10 Gritty, Brooding Revenge Movies If You Love The Crow

This article contains mention of violence and assault.

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Both versions of The Crow focus on the origin story of Eric Draven. He is a man who rises from the dead to take his revenge, similar to the many other revenge movies that follow this formula. The 2024 The Crow is not a remake of the original but expands upon the narrative laid out by the comic book series. Source material like the comic book serves as inspiration for the brooding vengeance films within this niche. While stories of revenge have been popular since the beginning of the film, The Crow exemplifies what the genre does best.

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Nothing about either version of
The Crow
is flat or bland, as even within the moody palate, it remains dynamic.

It stands apart because of how dark and gritty the action and aesthetic of the project are. However, nothing about either version of The Crow is flat or bland, as even within the moody palate, it remains dynamic. The biggest differences between The Crow 2024 and the original movie are part of the reason that the recent adaptation of the beloved comic book isn’t as popular. While there are plenty of ways that vengeance narrative can play out on screen, most begin with the protagonist experiencing a loss like Eric does and then rising from the ashes.

10 Darkman (1990)

Directed by Sam Raimi

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Sam Raimi’s Darkman was released in 1990 and was based on a short story that Raimi created in tribute to Horror from the 1930s. The film sees Liam Neeson as a doctor using new technology to help cure himself of skin burns, only to develop superhuman abilities when the experiment fails.

Director Sam Raimi Release Date August 24, 1990 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers Sam Raimi , Chuck Pfarrer , Ivan Raimi , Daniel Goldin , Joshua Goldin Cast Liam Neeson , Frances McDormand , Colin Friels , Larry Drake , Nelson Mashita , Jessie Lawrence Ferguson Runtime 96 minutes Expand

Though the director of Darkman, Sam Raimi, made his name making the campy cult classic Evil Dead movies, he branched out with the revenge thriller Darkman in 1990. Starring a young Liam Neeson as Dr. Peyton Westlake, AKA Darkman, the movie follows the doctor’s journey for vengeance after a corrupt real estate developer destroys his life because he found sensitive information. Frances McDormand plays Julie, Westlake’s love interest, who he attempts to get back to so they can rebuild their life together.

Though
Darkman
isn’t based on a comic like
The Crow
, it’s still in conversation with the same pulp aesthetics and gritty superhero genre.

There are similarities between the recent Deadpool movies and Darkman, as both protagonists have their skin and appearance altered by torture and explosions, making it difficult for them to reunite with the women they love. However, the project is closer in tone to The Crow, as Westlake is practically brought back from the dead after his attack, and he succumbs to despair as Eric does. Though Darkman isn’t based on a comic like The Crow, it’s still in conversation with the same pulp aesthetics and gritty superhero genre.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
Darkman (1990)	83%	59%	6.4 / 10

9 Death Wish (2018)

Directed by Eli Roth

Death Wish RActionDramaCrime

Death Wish is an Eli Roth directed remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which was based on Brian Garfield’s 1972 book. The film follows the same premise as the original, with Paul Kersey, played by Bruce Willis, seeking revenge after his family is attacked. Unfortunatly, the film underperformed at the box office and got mostly negative reviews upon release.

Director Eli Roth Release Date March 2, 2018 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Joe Carnahan Cast Bruce Willis , Jack Kesy , Kirby Bliss Blanton , Vincent D’Onofrio , Mike Epps , Beau Knapp , Dean Norris , Elisabeth Shue , Kimberly Elise Runtime 107 Minutes Expand

Bruce Willis leads the 2018 remake of Death Wish, a 1974 film of the same name that sparked controversy at the time of its release for the vigilante narrative it perpetuated. In the 2018 version, Willis stars as Paul Kersey, a man who steps outside the law after his family is attacked in their home. Feeling frustrated and unprepared, Paul trains himself to use firearms and begins intervening in every crime he spots on the streets of Chicago.

Though Death Wish wasn’t a hit with critics or at the box office, it could be described as a modernized and more political version of The Crow. The 2018 iteration of Death Wish isn’t as tragic and overtly violent as the original, opting for a more clean and polished take on the action genre. While Paul isn’t as compelling a protagonist as Eric and Death Wish isn’t as visually innovative as The Crow, it’s an interesting exercise for Willis. It explores the moral and cultural implications of vigilantism.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
Death Wish (2018)	18%	70%	6.3 / 10

8 I Saw The Devil (2010)

Directed by Kim Jee-woon

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I Saw The Devil is a South Korean thriller directed by Kim Jee-woon. The narrative follows a secret agent who embarks on a relentless and personal quest for vengeance after his fiancée is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik, and is renowned for its intense and gritty portrayal of the cat-and-mouse game between the two central characters.

