Last Updated on July 23, 2021
Ah revenge. Does anything get the ole blood rushing like bringing righteous retribution down upon those who truly deserve it in this morally compromised world we live in? The history of cinema would argue no, since getting vengeance is a huge part of what drives many a celluloid story.
Actually trying to narrow down a list of the best revenge films is a major challenge because there are so many great ones to choose, but I look forward to what will no doubt be a highly interactive discussion below.
So let’s get to the good stuff, and spit bullets on your favs. After all, I don’t want to have to hunt you down and kill you.
WARNING – MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW!
5. PAYBACK
No matter how you feel about Mel Gibson personally of late, there’s no denying the man brought us some great performances. And while many are more famous, you’d be hard pressed to find a better, more intense performance than his turn as Porter, a man who knows exactly what his life is worth. 70 grand if you’re wondering. Not a flick for the faint of heart, but then again neither is this list.
4. GET CARTER
Michael Caine as a heavy may surprise some, but I actually had to pick between two of his films made decades apart, this one and HARRY BROWN. Ultimately I have to give the nod to GC though, because anytime Sly Stallone remakes a film, and looks significantly less intimidating than a classically trained Brit, you gotta figure it’s a force to be reckoned with. The story is nothing new. Brother dies under mysterious circumstances and a revenge tinged investigation ensues. But you get classic lines like, “You know, I’d almost forgotten what your eyes looked like. Still the same. Pissholes in the snow,” and plenty of good old fashioned violence.
3. KILL BILL VOL. 1 & 2
Buy the KILL BILL VOL. 1 & 2 DVD here
An amazing revenge saga that stretches across two films and features a protagonist who was left for dead after having her baby cut from her womb by the father? Yes, please. There is so much awesome in this roaring rampage of revenge that it could probably spawn it’s own Top 10 list someday. One thing is for sure. You do not f*ck with The Bride.
2. OLDBOY
Damn, those Asians sure do know how to hold a grudge. A man is held captive for years for reasons unknown, only to be released with no explanation. He of course wants, seeks and gets revenge, or so he thinks. But then it turns out he is the one revenge has been wreaked upon. I can’t bring myself to say what happens at the end, because if you haven’t seen the film you really deserve to experience it fresh, but it is just about the sickest pay back you could imagine.
1. DEATH WISH
The later entries in this iconic series turned Charles Bronson into an unapologetic righteous vigilante, but the first film actually showed a great deal of heart and conflict in the lead character. His liberal leanings are put to the test when his wife and daughter are attacked, sending him on a revenge spree that he cannot let go of, but that also does not sit easily with him. If nothing else this film taught me that a tube sock and a roll of quarters is all you need in a pinch to deal out some serious damage.
Got a Top 10 idea? Hit me up at [email protected]
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