Do you like them where the person with the family is actually a trained killer (retired fbi agent or special forces guy) or do you like the ones where its just an average guy not knowing what hes doing learning as he goes?
I personally like the trained ones because it looks just even more badass when they know what they are doing
I like when it's the average person best. There are some great movies already listed here, most of my favorites. I am surprised that I don't see any mention of The Outlaw Josey Wales, one of my all time favorites. Average farmer in the Civil War days until the Union soldiers kill his family and fellow renegades turning Josie into a one man army out for vengence
shareWhen the people are ordinary. It feels more realistic.
shareThe Man from Nowhere / John Rambo / Harry Brown
For me, its a mix of a veteran / retired. But it's something in his past that pulls him to revenge that keeps me hooked (Losing a loved one to violence).
They can be average too. As long as they are underestimated by the villains. This guarantees the best ass whopping come finale time.
Most things just need time...
I prefer Frank Castle.
shareI would like to mention Unforgiven (1992). Not sure you would consider this as a revenge theme movie but there's definitely a revenge plot at the final act.
Having said that, I realized a lot of other films do have similiar revenge sub plots so it seems I have just widened up the range of. lol
You can add Blue Ruin to the untrained average joe category. Good flick.
shareaustralian film The horseman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060255/
My two cents, bye
My favorite untrained person is Dumbo the elephant. Beautiful, one of the best revenge flicks of all time, one of the best movies of all time.
However, my absolute fave revenge movie is Man On Fire.
It is true that the untrained character makes for a much more interesting and relatable, and horrifying, character in general.
My favorites off the top of my head:
1. The Outlaw Josey Wales
2. Red (with Brian Cox)
3. Law Abiding Citizen
4. Payback
5. High Plains Drifter
6. Hang 'em High
7. Walking Tall (with Joe Don Baker)
8. Training Day
9. pretty much any Dirty Harry movie
10. Open Range
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You have my word as an inveterate cheat.