Director Kim Jee-woon Release Date August 12, 2010 Studio(s) Softbank Ventures , Peppermint&company , Siz Entertainment , Finecut , Michigan Venture Capital , CJ Entertainment , Showbox Writers Park Hoon-jung , Kim Jee-woon Cast Lee Byung-hun , Choi Min-sik , Jeon Kuk-hwan , Cheon Ho-jin , Oh San-ha Runtime 144 Minutes Expand

I Saw The Devil is so gory and intense for an action thriller that the movie comes close to the territory of the horror genre during its action-packed runtime. Lee Byung-hun stars as Kim Soo-hyeon, a NIS agent tracking the ruthless serial killer who murdered his fiancée. The killer, Jang Kyung-chul, played by Choi Min-sik in a truly chilling performance, is slowly tortured and followed by Soo-hyeon, who vows to make Kyung-chul pay and suffer as much as his victims did.

I Saw The Devil
leans into this tone and forces the audience to grapple with their own position as the viewer during the story.

Though The Crow is violent and graphic from beginning to end, I Saw The Devil is not for the faint-hearted, as the depictions of attacks and assaults are unrelenting throughout the film. It’s difficult not to be overwhelmed by the intensity of the movie and shocked at the level of cruelty displayed onscreen. However, I Saw The Devil leans into this tone and forces the audience to grapple with their own position as the viewer during the story.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
I Saw The Devil (2010)	81%	87%	7.8 / 10

7 John Wick (2014)

Directed by Chad Stahelski

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John Wick is the first entry in the action-thriller franchise directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves. Retired hitman John is brought back into the field when the dog his recently deceased life left him is murdered. Full of rage and equipped with unparalleled combat skills, John begins to track down the ones responsible for the act of violence and lays waste to any who dare to cross his path, sending panic throughout the criminal underworld.

Director David Leitch , Chad Stahelski Release Date October 24, 2014 Studio(s) Thunder Road Pictures , 87Eleven Productions Writers Derek Kolstad Cast Keanu Reeves , Adrianne Palicki , Willem Dafoe , Bridget Moynahan , Jason Isaacs , Alfie Allen Runtime 101 Minutes Franchise(s) John Wick Expand

John Wick is one of the movies that defined Keanu Reeves’ career, as the actor is almost better known for his performance as the titular character than he is for his other great works. While The Matrix was Reeves’ first foray into a major action franchise, John Wick has remained one of the greatest and most well-crafted works of action in film history. Each successive film ups the ante and increases both the tension and the abilities of its characters. However, the first movie in the universe will always be a classic and the most nostalgic of the films.

In the wake of his wife’s death, the titular character, John Wick, is accosted by a group of Russian mobsters who then murder his puppy. Already grieving, this action incites John, who is revealed to be a former hitman and one of the most formidable killers known to the organized crime underworld. John Wick has been compared to video games due to the way the fight sequences are shot and its highly dynamic cinematography and lighting. This is comparable to the way The Crow draws inspiration from its comic book source material and the superhero genre.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
John Wick (2014)	86%	81%	7.4 / 10

6 The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002)

Directed by Kevin Reynolds

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) PG-13AdventureDramaHistory

The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure drama film based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. The film follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is falsely accused and imprisoned. After his escape, Dantès seeks revenge against those who betrayed him, using a new identity as the wealthy and mysterious Count of Monte Cristo.

Director Kevin Reynolds Release Date January 23, 2002 Studio(s) Touchstone Pictures , Spyglass Entertainment , World 2000 Entertainment , Count of Monte Cristo Ltd. Writers Jay Wolpert Cast Jim Caviezel , Guy Pearce , Richard Harris , James Frain , Dagmara Dominczyk Runtime 131 Minutes Expand

A stylish period piece might not seem like The Count of Monte Cristo might not immediately draw comparisons to a dark comic book adaptation like The Crow, but they have more in common than viewers might imagine. Starring Jim Caviezel alongside Guy Pearce and featuring a young Henry Cavill, there’s a lot to recommend the sweeping revenge epic, The Count of Monte Cristo. Based on the 19th-century novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas, the movie spans generations and watches Edmond Dantès (Caviezel) reclaim his lover and his fortune.

