Vigilante film
The vigilante film is a film genre in which the protagonist or protagonists engage in vigilante behavior, taking the law into their own hands. Vigilante films are usually revenge films in which the legal system fails protagonists, leading them to become vigilantes. The vigilante film has in recent years often crossed over with the superhero genre, due to character origin stories frequently involving an injustice having been committed against them.
History
In United States cinema, vigilante films gained prominence during the 1970s with "touchstones" like Death Wish and Dirty Harry, both of which received multiple sequels. The 1974 film Death Wish has been described as officially starting the genre, causing many cheap imitations and knockoffs such as Vigilante and Vigilante Force, with the most financially successful being 1980's The Exterminator.[1]
The Los Angeles Times reported, "Vigilante vengeance was the cinematic theme of the [1970s], flourishing in the more respectable precincts of the new American cinema even as it fueled numerous exploitation flicks," referring to Taxi Driver as a respectable example of the genre.[2] It reported in 2009 that such films were making a comeback after "the comparatively prosperous and peaceable 1990s", with examples like Walking Tall (2004), Death Sentence (2007) and Law Abiding Citizen (2009).[2]
List of films
This list related to film, television, or video is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021) |
Pre-1965 vigilante films
Film | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Tracked by Bloodhounds; or, A Lynching at Cripple Creek | 1904 | |
The White Caps | 1905 | [3] |
The Birth of a Nation | 1915 | |
Judex | 1916 | |
The Adventures of Robin Hood | 1938 | [4] |
The Mark of Zorro | 1940 | |
The Ox-Bow Incident | 1943 | [5] |
The Big Heat | 1953 | [6] |
The Bravados | 1958 | [7] |
The Virgin Spring | 1960 | [8] |
Treasure of the Silver Lake | 1962 | [9] |
Youth of the Beast | 1963 | [10] |
Late 60s-mid 80s vigilante film wave
Late 1980s to the present
See also
References
- ^ Richard B. Armstrong, Mary Willems Armstrong. (2010). Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series. McFarland. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-7864-4572-1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lim, Dennis (October 19, 2009). "Revenge, our cinematic tradition". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company - American Themes and Values: Family and Society". University of California Press.
- ^ "The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - Michael Curtiz, William Keighley - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) - William A. Wellman | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ The Big Heat (1953) - Fritz Lang | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 2021-07-17
- ^ "The Bravados (1958) - Henry King - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Virgin Spring (1959) - Ingmar Bergman - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Treasure of Silver Lake (1962) - Harald Reinl | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Youth of the Beast (1963) - Seijun Suzuki - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) - Henry Hathaway | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Elusive Avengers (1966) - Edmond Keosayan | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Born Losers (1967) - Tom Laughlin, T.C. Frank | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ a b c d e f g Lichtenfeld, Eric (September 13, 2007). "Killer Films". Slate. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ "Cold Sweat (1971) - Terence Young, Gail Harvey - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Ned Kelly (1970) - Tony Richardson | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Lichtenfeld, Eric (2007). Action Speaks Louder: Violence, Spectacle, and the American Action Movie. Wesleyan. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-8195-6801-4.
