John Wick may have set the new benchmark for revenge thrillers these days, but there are a ton of incredible classic films that beat the Keanu Reeves franchise. The thriller genre is difficult to pin down, and films are usually unified by a few disparate elements that set them apart from action or horror.
Gender has also evolved over the decades, making identification even more difficult. Early thrillers were a bit more mundane than their modern counterparts, placing less emphasis on action and more on intriguing stories. Renowned filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock helped revolutionize the thriller genre and set a standard that many have attempted to match.
THE John Wick The franchise kept the action thriller genre going for a decade and spawned countless imitators. With explosive thrills and bloody vengeance, John Wick combines all the best parts of its genre. However, there are older films that also highlight the strengths of the revenge thriller, and some are even top-notch. John Wick in terms of quality.
Point Blank (1967)
Even though they were created decades apart, John Wick shares quite a few similarities with the 1967 revenge classic, Point blank. After being betrayed by his criminal friends, a man infiltrates a powerful organization to bring down the person who betrayed him. Although the plot is standard, Point blank shines with its neo-noir style and tense visual storytelling.
Point blank would perhaps not have the grandiloquent action of a John Wick film, but few can match its well-executed tension. Violence is used sparingly, giving each moment much more weight. than any action show. Nearly 60 years later, Lee Marvin’s vehicle still manages to make a splash, something most of his contemporaries can’t say.
Man on Fire (2004)
Denzel Washington’s best films take advantage of his overt star power, and that was on full display in Tony Scott’s. The man on fire. Washington plays a former CIA agent who must find the little girl he was hired to look after during his stay in Mexico. The film was not well received, but it has everything a great revenge thriller should have.
Washington shows off his action hero skills and his skillful performance gives everything an emotional edge. The action is crisp without resorting to the same levels of absurdity as a John Wick film, and The man on fire feels more grounded overall. Washington’s John Creasy is the kind of hero who could definitely give John Wick a run for his money.
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Léon: The Professional is a remarkable revenge thriller for many reasons, mainly because it is Natalie Portman’s debut. The main character is a professional hitman who takes in his 12-year-old neighbor after her parents are killed by a corrupt DEA agent. Leon has a complicated legacy, but there’s no denying the aspects of the film that work.
Even if the cult classic loses ground to John Wick in the action department, he makes up for it with some stunning performances. Gary Oldman steals the show and his unbalanced ride beats anything seen overall John Wick cannon. Léon: The Professional is also just a brilliantly made film that doesn’t need spectacle to succeed.
Old Boy (2003)
Kicking off one of the greatest unofficial trilogies of all time, that of Park Chan-wook Old boy brings thrills to the revenge thriller genre. An average man is held captive for years, only to have the opportunity for revenge when he is suddenly released. Unlike other films which copied John Wick, Chan-wook’s action sequences clearly inspired the Keanu Reeves franchise.
Old boy is a gritty, unforgiving ride that never lets up. The violence is impactful and disturbing, and the revenge plot has a deeper meaning that gives it more punch than John Wick. While this latest franchise embraces the path of violence, Old boy actively deconstructs revenge as a concept, questioning the validity of forgiveness in general.
Straw Dogs (1971)
The 1970s were filled with revenge films dealing with the rise of violence in the United States, but Straw dogs took things across the Atlantic to the UK. Dustin Hoffman’s classic sees him play an American expat who fights against thugs in his new town. Director Sam Peckinpah is perfect for such a personal revenge storyand the film keeps its promises.
Austere and psychological, Straw dogs is far from the neon-tinted surroundings of John Wick. However, there is something that the latter does not have, and that is suspense. Straw dogs is all about the prelude to violence, so the payoff seems much more satisfying when things finally reach a boiling point. One tense scene beats hours of copious action sequences.
Unforgivable (1992)
Clint Eastwood’s pedigree as one of the greatest western stars of all time was already well established by 1992, but Unforgiven further consolidated its status. When a reward is posted in a small Wyoming town, two groups come to collect the bounty. Unforgiven is quite the stunning character dramait also happens to be an unforgettable revenge story.
The brilliance of the film lies in the fact that it never gets lost in its genres, and the Western setting doesn’t stop it from being a compelling revenge thriller. John Wick could have more action, but the compelling character works in Unforgiven is unmatched. The spotlight is on vigilantism and revenge in general, and the film questions the morality of revenge.
Death Wish (1974)
John Wick spawned imitators, but no film has impacted the revenge thriller genre like Death wish. Casting Charles Bronson to play the lead role, the film follows a father who descends into a world of violent revenge after the murder of his wife. The film is an unapologetic critique of the laissez-faire attitudes toward crime in 1970s American urban centers.
Even if its message is somewhat blurred by time and politics, Death wish is a film that actually tries to say something. The action is tame compared to John Wickbut the intensity of emotions makes things more real. They may be radically different, but there would probably be no John Wick without Death wish.
Commandos (1985)
Arnold Schwarzenegger was on fire when he starred in CommandoAnd it remains one of his most bombastic films. He plays a retired special forces officer who is brought back into service when a dictator kidnaps his daughter. Explosive and joyfully idiotic, Commando is an action revenge thriller film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Comparison John Wick has Commando it’s like comparing their respective eras. The former encompasses everything great about 2010s cinema, while the latter is an exaggerated version of 1980s machismo. However, the edge goes towards Commando because of Schwarzenegger’s undeniable star power and the film’s ability to push every detail to its absolute limit.
Reimbursement (1999)
There isn’t much variety in the crime revenge thriller genre, and Refund is a pretty standard movie that still manages to be entertaining. Mel Gibson plays a betrayed thief, who must infiltrate a shady organization to get revenge. Refund is neo-noir in its execution, but it also seems very rooted in the cultural zeitgeist of 1999.
The box office hit received mediocre reviews, but found a niche. Since its emergence at the tail end of the 1990s thriller boom, Refund is sometimes neglected. John Wick And Refund share similarities, but the latter has a more compelling main character. Even without a ton of action, the film manages to remain exciting throughout its two-hour running time.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and 2 (2003-2004)
Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill was released in two separate volumes, but they can be considered together as one revenge thriller. An ex-assassin wakes up from a coma and takes revenge on the man who ruined her idyllic life. The films are essentially an homage to Tarantino’s grindhouse influencesand the whole project is hyperstylized.
Both John Wick And Kill Bill use cinematic language to convey over-the-top action on screen, but Tarantino’s film is simply better. Its relevance has lasted for more than two decades and remains one of the greatest achievements of the 21st century until now. John Wick it’s incredible, but Kill Bill it’s even better.
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