Top 5: Revengers
by John NolteA kung-fu flick with fancy wire work is still a kung-fu flick and a revenge flick with CGI is still a revenger . Some may confuse “Wolverine” with a superhero film, but make no mistake, it’s a revenger of the best kind: a B-level plot with A-level action — all meat and potatoes without a vegetable anywhere in sight.
This is one of my favorite genres, especially when it comes to the smaller, lesser known – or better yet – less respected members of this family. Sure, there’s “Star Trek II,” “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “The Sting,” “Man on Fire,” and both “Kill Bill” films – love ‘em all, and so do you, but here are five you may have missed that are even more satisfying than their better known cousins.
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1. Death Wish II (1982) – Michael Winner’s first “Death Wish” (1974) is often mistaken as a revenge film when it’s really a vigilante film. For we purists that distinction matters. The original may show up on all kinds of Top 10 Revenge Film lists but at no time does Bronson’s Paul Kersey look for the thugs who murdered his wife and raped his daughter. What he does do is take it to the streets as an avenging angel to overcome his own sense of helplessness. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great because punks get blown away and liberal critics howl, but a revenger it is not.
Winner’s follow-up, however, is an epic of revenge, one of the most exploitive, manipulative and satisfying movies ever made. Bronson was 60 at the time and at the height of human achievement in pure badassery. Watching The Mighty One, dressed in black from top to bottom, stalk the seedy streets of Los Angeles hunting the punks who raped and murdered his daughter as Jimmy Page’s howling score skews the tone into something surreal is as good as it gets.
The cherry on top? Well, that would be the subtextual viewing pleasure of knowing how much critics hate it.
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2. Act of Violence (1948) – In “The Searchers,” John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards describes his own determination with this famous quote:
Seems like he never learns there’s such a thing as a critter that’ll just keep comin’ on. So we’ll find ‘em in the end, I promise you. We’ll find ‘em. Just as sure as the turnin’ of the earth.
Post-war Los Angeles — when California was still known as “Sunny California,” — and war hero Van Heflin’s done quite well for himself: Nice home, thriving business, cute little son, and best of all, his wife looks exactly like Janet Leigh. Unfortunately, there’s this…
Scrape … scrape … scrape … scrape…
That sound has relentlessly haunted Heflin over an ocean and across America, and now it’s knocking on the front door in the form of Robert Ryan who will have his revenge on Heflin … just as sure as the turnin’ of the earth.
Fred Zinneman directs this splendidly shot, tightly plotted piece of noir that’s deserving of a revival and finally available on DVD. I won’t spoil a drop of story, but the performances are as good as it gets, especially Oscar-winner Mary Astor in a late-career supporting role, and the wrap-up is hugely satisfying on every level. Well worth a Netflix, to say the least.
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3. Coffy (1973) – A masterpiece of blaxploitation thanks to Pam Grier’s ridiculously sexy and determined presence as a nurse out to get The Man who fed her sister contaminated heroin. Every scene reaches for “cool” and delivers. Sure, the acting’s stiff and the action’s over-rehearsed, but with dialogue like this…
Vitroni: Crawl, ni**er!
Coffy: [pulls gun] You want me to crawl, white motherf**ker?
Vitroni: What’re you doing? Put that down.
Coffy: You want to spit on me and make me crawl? I’m gonna piss on your grave tomorrow.
… if you catch me on the right day I’ll tell you “Coffy” is the greatest movie ever made. There’s just something distinctive and sublime about a genre film that aims for a target and hits the bullseye.
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4. Chato’s Land (1972) – Two years before kicking off the “Death Wish” franchise, director Michael Winner and Charles Bronson teamed up for the first time to give the revenge genre a test-drive with this satisfying and violent Western about a half-breed Apache (Bronson) hunted by a posse after he kills a sheriff in self-defense.
You don’t need me to tell you that some tables find themselves turned and thanks to a splendid supporting cast consisting of Jack Palance, James Whitmore, Ralph Waite, Richard Jordan and Victor French, there is all kinds of pleasure to be had in that table turn as the posse degenerates into lawlessness and in-fighting.