Dantès takes his time plotting his vengeance, slowly rebuilding his life and destroying Fernand in the most satisfying fashion.

After being betrayed by Fernand (Pearce), a man he considered a friend, Dantès is isolated in an island prison for years until he escapes and assumes a new identity to get his revenge on Fernand. Though there isn’t quite as much violence and action in The Count of Monte Cristo as in The Crow, there are still fantastic fight scenes and a thrilling showdown between Dantès and Fernand. However, Dantès takes his time plotting his vengeance, slowly rebuilding his life and destroying Fernand in the most satisfying fashion.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)	73%	88%	7.7 / 10

5 The Equalizer (2014)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

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The Equalizer is an action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a former intelligence operative who lives a quiet life in Boston. When he encounters a young girl named Teri, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, threatened by violent Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of retirement to use his skills to restore justice. The film reimagines the 1980s TV series of the same name.

Director Antoine Fuqua Release Date September 24, 2014 Studio(s) Lonetree Entertainment , Columbia Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures , Escape Artists , LStar Capital , Mace Neufeld Productions Writers Richard Wenk , Richard Lindheim , Michael Sloan Cast Denzel Washington , Marton Csokas , Chloe Grace Moretz , David Harbour , Haley Bennett Runtime 132 Minutes Expand

Denzel Washington reinvigorated his action career with The Equalizer in 2014, and the two sequels have cemented the franchise as one of the most thrilling and compelling action universes of the past several years. Though The Equalizer received middling reviews from critics, it was a smash at the box office and was praised for its visual style and fight choreography. Though Washington’s character, Robert, isn’t romantically involved with the woman he seeks vengeance for, he’s just as motivated to help her as Eric is to avenge Shelly, his fiancée.

Though not as visually innovative and cohesive as The Crow, The Equalizer still falls in line with the gritty and dark cinematography that defined the action genre in the 2010s. Due to its potential for sequels, The Equalizer ends more happily for Robert than The Crow does for Eric, as he finds a new lease on life to begin helping more people. However, his altruistic intentions don’t stop him from being just as lethal as Eric and finding creative ways to subdue his opponents.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
The Equalizer (2014)	61%	77%	7.2 / 10

4 Oldboy (2003)

Directed by Park Chan-wook

Oldboy 1

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After 15 years of solitary confinement, Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) hunts down his captors and falls in love with chef Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), but soon realizes all the messed up reasons that led him to such a distressing predicament. The 2003 South Korean mystery thriller is the second installment in director Park Chan-wook’s The Vengeance Trilogy and the original South Korean movie that inspired Spike Lee’s eponymous 2013 American remake.

Director Park Chan-wook Release Date November 21, 2003 Studio(s) Egg Film , CJ Entertainment Writers Park Chan-wook , Hwang Jo-yun , Lim Jun-hyung Cast Choi Min-sik , Yoo Ji-tae , Kang Hye-jung , Kim Byeong-Ok , Oh Tae-kyung , Yoon Jin-seo , Woo Il-han , Ji Dae-Han Runtime 120 Minutes Franchise(s) Oldboy Expand

Often described as one of the best revenge movies of all time, Oldboy defines the style and ability of the filmmaker Park Chan-wook and seamlessly combines the revenge and action genres. Oldboy is a relentless and brutal exploration of what happens to a person’s psyche after imprisonment. Following parallel trajectories of pain, lost love, and the vindictive actions of a ruthless villain,Oldboy and The Crow have much in common. Both protagonists turn their bodies into weapons and hunt down the men who turned their lives upside down.

Held against his will for years, Dae-su has to work to uncover the identity of his captors and the reason he was isolated in only five days, or he will be killed.

Starring Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae-su, Oldboy hinges on Choi’s performance, and he delivers every step of the way as Dae-su falls deeper into a twisting conspiracy. Held against his will for years, Dae-su has to work to uncover the identity of his captors and the reason he was isolated in only five days, or he will be killed. The stakes of both Oldboy and The Crow increase throughout the films, and it’s impossible not to feel the tragedy of Eric and Dae-su as their happiness is destroyed.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

IMDB Rating

Oldboy (2003)

83%

94%

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8.3 / 10

3 Taken (2008)

Directed by Pierre Morel

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Taken stars Liam Neeson as ex-Green Beret and ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills, who retired from his life of fighting in order to be there for his family. When his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) travels to Paris and is kidnapped by human traffickers, Mills launches into action, mounting a one-man rescue mission that sees him tear through gangs of European criminals with extreme prejudice in hopes of finding and rescuing Kim before it’s too late.

