10 Amazing Revenge Films That Are Really Bleak
7. Oldboy (2003)
The South-Korean action-noir thriller is the story of a man abducted and imprisoned for 15 years with no explanation as to why. On the day he is released, he sets out on a quest to find those responsible for his abduction (and framing of a murder) and get his few pounds of flesh.
Our lead hero Dae-Su (Choi Min-Sik) rampages through the film with feral might. As events unfold, he becomes acquainted with a young chef called Mi-Do and the two start a romance.
We're not going to say any more about that part of the story.
Revenge films tend to focus on one underdog taking on the masses, but in Oldboy's case, this is a film about a man who is being toyed with even after being released.
The antagonist's orchestration of all the events within the film doesn't so much as throw the film off its feet, but flip the script of revenge crime thrillers entirely.
Watching a hero battle his way into a high-rise penthouse and confront his enemy, only to cut his own tongue out five minutes later really leaves you staring at the screen after the movie ends.