10. Dead Man's Shoes (2004) - Dir. Shane Meadows
Paddy Considine has seldom been better than in Shane Meadows' disturbing revenge drama. Considine plays Richard, a soldier returning from abroad to avenge his mentally impaired brothers mistreatment at the hands of a group of drug dealers in his hometown of Derbyshire. Richard extracts his vengeance to the extreme going so far as to embarrass, terrify and then mutilate all the people responsible for what it transpires was his brothers death. We then realise that what we're actually watching is a slasher film, from the killer's point of view and not only do we feel sympathy for this character, we actively cheer him on several times as the details about his brothers death come to light. Richard corners the last gang member and confesses that he feels tired of being a monster and wishes he could rest and be reunited with his brother. He forces the hand of the terrified, clean cut Mark to kill him, freeing him from shackles he has created. The credits roll and you just feel hollow inside and a little ashamed. Did they deserve what happened to them? Does any of it alleviate the guilt Richard feels for leaving his brother behind? Do two wrongs make a right? A gripping and ultimately brilliant film that leaves the viewer asking; In a world full of evil people, does the archetypal good guy exist?