Imposing over every frame is the stoic and fearsome Bronson whose transformation from a quiet, peaceable man wanting to get home to his family, into a relentless revenging angel with a righteous cause is something few actors could pull off believably.
Acting’s in the eyes, not the affectations … and Bronson made you believe.
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5. Hannie Caulder (1971) – Raquel Welch starred in three outstanding Westerns between 1968 and 1971 — this, “Bandolero!” (1968) and “100 Rifles” (1969). Beyond her stunning physical appearance, Welch is progressively better in each of them and with “Hannie Caulder” impressively carries the film mostly on her own. There to help her is Robert Culp (one of my favorite unheralded actors in one of his best film roles) as a slightly offbeat bounty hunter, but Raquel adds some real brawn to her beauty as a woman determined to learn the way of the gun in order to have her revenge on the three men who raped her and killed her husband.
Burt Kennedy directs and adapted the screenplay, so it’s sure to be a lean, satisfying 85 minutes. Ernest Borgnine, Strother Martin, Jack Elam and Christopher Lee fill out an excellent supporting cast and a surprisingly (for director Kennedy, anyway) odd sense of humor pervades everything.
An unconventional film, but more than worthy.
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99 Comments
Interesting take on the original Death Wish. I had actually not realized until you pointed it out that it wasn't truly a revenge movie. Since Bronson became "the Vigilante" throughout the series, I never distinguished one from the other. I was too busy thinking "where is he now when we need him?" Alternatively, "Damn, I'd like to be able to do that."
May I also add Mel Gibson's "Payback" to the list.
I think it fits your bill of "B-level plot with A-level action"
Plus, it adds to the stew what all good action flicks have — witty and ironically funny 1-liners.
"Chato's Land" also had Simon Oakland in that supporting cast. He played that loud, not as smart as he thought he was, older brother/leader role to the hilt.
As Spiro stated, "Payback" rates up there (as well as the earlier adaptation, "Point Blank").
I'd rate "The Limey" in the top 10 on Terence Stamp's performance alone.
And Coffey has always been a guilty pleasure any time I see it when I am channel surfing.
There was a film I can't remember the name of, from the late 60's or early 70's, in which a neighborhood kid with a hot rod two door wagon terrorizes a family until the old man has had enough, and just goes full tilt. I wish I could remember the title, because I'd like to see it again to see if it's really as good as I remember. It might even have been made for TV, I'm not sure. In the end, the father torches the hotrod while screaming bloody murder. Really, good, if memory serves, that is.
Hubald, I wonder if you are talking about Hot Rods to Hell, with Dana Andrews and Jeanne Crain. This one –
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061784/
Your Hannie Calder made me immediately think of a good one to add: The Quick and the Dead. Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Sharon Stone, Leo DiCaprio. Just plain awesome.
1. Get Carter- Michael Caine's brother is murdered, prompting him to find the killers, and his performance is as good as Charles Bronson's in either Chato's Land or Death Wish II.
2. The Outlaw Josey Wales- Takes a Civil War and hundreds of miles from Missouri to Texas, but Clint Eastwood gets his family's killers.
3. Fury- Spencer Tracy is wrongly blamed for a crime and is nearly lynched, then goes after his would-be killers via the legal system; great film from Fritz Lang.
4. High Plains Drifter- Open for debate, but to me, an argument can be made that this film is a revenger in at least two respects.
5. License To Kill- The very reason James Bond goes to Latin America to get Sanchez is to avenge the assault on his friend, Felix Leiter, and the murder of Leiter's bride.
Saw License To Kill this week. With our own Robert Davi as Franz Sanchez. Davi + Wayne Newton = genius casting, almost good enough to overlook the Timothy Dalton casting!
The best revenge flick ever made: The Crow.
Derrel Maury in Massacre at Central High, Perry King in Class of 1984, and Lardass Hogan in Stand By Me.
I just watched that last night. It still holds up too.
