The Five Greatest Revenge Movies

By Paco McCullough

In honor of the newly released Colombiana, I figured I'd do a countdown of the five greatest revenge movies. Check 'em out after the break.

#5

Last House On The Left

Wes Craven's brutal feature is incredibly unpleasant. That's a good thing. The brutal rape and murder of two young women challenges the viewer. Craven made a film designed not to entertain the viewer, but to make them question the use of violence in cinema. Like all the great 70s revenge flicks (Straw Dogs, I Spit On Your Grave, etc) it also examines the psyche of humanity and the breaking point of the average person. Last House On The Left leaves you with a feeling of disgust, and does it better than almost any other movie I've ever seen.

#4
Irreversible

Another challenging revenge movie, Irreversible challenges the viewer on all levels. While it is notorious for its sheer brutality (the famous rape scene is nearly ten minutes of one horrible shot). it also asks important questions about masculinity and the nature of brutality. Besides this, it's a great example of Gaspar Noe's insane visual style.

Once Upon A Time in the West

You can't have a list of greatest revenge films and not include a western, so why not include the best?
 Sergio Leone's masterpiece is made great by the Frank, the villain played by the great Henry Fonda. After Frank massacres a family, it's up to the only survivor, a young woman, to make sure justice is done. One of the avengers, known only as Harmonica, also has personal reasons to take Frank out. A long movie, but one where it's impossible to be bored for a moment.

Oldboy

I would love to have the entire vengeance trilogy on this list, but as I can only choose one, I chose Oldboy. The middle film in the trilogy, Oldboy is about a man who is locked in a private prison for 15 years. After a surprise release, he vows vengeance and works on tracking down the men responsible. It includes an incredible fight scene with a hammer and a notoriously demented ending. Let's hope the upcoming remake can retain the elements that made this film great.

Kill Bill

A nameless bride is gunned down at her wedding, along with all the other guests. The only problems for the gunmen? The Bride isn't dead, but she sure is deadly. Quentin Tarantino's genre bending masterpiece is a great cinematic treasure. Everything from the performances to the choreography are stunningly done. Uma Thurman's stunt Zoe Bell double does a great job with kung fu swordwork. Cameos by legends Gordon Liu and Sonny Chiba make this a must see for martial arts nerds. There's enough awesome dialogue, stylized setups, and great music (some done by Wu-Tang's the RZA, perhaps a bigger martial arts nerd than me).

Bottom line? If you haven't seen any of these films, be sure to check them out. Be sure to throw your two cents in the comments below.