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!
Special Mention – DEADEN
If you’ve been around this site for long then you know that John Fallon The Arrow himself wrote and starred in a low budget ode to all the great revenge flicks. It’s a drug fueled psychotic rampage that is a gift to all hardcore genre fans. If you haven’t already checked it out, then get on it!
10. I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE
Buy the I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE DVD here
We’ve got the remake of this classic grindhouse beast making the rounds and, for the most part, getting solid reviews. It’s probably a better film than the original, which suffers from over long scenes, a lack of focus, and suspect performances for the most part. But you cannot ignore the effect the original has had, particularly in the uneasy discussion of how female empowerment vs. exploitation work within this subgenre.
9. THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (remake)
Buy THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT DVD here
I know many people consider the original to be one of the most horrifying films they’ve ever seen, but to me it always felt campy, and dare I say it, funny. The remake, in a twist on the usual, is simply a better film across the board. Of course both are courtesy of Bergman’s THE VIRGIN SPRING, but for our purposes both LAST HOUSE films fit the list better.
8. DEATH SENTENCE
Buy the DEATH SENTENCE DVD here
Novelist Brian Garfield penned a book that launched one of the most famous series of revenge films in history, and we’ll get to that, but another book gave James Wan an opportunity to give us a bit of a different look post-SAW. What makes this film really work is the strongly conflicted performance from Kevin Bacon at its center. After all, as much as giving a bunch of thugs whatfor may appeal to the KARATE KID lover in us all, there is an undeniable emotional cost that good revenge movies explore. This is no exception.
7. ROLLING THUNDER
Buy the ROLLING THUNDER VHS here
Do I need to say more than William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones? How ’bout badass violence spree led by a man with a hook for a hand? Oh,. and Paul Schrader is the writer. Instead of talking about why this flick is awesome (already covered in my opinion), let’s talk about the criminal ridiculousness that the damn thing is not yet available on DVD. WTF?!
6. COFFY
Obviously Pam Grier had a cottage industry of grindhouse films that revolved around her badass persona. And Coffy is one of the most fun giving us her in the role of a pissed off nurse looking to take down the criminals involved in her sister’s heroin overdose. Let me tell ya friends, a lot of the men looking for revenge could learn a thing or two from this mocha marauder.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!
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