I normally don't do this… but here are 6-10.
6. Point Blank (Payback … pfaw!)
7. High Plains Drifter (love that you don't know it's a revenger until the end)
8. The Limey (Terence Stamp is great, Peter Fonda more so)
9. Cape Fear — original
10.Memento
10.5 — Quick and the Dead (good call) — GREAT cast. Sharon Stone is excellent, Leo plays his age, Crowe, Henriksen, The Mighty Gene Hackman, and The Awesome Keith David in a terrific and too-small role.
Doesn't 'Taken' qualify as a revenger? Neeson goes full-tilt on the guys who kidnapped his daughter and makes 'em all pay.
One nit to pick with the intro, I think Kill Bill part 2 is one of the worst movies ever made, and Tarantino's second-worst after that monstrosity known as Death Proof.
And let's not forget The Princess Bride – Montoya's revenge is served ice-cold…
I totally agree with the Death Wish assessment — I never saw it that way, but I'm convinced. Consequently, Death Wish II has to on top of my list:
1. Death Wish II
2. Point Blank
3. The Limey
4. The Punisher (2004)
5. The Crow — I just watched this last Halloween and was amazed at how well it held up … in fact, I think it got better.
Man on Fire, High Plains Drifter, Cape Fear (original), and Once Upon a Time in the West are all awesome. I'll definitely be renting Act of Violence, Coffy, and Hannie Caulder as soon as possible.
Sheesh! 'Hannie Caulder' isn't on Netflix. Sigh. But 'Act of Violence' is – and it's good.
Totally awesome list.
The only thing I nitpick is – is the description of Stone as 'excellent' in 'Q&D'. I'm sorry. The moment she opened her mouth and started talking in that phony low voice from the ankles 'I am tough' speech, I nearly fell off the stool laughing. I watched the film only because of Crowe. I'd just seen him in 'Gladiator' and then 'Romper Stomper', so I was on a seriously intense Crowe-fix. And he was awesome in there. But Stone? The only thing I liked about her was the fact that, as producer and star, she used this film to give Crowe his big break. She not only picked him, she even held up production (he had to finish a film down Under first). Bless her for that.
I don't normally do this … but 11-15.
11. The Outfit (low level crook Robert Duvall hunts the mob (Robert Ryan is the top man) to avenge his brother)
12. Kill Bills Vols 1-2
13. Straw Dogs
14. Last House on the Left
15. Sudden Impact
How about For A Few Dollars More? Man On Fire is a good choice (thanks, NeoConJedi), and I believe Taken does qualify as a revenger.
Top 10 Revengers, Part 1:
1. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (1934) Perhaps the ultimate tale of revenge, Robert Donat stars in what is still the best film version of the story.
2. THE DEVIL-DOLL (1936) Lionel Barrymore will get even with those who wrongly sent him to Devil's Island, even if he has to consort with mad scientists, go in drag, and send miniature killer automatons to do it (Shhh! Don't tell his daughter)!
3. KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949) Cheat Dennis Price out of his birthright, will you?!?
4. CHAMPAGNE FOR CAESAR (1950) So, the eccentric head of Milady Soap company ("The Soap that Sanctifies") frivolously cuts short the job interview of unemployed mega-genius, Beauregard Bottomley (Ronald Colman), eh? Fine. He'll just go on your sponsored TV quiz show, answer every question right for weeks on end, and win so big that he'll buy you out!
5. KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1952) John Payne was set up by a buncha mugs trying to pull the perfect caper! But he's smarter than they thought, and since they all wore masks to protect their identities from even each other…
Top 10 Revengers, Part 2:
6. DEATH RIDES A HORSE (1967) They raped and murdered his entire family and burned his home to the ground… but they missed that one blonde kid hiding under the table, who's grown up to be a mad, determined John Philip Law, and he's been practicing with multiple firearms…
7. POINT BLANK (1967) [i]"I want my money. I want my $93,000."[/i]
8. THEATER OF BLOOD (1973) It would greatly [i]behoove[/i] you to vote Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) for Best Actor this year, Mr. Nolte…
9. MAD MAX (1979) [i]"The chain in those handcuffs is high-tensile steel. It'd take you ten minutes to hack through it with this. Now, if you're lucky, you could hack through your ankle in five minutes. Go."[/i]
10. A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (1990) Pass over Michael Caine for long-deserved job promotion, will you?!?
