9. Lee Woo-jin - Oldboy
The baddie of modern revenge classic Oldboy, Lee Woo-jin, pays to have Oh Dae-su kidnapped and locked away in a building for fifteen years, while we remain largely unaware of why this is until the film's cruel, savage and extremely contrived reveal. At the film's climax, it turns out that Oh Dae-su has been locked away because of a prior sin; when at high school, he spread the rumour that classmate Lee Woo-jin was having sex with his own sister - which was true - and eventually caused her suicide. Lee Woo-jin, distraught ever since, concocted one of the most contrived and demented revenge plans possible. Not only does he hold him captive for 15 years, but upon releasing him, allows hypnotic suggestion to lead him to become attracted to Mi-do, a young sushi chef. The two end up embarking on a relationship, and at the film's climax, Oh Dae-su ends up realising that he has been having sex with his own daughter. He cuts out his own tongue as penance, demanding that she never know anything of this, and Lee Woo-jin, feeling his plan is complete, summarily commits suicide. This is one of those great pulpy yarns that manages to overcome how much convolution it relies on because it's just so much damn fun.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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