- ^ "Shaft (1971) - Gordon Parks | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972) - Shunya Ito | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The No Mercy Man (1975) - Daniel Vance - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Staff (August 13, 2013). "24 Frames: Vigilante Justice!". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Plumb, Alistair (April 1, 2010). "The 8 Most Kick-Ass Movie Vigilantes". Empire. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "The Black Six (1974) - Matt Cimber | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Black Belt Jones (1974) - Robert Clouse | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Act of Vengeance (1974) - Robert Kelljchian, Bob Kelljan, Robert Kelljan | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Keoma (1976) - Enzo G. Castellari, Enzo Castellari | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - Clint Eastwood | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Mad Dog Morgan (1976) - Philippe Mora | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Rolling Thunder (1977) - John Flynn | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Mad Max (1979) - George Miller - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Lovely but Deadly (1983) - David Sheldon | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "1990: The Bronx Warriors (1983) - Elisa Livia Brighanti, Enzo G. Castellari, Dardana Sachetti, Enzo Castellari | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ https://www.allmovie.com/movie/teenagers-from-outer-space-vm1072267
- ^ "Burst City (1982) - Sogo Ishii | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Escape 2000 (1985) - Enzo G. Castellari | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Toxic Avenger (1985) - Michael Herz, Samuel Weil, Lloyd Kaufman - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Streets of Fire (1984) - Walter Hill | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Blastfighter (1984) - Lamberto Bava | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Last Dragon (1985) - Michael Schultz | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (1987) - Josh Becker | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Seventh Curse (1986) - Ngai Kai Lam, Lan-Wei Tsang - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Miami Connection (1987) - Y.K. Kim, Richard W. Park, Park Woo-Sang | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) - Keenen Ivory Wayans | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Pumpkinhead (1988) - Stan Winston - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Traxx (1988) - Jerome Gary | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Punisher (1989) - Mark Goldblatt | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Total Recall (1990) - Paul Verhoeven | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - Kevin Reynolds - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Dark Angel: The Ascent (1994) - Linda Hassani, J. Hassani - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Blood & Donuts (1996) - Holly Dale - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "One Man's Justice (1995) - Kurt Wimmer | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Night Hunter (1995) - Rick Jacobson, Rik Jacobson - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Spawn (1997) - Mark A.Z. Dippe - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Blade (1998) - Stephen Norrington, Steve Norrington - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Faust: Love of the Damned (2000) - Brian Yuzna - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Collateral Damage (2001) - Andrew Davis | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Spider-Man (2002) - Sam Raimi | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Hebrew Hammer (2003) - Jonathan Kesselman | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ a b Firecloud, Johnny (November 18, 2009). "10 Best Vigilante Films". CraveOnline. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Bad Reputation (2005) - Jim Hemphill | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Constantine (2005) - Francis Lawrence - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ Stringer, Rebecca (January 2011). "From Victim to Vigilante". Feminism at the Movies: Understanding Gender in Contemporary Popular Cinema. Routeledge. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "The Dead One (2007) - Brian Cox - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Gutterballs (2008) - Ryan Nicholson | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Rohit, Parimal. "Defending 'Defendor'". Archived from the original on 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
- ^ "13 Assassins (2010) - Takashi Miike - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Man From Nowhere (2010) - Lee Jeong-beom - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Red: Werewolf Hunter (2010) - Sheldon Wilson - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "22 Bullets (2010) - Richard Berry - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ Scott, A. O. (April 15, 2010). "Brutal Truths About Violence". The New York Times.
- ^ "Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) - Brandon Vietti | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Drive Angry (2011) - Patrick Lussier - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Gallowwalkers (2013) - Andrew Goth | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Scary or Die (2012) - Michael Emanuel, Bob Badway, Igor Meglic - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse (2012) - Justin Paul Ritter - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Fire with Fire (2012) - David Barrett | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) - the Rza | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Hugh Jackman to Star in Vigilante Thriller PRISONERS for November 2013 Release". Collider.com. March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ "Savaged (2013) - Michael S. Ojeda - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ Coyle, Jake (June 24, 2013). "Carrey says 'Kick-Ass 2' too violent after Newtown". The Big Story. Associated Press. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "The Outlaw Michael Howe (2013) - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Skin Trade (2015) - Ekachai Uekrongtham - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ Steinberg, Don (September 18, 2014). "'The Equalizer': Vigilante Justice". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Mandy (2018) - Panos Cosmatos - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Last Blood Isn't a Rambo Story, It's An Old Man Punisher Movie". 22 September 2019.
- ^ "Nobody Trailer Turns Bob Odenkirk Into a Brutal Vigilante". Movieweb.
Bibliography
- Hoppenstand, Gary (1993). "Lethal weapons: The gun as icon in the popular urban vigilante film". In Loukides, Paul; Fuller, Linda K. (eds.). Beyond the Stars 3: The Material World in American Popular Film. Popular Press. ISBN 978-0-87972-623-2.
- Novak, Glenn D. (November 1987). "Social Ills and the One-Man Solution: Depictions of Evil in the Vigilante Film". International Conference on the Expressions of Evil in Literature and the Visual Arts.