In no particular order:
1. The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the best revenge stories ever written. The various film versions are not bad either.
2. Point Blank/Payback both adapted from Donald Westlake's Walker novel.
3. Rolling Thunder (1977): A disabled Vietnam vet goes after those who did him wrong. William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones star http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-zBlzKgKJw
4. High Plains Drifter – Very clever Eastwood trouble to Sergio Leone
5. Once Upon a Time in the West – Charles Bronson's enigmatic character seeks vengeance on Henry Fonda
6. Kill Bill – Over the top, but entertaining. The ending is somewhat anti-climactic, but Carridine's best movie performance.
Semi OT- Never liked the term blaxploitation. Who was being exploited? A better term would have been blaction movies.
For my money I'd say GLADIATOR, SLEEPERS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, ZORRO, THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, THE SEARCHERS and I don't know if it would qualify in your book it does in mine Errol Flynn's THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE Very Heroic and Heavy on the Revenge.
That's not the film, but that's the genera all right, and the protagonist is a Dana Andrews type, but not Dana Andrews. I know Hot Rods to Hell (Who doesn't?), and that's not it.
Here's one from 1976 you'll hardly ever hear about, but man, it's a sicko! It's called LIPSTICK and features the Hemingway sisters, Mariel and Margaux. Bad guy Chris Sarandon literally oozes scum, and boy, does he get in the end! Here's the IMDB page. Need I also mention the cringe-inducing I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE? Anyway, here's the kiss from the Hemingway sisters
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074802/
Spiro: have you had the distinct pleasure of seeing Payback's director's cut? It's way better than the theatrical Gibson cut version.
But revenge? Me thinks not he just wants his share! In fact this character spends most of his books seeking to get paid.
How about one of my favorites and one of the most tragically under-rated of all time – Darkman? I still maintain this is the best "comic book" movie ever made and puts Raimi's later Spiderman to shame. It was made before CGI took over and ruined action films so all the stuntwork is real and fantastically done. The revenge aspect is truly clever and satisfying as well.
Mr. Hudnall: I concur and am glad you mentioned Rolling Thunder. It's all about REVENGE! High Plains Drifter while about revenge is also about teaching some peeps a lesson or two.
Many here have made mention of a few that Sir Nolte didn't, i.e. High Plains Drifter, Josey Wales and the absolutely great and cool Rolling Thunder. That said… there is one other title no one has mentioned. And like Rolling Thunder the entire flick is about REVENGE. Hand 'Em High, Eastwood's first starring role in a USA movie which he also produced.
I'm just glad no one has mentioned the flick Revenge w/Costner and Quinn. It's deadly in all the wrong ways. Oops, I just did… I hope the movie Gods forgive me.
I don't know if A CLOCKWORK ORANGE would qualify, except as perhaps revenge in reverse. The whole last half of the movie is revenge against Droogie Alex, by society, bums, the old man whose wife he raped, everyone! Also on the straight-up revenge list are TAKEN (mentioned, but worth a second one), ROLLING THUNDER, THE PATRIOT, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN, DARKMAN, MAD MAX, even ROBOCOP if you think about it. Personally, I believe revenge flicks are a form of catharsis. So much is badly needed in this world, yet so little is rarely achieved.
Theater of Blood is terrific. You can't go wrong with Shakespeare and violence. Vincent Price did a lot of those grand guignol (sp?) movies back then that were so good. How about The Abominable Dr. Phibes and its sequel? He kills the medical staff that couldn't save his wife. Loads of fun.
The Outlaw Josey Wales is tremendous.
