Movie: Oldboy (2004)

The Greatest Revenge Movie Ever Made?

Imagine a film containing: a dreary, lame attempt to dig your way out of a cell over several years using nothing but a chopstick; hallucinations of ants that will literally make your skin crawl; blood, and more blood; the ugliest wallpaper you've ever seen; an octopus eaten alive; one of the most insane acts of revenge ever filmed; a character who cuts off his own tongue (there's gotta be a word for that somewhere); and the best fight scene filmed in years, as the main character–armed with only a hammer–takes on an entire gang in the confines of a very narrow hallway in such a way that reminds you of The Last Supper.

Imagine you've been imprisoned for 15 years. You haven't had any contact with another human being in that entire time. Just you in a room, watching tv, seeing yourself framed for your wife's murder.

Finally, you are released back into the world, a fugitive, with only one thing on your mind: finding the people who did this to you and making them pay. Sure, it sounds cliche, but the plot congeals.

Thus begins the best revenge story ever made.

Sifted: 9/10

Note: It would have scored a perfect 10, were it not for a few things lost in translation. Fortunately, it's been dubbed fairly well, so you won't have to squint to read subtitles.

This is a film that begs to be remade stateside. Pay attention Hollywood!