe a little too slow. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance holds up as a solid revenge film but could have been better than it is.