9. Defendor (2009)
Defendor appears to be - on the surface, at least - a lazy copy-cat entry in the "what if superheroes were real?" sub-genre, when in actuality it proceeded those films that it is most often accused of ripping off (namely
Kick-Ass and
Super) a full year before they were even released in theatres. The movie, which stars Woody Harrelson as a mentally-deranged labourer who dressed up as as a costumed hero and takes to the streets at night to kick to beat the hell out of criminals, isn't perfect, but it's an underrated and under-seen little gem with a lot to say. There is an occasionally "comic" vibe to this movie, given its premise, but mostly
Defendor grounds itself in reality - in a lot of ways, this proves problematic to the film at large. The fact that the movie tries so hard to be realistic provides a perfect showcase as to how trying to mix the conventions of fantasy with those of real life doesn't always work - that's to say,
Defendor can be a little too realistic at times for its own good. Still, Harrelson's performance ensures that this ultimately works - as an exploration of vigilantism, it's an incredibly worthwhile effort.