Lipstick is pretty twisted. It's not bad enough that he rapes Margaux, but Sarandon goes after her underage sister, too? Ick.
Punisher: War Zone: Much, much closer to the comic than Thomas Jane's '04 offering, and more satisfyingly violent towards scumbags. C'mon, who didn't cheer when Frank shot the mafioso in the face with the shotgun as the FBI agent was trying to read him his rights?
The Outlaw Josey Wales is probably my favorite Eastwood movie, with Bronco Billy being a close second.
Irreversible- Gasper Noe, the revenge movie told in reverse is extremely brutal.
The worst revenge flick is “An Inconvenient Truth,” starring Al Gore and his animated polar bears. Also, featuring discredited charts. He made it to get back at the Industrial Revolution.
It's sort of been eclipsed by 'Unforgiven' . . . and I think since Josey was on the . . . ahem . . . "wrong" side of the War Between The States, most folks shuffle it to the back of the queue. Some of the best quotes in "Josey Wales"
"So you say these pilgrims were in charge of horses?"
"I hear there's three kinds of 'suns' in Kansas . . ."
"…talk like that ain't worth doodly squat. . ."
Clint is Iconic.
I like it when Travis Bickle takes revenge on…the world, I guess.
Also, "Rob Roy," although the revenge is pretty restrained compared to the other big Scots picture of similar vintage. Liam Neeson merely bisects Tim Roth — Mel Gibson sacks York.
And, claims that it's "just business" aside, Michael is definitely motivated by revenge in the penultimate sequence of the Greatest Movie Ever Made.
I. Love. Charles. Bronson.
So glad you give him his due with your love of Death Wish II and Chato's Land which I finally got this past Christmas.
My father showed me DWII when I was far too young as a child of 12 or so and VHS still was in its infancy. He always fast-forwarded through the nasty stuff at the beginning so to me it was just a bad-ass action flick. When I finally got up the courage to watch the opening as a much older teen/young adult, I was amazed at how much power it lent the rest of the film. I know critics (like Ebert) who hate this film but there is something here that really works in it on a visceral level.
Page's score roars through it like a lion and whenever I find myself in a seedy part of town I think of ole' Chuck in Death Wish II and get the courage to carry on. Good call.
Forgive me if it's already been mentioned, but what about Lee Marvin in Point Blank?
Lets not forget that Errol Flynn leads the entire CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE into the valley of death to avenge a sultan's massacre of men, women, and children.
Love them all, but though Memento is awesome, I'm not sure it works as well for this catagory, it lacks the clarity of other the films here for clear cut revenge. We're not ever quite sure who did what and if the right people are getting their just desserts. Love it for other reasons.
Another great revenge flick – "Mad Max".
I get the feeling you love revenge films.
Good call on Taken, Morgan. The only reason it's not on my list is because I didn't immediately think of it as a revenge flick.
But, Liam does put down some justice on scumbags. However you define the film, it's better than anything I listed, and is certainly one of my favorite action films of all time.
How about adding "The Sons of Katie Elder" to the list?
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"outrage" with Robert Culp, An NBC movie of the week. really terrific.
Nevada Smith, with Steve McQueen and an all star cast.
It's one of my favorite all-time action films as well.
A great many Bugs Bunny cartoons are mini revenge flick. Usually, someone takes Bug's home and he gets is back.
I can't believe I haven't seen "Point Blank." I am making a point to put that in my queue.
John, you may never have seen it, but Park Chan-Wook's Oldboy is masterful. It takes the revenge movie and turns it on its head, making it a tragedy of the highest order.
I am going to have to go with "Theater of Blood" and "The Crow" as two of my favorites. However, the single most satisfying revenge film for me, as a female, is "The Girl Most Likely to" with Stockard Channing and Ed Asner. In a nutshell… after a traumatic experience, an ugly duckling is transformed into a ravishing beauty. By putting theory (from the numerous college courses she has taken) into practice, Miriam Knight exacts revenge on all those who were cruel and unkind.
