If revenge really is a dish best served cold, then modern cinema is strewn with some brilliantly icy meals, not least of which is Tom Ford’s critically acclaimed potboiler, Nocturnal Animals, available on digital download, Blu-ray and DVD from March 13th courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Before we get to the fashion icon-come-auteur’s searing second project, though, let’s have a look at some of the best revenge films:
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
The Bible
In The Shawshank Redemption, arguably one of the greatest tales of redemption we see Andy Dufresne imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover. At the start of Dufresne’s stint, the sadistic Warden Norton tells him that salvation lies within and upon realising Andy’s superior intellect and background in finance, uses him to fiddle his books. Dufresne eventually escapes, however this story wouldn’t be complete without his ultimate act of revenge; he sends the cooked books to the Feds and leaves his bible in Norton’s safe with a note reading, “Dear Warden; You were right. Salvation lay within. Andy.” Dufresnes escape in The Shawshank Redemption was inspired by Dantès’ dig to freedom in The Count of Monte Cristo.
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2002)
The Imprisoners
In The Count of Monte Cristo Edmond Dantès, a young sailor, docks a ship in Marseilles after its captain dies. As a reward, Dantès is promised a captainship but before he can claim his new post and be married to his fiancée, Mercédès’, a conspiracy by four jealous men sees him seized and thrown in prison.. Once finally free, he emerges into society as the rich and handsome Count of Monte Cristo ready to get his revenge on the conspirators who wronged him. His revenge plot was so thought out, intricate and calculated that the lead is fully avenged for the wrongs committed against him.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)
The Father
In The Princess Bride Inigo Montoya, a Spanish fencing master and outlaw, aids the hero Westley in reuniting with his true love Buttercup. Inigo reveals that he is seeking revenge on a six-fingered man who killed his father and eventually confronts the killer Rugen in an epic battle, proclaiming the words he has waited his whole life to say; “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die” before dispatching him. The fan-favourite scene has gone on to become a common meme and this list wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion.
GLADIATOR (2000)
The Emperor
In Gladiator when General Maximus leads his army to victory, ageing Emperor Marcus Aurelius tells him that his own son, Commodus, is unfit to rule and that he will appoint Maximus as regent. Commodus murders his father in a fit of rage, arrests Maximus and murders his family. When Maximus finally escapes he becomes a gladiator and is challenged by Commodus in the arena. Maximus disarms Commodus during their duel, looks him straight in the eyes and drives a blade into his throat avenging his loved ones. After all, he had promised to have his vengeance “in this life or the next.”
DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012)
The Slaves
In Django Unchained bounty hunters Django and Dr. Schultz go to Calvin J. Candie’s plantation to liberate Django’s wife Broomhilda who is working as a slave. When Calvin threatens to kill Broomhilda, Dr. Schultz kills Calvin. Calvin’s bodyguard, Butch, kills Dr. Schultz, and Django kills him in turn.
A memorial is held for Calvin and when his mourners return from the burial, Django kills the remaining henchmen, releases the two remaining house slaves and ignites the dynamite that he has planted throughout the mansion. Django and Broomhilda watch from a distance as the mansion explodes. The gory and gruesome demise of Candie and his henchman are unforgettable and provide a satisfying conclusion to Django’s tale.
PULP FICTION (1994)
The Gimp
Pulp Fiction follows the seedy underworld of Los Angeles’s mobsters, fringe players and small-time criminals, one of whom is boxer Butch Coolidge. Butch double-crosses crime boss Marsellus and, following a chase, both end up in a pawnshopwhere they are knocked out, bound and gagged by owner, Maynard and accomplice Zed. When the captors take Marsellus into an adjoining room, Butch grabs a katana from the shop and slices Maynard’s chest open and frees Marsellus who gets his own revenge by blasting Zed in the groin.
KILL BILL: VOL. 1 (2003)
The Whole Film
Kill Bill: Vol. 1. follows The Bride (codename Black Mamba), a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, as she seeks revenge on the Deadly Vipers after they attempt to kill her and her unborn child in a wedding chapel. By the end of Volume 1, The Bride has assassinated her first Deadly Viper O-Ren Ishii by slicing off her scalp with a sword, and her second, Vernita Green by impaling a knife in her chest.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (2016)
The Novel
In Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals art gallery owner, Susan receives a package containing a novel manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward. The novel is dedicated to her but its content is violent and devastating. The novel is Edward’s final departing words on their relationship and is his final act of revenge following her betrayal to him. The dark narrative follows Tony Hastings, a peaceful family man, on a road trip through Texas with his wife and daughter. However, in the middle of the night the family is run off the road by local miscreants Ray, Lou and Turk. The story follows Tony as he seeks his final revenge on the reprobates for their violent attack.
Nocturnal Animals is available for digital download on 27th February and on Blu-ray™ and DVD from 13th March.
