20 Greatest Revenge Movies Of All-Time

6. Point Blank

MGM

Mel Gibson's Payback may have been adapted from the same source material, but Point Blank is - without a doubt - the more accomplished picture of those culled from The Hunter by Donald E. Westlake. Directed by the great John Boorman, arguably his greatest movie, Point Blank stars Lee Marvin as - you guessed it - a criminal out for revenge after he's betrayed by his associates.

Not to be confused with that Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze movie with a similar name, Point Blank was met with much distain upon first release and was branded a "tad weird" - only later was it reappraised as something of an offbeat classic. Which makes sense, because it's awesome: the atmosphere is unique and palpable, a stylish blend of neo-noir aesthetics and the avant-garde.

oldboAs a result, it comes across unlike any other revenge movie ever made - a true original with Lee Marvin on fine, badass form. His bitterness, angst and anger at having been betrayed seep into every frame, marking this as one of the most notable entries in the revenge sub-genre.

 
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Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.