How about "The California Kid" (1974)? It had Martin Sheen in a 34' Ford squaring off against Vic Morrow, a corrupt sheriff that killed his brother. Probably not an A-lister but it deserves an honorable mention for being a revenge flick with some cool old cars.
Count of Monte Cristo will always be my fave and yes I'm talking about the newest version. Love Jim Caviezel!
Just going to mention it.
Wow no mention of any Asian films! It's almost as if some Asian directors specialize in revenge themes… So I would point out "Oldboy", "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance", of course "Lady Snowblood", heck even "Audition" (all of these require strong stomachs by the way). Thanks for the lists though, I have a lot of catching up to do! I've never seen the Deathwish stuff but I love Charles Bronson in his Westerns I've seen.
[...] The Hollywood Rounder added an interesting post today on Top 5: RevengersHere’s a small readingA kung-fu flick with fancy wire work is still a kung-fu flick and a revenge flick with CGI is still a revenger . Some may confuse “Wolverine” with a superhero film, but make no mistake, it’s a revenger of the best kind: a B-level plot with A-level action — all meat and potatoes without a… [...]
Well, I'm surprised nobody mentioned Falling Down with Michael Douglas. What every frustrated urbanite stuck 3 hours in traffic dreams about.
"…The Awesome Keith David in a terrific and too-small role."
Nolte, I knew I liked you for a reason. I have been a big fan of David's since his early work in "Platoon" and "They Live".
He is truly "The Awesome." I don't know why he doesn't get more work.
I also enjoyed Punisher: War Zone.
Although, using Nolte's definition, that was more of a vigilante film.
Is “Man on Fire" really well-known? I was under the impression that this one had been missed by many people.
Also, which version are you referring to?
I have only seen the 2004 version and I thought it was the perfect revenge film.
Rocky 4? Only because I saw it last night and Apollo deserved vengence.
Unforgiven? Only because I saw it tonight. Not exactly revenge until the final climactic scene.
I dunno — Jigsaw sought revenge against the Punisher for disfiguring him so it kinda sorta fits.
I am surprised you didn't even mention the best of all I have seen in all my 70 years – Clint Eastwood's "Grand Torino".
The Outlaw Josey Wales is my favorite western period, love that movie.
Doesn't matter which side he was on in the war, a good movie is a good movie, kinda like Das Boot, wrong side, great movie.
As a few people have mentioned, Mad Max, Gladiator, The Crow, Lady Snowblood, well over half of Jackie Chan's old movies, Falling Down, Taken and many more.
It is a good genre of movie, most everyone has wanted revenge on someone in their life, so most people can relate, though the violence would put off a lot of people. Though not me.
Wow, where's the love for "I Spit On Your Grave?" Any film that Roger Ebert gives zero stars is a revenger worth watching. Furthermore, through my skimming I didn't see it – V for Vendetta works. Man on Fire, Kill Bill/II, and my favorite recent revenger, Death Sentence. These have been good times for revengers – if the Carter era was a golden age for revengers, methinks the next four years will be stellar for the genre.
And, as another reader pointed out, The Crow stands up just as well – if not better – now than it did 15 years ago when I saw it in the theater. The perfect revenge/antihero comic book movie.
I know it belongs to the horror genre, but the last half hour of "Carrie" has to qualify as one of the most brutal revenge sequences in film history. It has been a delicious fantasy ever since for any and all kids who ever suffered bullying in school.
Its good, no question. Just not the best.
I am surprised that nobody mentioned Star Trek II, BEN HUR and The Sting which is much better that Oceans. I think the best revenge comedy is got to be USED CARS with the great Kurt Russell.
I loved that movie Massacre at Central High, I totally forgot about that movie.
I feel like I've already seen "Lady Snowblood" by watching Tarantino rip it off in Kill Bill 2…. but now I'll look for it. thanks.
The Limey is a very good revenge flick. I have turned several friends on to that one. TELL'EM I'M COMING!!!
Something about taking an ass whoopin to get your foot in the door.
