Fight or Flight (2025)
Intro: A high-octane action-comedy set aboard a plane, starring Josh Hartnett as a rogue operative battling assassins to protect a target. Directed by James Madigan, it blends over-the-top violence with self-aware humor.
Reviews:
- “Ridiculous but entertaining” — Critics praise its “cartoonish” fight scenes and Hartnett’s charismatic performance, though the abrupt sequel-bait ending frustrates 111.
- Compared to Snakes on a Plane and John Wick, it’s a “glorified B-movie” with “bone-crunching combat” but a messy plot 11.
2. The Prosecutor (2024)
Intro: Donnie Yen directs and stars in this Hong Kong legal-action hybrid, playing a disgraced cop-turned-prosecutor fighting corruption.
Reviews:
- Praised for “phenomenal” MMA-inspired fight choreography (especially a subway showdown) but criticized for underdeveloped courtroom drama 27.
- “A modern Ip Man in spirit” — Yen’s tactical brawling and ensemble cast (Francis Ng, Julian Cheung) elevate this “popcorn flick” 7.
3. Bedevilled (2010)
Storyline
Hae-won, a disillusioned bank employee in Seoul, finds herself increasingly strained by workplace harassment and a recent traumatic witness to a murder.
She accepts a forced “vacation” and travels to Moodo Island to visit her childhood friend Kim Bok-nam, only to discover that Bok-nam endures relentless physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband and brother-in-law.
When Bok-nam’s young daughter is accidentally killed during an assault, and none of the islanders will testify against the perpetrator, Bok-nam snaps and begins systematically slaughtering the community members responsible for her suffering.
Hae-won ultimately confronts Bok-nam in a brutal showdown, fighting for her own life before escaping by boat—and then, in a final act of defiance, brings Bok-nam to justice.
Review
The film holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting strong critical endorsement of its atmospheric tension and raw emotional power. Critics praised the deliberate pacing, noting that the initial “character-driven slowburn” builds inexorably toward a “murderous climax” that both shocks and satisfies. Seo Young-hee’s portrayal of Bok-nam was widely lauded for its depth and ferocity, anchoring the film’s descent into vengeance with haunting authenticity.
While some viewers found the violence excessively graphic, most agreed it was thematically integral—underscoring the brutal cycle of abuse and retribution at the heart of the story. Bedevilled’s success at genre festivals (including an Audience Award and Best Actress honors) cemented its status as a modern classic of Korean horror
4. Death Sentence (2007)
Storyline
Nick Hume is a mild-mannered executive enjoying a picture-perfect family life with his wife (Kelly Preston) and two sons.
One night, Hume and his older son Brendan are targeted in a horrific initiation ritual by a local gang; Brendan is killed, leaving Hume traumatized with grief and rage.
When the legal system offers a mere three- to five-year sentence for the culprit, Hume deliberately undermines the prosecution and murders the accused in open court.
Enraged, the gang retaliates with a brutal attack that kills Hume’s wife and youngest son, leaving only Hume and Lucas alive.
Driven by vengeance, Hume arms himself and methodically hunts down each gang member, culminating in a final, morally fraught confrontation that questions the true cost of “justice”.
Review
Upon release, Death Sentence polarized critics: its relentless violence was both its selling point and its Achilles’ heel.
On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 20% approval rating from 113 critics, underscoring its divisive reception. Roger Ebert observed that the film “prioritizes sensational violence over deeper ethical inquiry,” though he commended Bacon’s committed lead performance Roger Ebert.
Slant Magazine acknowledged the film’s “style and energy,” yet argued it “ultimately fails in rectifying its own central conflicts,” leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
The Independent Critic and other genre outlets noted that Wan’s homage to classic revenge flicks is unmistakable, but warned that its “overtly sensationalized” approach may alienate those seeking a more nuanced moral stance.
Despite mixed reviews, the film has developed a cult following for its unflinching depiction of vigilantism and its role in broadening James Wan’s directorial repertoire
5. The Gorge (2025)
Intro: Scott Derrickson’s genre-mash thriller stars Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy as snipers guarding a chasm rumored to be a portal to hell.
Reviews:
- A “drive-in B-movie” with “Sam Raimi-esque chaos” — highlights include a “jeep vs. monsters” sequence and a Trent Reznor score, but the rushed finale disappoints 38.
- Taylor-Joy’s “free-spirited” sniper and Teller’s stoic chemistry carry the clunky setup 3.
6. Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024)
Intro: A neon-drenched Hong Kong action epic set in a dystopian Kowloon, featuring Louis Koo and Sammo Hung in a gang war saga.
Reviews:
- “The year’s most thrilling action filmmaking” — lauded for “intricate maximalist” production design and Kenji Tanigaki’s “video game-ready” fight choreography 9.
- Combines “lyrical pulp dialogue” with a mythic ode to outsider communities, though some find the plot overly familiar 9.
7. Wild Tales (2014)
Intro: Damián Szifron’s Oscar-nominated Argentine anthology explores revenge through six darkly comedic tales of societal rage.
Reviews:
- “Savage, hilarious, and terrifyingly realistic” — standout segments include a bride’s wedding meltdown and a road-rage showdown, blending Buñuel-esque satire with explosive twists 510.
- Called “the darkest comedy you’ll ever experience,” praised for its sharp critique of bureaucracy and human pettiness 10.