Director Pierre Morel Release Date January 30, 2009 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Luc Besson , Robert Mark Kamen Cast Liam Neeson , Katie Cassidy , Famke Janssen , Leland Orser , Maggie Grace Runtime 90 minutes Franchise(s) Taken Expand

Taken and its subsequent sequels can be credited with bringing Liam Neeson into the action genre and establishing a new type of revenge thriller in the 21st century. Though other films inspired the work, Taken has been influential within the niche of government agents going rogue and taking the law into their own hands to rescue their loved ones. Taken follows Neeson’s character, Bryan, on a quest across Europe that leads him to the darkest corners of the black market after his daughter is kidnapped.

Like Eric, Bryan is driven by his need to rescue his daughter and exact his vengeance on her kidnappers. However, since his daughter, Kim, is still alive, this raises the stakes and puts a ticking clock on the movie, leaving the viewer anxious to find out if Bryan will rescue Kim and make it out alive. Though Eric has nothing left to lose and acts accordingly through his violent nature, Bryan is just as ruthless in his pursuit of Kim, and the action sequences in Taken are part of the reason the film was such a box office success.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
Taken (2008)	60%	85%	7.7 / 10

2 Unforgiven (1992)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

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Unforgiven, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, is a Western that delves into the myths of the American West. The film follows William Munny, a retired and widowed outlaw, who takes on one last job with his old partner and a young gunslinger. They aim to avenge a disfigured prostitute in a corrupt town controlled by a brutal sheriff. The film explores themes of redemption, the brutal realities of frontier justice, and the consequences of violence.

Director Clint Eastwood Release Date August 7, 1992 Cast Clint Eastwood , Gene Hackman , Morgan Freeman , Richard Harris , Jaimz Woolvett , Saul Rubinek , Frances Fisher Runtime 130 Mins

Of all Clint Eastwood’s projects, Unforgiven is widely considered his magnum opus, as the classic Western star both directed and starred in the film. Unforgiven is Eastwood’s love letter and withering critique of the Western genre put together in one brilliantly crafted project that sees a gunslinger well past his prime take on one last challenge against a man even worse than he was. The villain of the piece, Little Bill Daggett, played by the great Gene Hackman, goes down in history as one of the best antagonists in a Western movie.

Many Westerns fall into the revenge genre, and while Unforgiven might not have much in common with The Crow on paper, the morally ambiguous yet heroic archetype of Eric Draven is cut from the same cloth as Will Munny. Both Munny and Draven have lost the love of their lives and are looking for something to keep them going, returning to the violence of their pasts to do something good for the future. Like The Crow, there are few characters worth redeeming in Unforgiven, but that makes them all the more compelling to watch.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
Unforgiven (1992)	96%	93%	8.2 / 10

Related 10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Clint Eastwood’s Western Movies

Clint Eastwood might be the king of Westerns, but that doesn’t mean his movies are without their problems, especially when rewatching them today.

1 Gone Girl (2014)

Directed by David Fincher

Gone Girl 4

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Based on Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel, Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple whose disintegrating marriage is rocked by Amy’s sudden disappearance and Nick’s suspected hand in it. As evidence begins to pile up against Nick, it eventually becomes clear with a shocking twist that all is not what it seems. Flynn also wrote the screenplay for the film, with David Fincher directing.

Director David Fincher Release Date October 1, 2014 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Gillian Flynn Cast Ben Affleck , Rosamund Pike , Neil Patrick Harris , Tyler Perry , Carrie Coon , Kim Dickens Runtime 2h 29m Expand

There are few monologues in film history as memorable as the “cool girl monologue” delivered by Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl. Pike and Ben Affleck are at their best as two sides of the same coin in the twisting revenge thriller based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name. After Amy discovers that Nick (Affleck) is cheating on her, she fakes her death and frames him for it, hitting the road and never looking back. However, Amy hits quite a few snags in her new life, and Nick isn’t willing to go down without a fight.

Similarly to The Crow, Gone Girl sees a marriage damaged irreparably, but in Gone Girl, there aren’t external forces preventing them from being together. Though Amy seems like the more vindictive member of the pair, it soon becomes clear that Nick is just as damaged as she is, and they’re both willing to do terrible things to each other. Watching Gone Girl unfold and realizing how complex their relationship truly is makes the movie a delightful puzzle that leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	IMDB Rating
Gone Girl (2014)	88%	87%	8.1 / 10

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