Yes, Payback is an excellent revenger. It's one of those movies I never see the beginning of, but I turn to it every time I see it on the schedule. Classic Mel, he's always done great revenge, starting with mad max.
Hannie Caulder runs on TCM every year & AMC runs it also.
You're probably right, Josie Wales was a Confederate…but he had no slaves, only joined the war after his familiy was raped & murdered, refused to own a girl who said she belonged to him, and generally stood up for the defenseless everywhere he went. But in liberal hollywood, his good deeds never go unpunished.
Definitely one of clint's best, and one one the top revengers. This is a character that must have been difficult to keep believable…tough but not overbearing, famous but quiet, reluctant killer, defender of the innocent…all of these qualities in one character is hard to pull off & no actor or director but clint could have done this so well.
the Substitute
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117774/
stiletto
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027747/
Point Blank is one of the two or three (or one) best American films of the sixties. Not just a revenge flick, but a story of modern alienation.
I know I'm crazy on this one, but Man on Fire will be on my top ten list of the decade. The political situation in Mexico is making this film seem prophetic.
How could you do a list of "revenge" movies and not include "Sleuth" (the original, with Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, not the worthless re-make)? I'd say a few words about it, but I don't want to ruin the fun of anyone who's never seen it.
While I've seen a lot of people really hate it… THe Brave ONe is one I'd add to the list… (but then again, I've been in love with Jodie Foster since the days of "CandleShoe"…), and like everyone else… "count of monte cristo'.. in any version works for me
How about Jurassic Park? Dinosaurs get revenge on the humans who hunted them to extinction…
Because the next four years will be known as Carter On Crack
I'm delighted Mr. Tipton (above) mentioned "Kind Hearts and Coronets." It is certainly the wittiest revenge film ever made. I would like to put in a plug for two Fritz Lang revenge flicks. These would be the 1936 classic "Fury" with Spencer Tracy and "The Big Heat" from 1953. Tracy's performance in "Fury" is a masterpiece of self-destructive obsession as he gets revenge on an entire lynch-happy town. "The Big Heat" doesn't start as a revenge film but get out of Glenn Ford's way after his wife is blown up. Even Lee Marvin is terrified of him! And don't forget Gloria Grahame cold-bloodedly pumping bullets into Jeanette Nolan in order to get the goods on evil kingpin Alexander Scourby. A masterpiece of the genre.
John, thanks again for sparking another thought provoking discussion of movies.
I hope to see you follow up with the "Revengers" with a listing of all time hitman/assassin flicks. There seems to be a surplus of good ones out there, and the new Killshot may have to be considered.
YES! and yes the remake was DREADFUL.
I's add Paul Newman in "Absence of Malice"…
Who knows if anyone will read this, this late, but did someone get to Truffaut's "The Bride Wore Black"? Certainly should be on the list. (Good Bernard Herrmann score is a bonus.)
Nobody's going to read this, but I'm ashamed we all forgot Firestarter.
"Burn it, Charlie. Burn it all down."
Death Wish II?
Death Wish 3 was way better! In that one he got the whole neighborhood in on it! That one was so violent that it even upset Bronson!
Also you should have included Vigilante (1982) where Robert Forster actually went as far as to blow up a liberal judge!
I would call First Blood a revenger film in the criteria you suggest. And a fine example at that.
Yeah, TCMC! Wonderful and very involved novel. Talk about revenge! That's some long term grudge holding!
I've never seen any of the movie treatments, but I think I sat thru the TV movie in the 70s that starred the miniseries champ, Dick Chamberlain.
Funny that there hasn't been any real classic Hollywood treatment of the timeless tale of revenge.
I take that back, looking upwards, I see another poster mentions Robert Donat's version. I may have missed that!
Darkman is Brilliant, qualifies as a revenger, features the weirdest performance of Liam Neeson's career and end with a shot of the great Bruce Campbell.
Hey, isn't Carrie a revenge flick by the definitions offered?
Where, oh where is "Man on Fire". Great revenge film.
Great acting. Heart tugging. Great sound track.
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