A Bittersweet Life
A crime Kingpin's right-hand man falls for his mistress, and sets off a gripping tale of violent revenge amongst the dark Seoul criminal underbelly.
A superbly crafted Korean crime Thriller/Crime, Tarantino-like with it's entertainment and panache, and violent in a way only Asian films can manage to be. (Ji-woon Kim, 2005)
A superbly crafted Korean crime Thriller/Crime, Tarantino-like with it's entertainment and panache, and violent in a way only Asian films can manage to be. (Ji-woon Kim, 2005)
100%
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A Prophet
A French film following a young man on his first stint in prison who decides to allign himself with a power gang and work his way up the chain.
Visceral and dark cinema, it does very well to bring something new to the overused prison life scenario, and the lead role (Tahar Rahim) is a revelation. (Jacques Audiard, 2010)
Visceral and dark cinema, it does very well to bring something new to the overused prison life scenario, and the lead role (Tahar Rahim) is a revelation. (Jacques Audiard, 2010)
97%
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Animal Kingdom
A young man must move back in with his criminal family in Melbourne after his mother dies, and is soon sucked into their poisonous world.
This Australian film is smart, gritty and superbly cast, and examines the despair that comes with a life lived outside the law. (David Michod, 2011)
This Australian film is smart, gritty and superbly cast, and examines the despair that comes with a life lived outside the law. (David Michod, 2011)
97%
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Battle Royale
Future Japan, with unruly kids comes a law that means annually a class must battle eachother to the death until only one remains.
The original Hunger Games, but don't let the kids watch this ultra violent cult classic full of inventive deaths and screaming students. (Kinji Fukasaku, 2000)
The original Hunger Games, but don't let the kids watch this ultra violent cult classic full of inventive deaths and screaming students. (Kinji Fukasaku, 2000)
86%
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Gommorah
Adapted from a non-fiction book, this film delves into how organised crime in Naples is so endemic that it touches all corners of society.
A brillaint, visceral and difficult movie that holds nothing back while it portrays the frightful world of crime in Naples (Matteo Garrone, 2008)
A brillaint, visceral and difficult movie that holds nothing back while it portrays the frightful world of crime in Naples (Matteo Garrone, 2008)
91%
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Headhunter
A successful headhunter who moonlights as a fine art thief to fund his extravagant lifestyle robs the wrong guy.
A hugely enjoyable Norwegian Thriller/Crime, it masterfully blends grotesque and weirdly comic elements to create something quite original. (Morten Tyldum, 2011)
A hugely enjoyable Norwegian Thriller/Crime, it masterfully blends grotesque and weirdly comic elements to create something quite original. (Morten Tyldum, 2011)
7.6
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I Saw The Devil
A psychotic serial killer murders a special agent's fiancee triggering a sadistic game of cat and mouse.
Ultra-violent and thrilling in a distinctly Korean way this a brutally brilliant tale of revenge and the toll it takes on its purveyors. (Kim Jee-woon, 2011)
Ultra-violent and thrilling in a distinctly Korean way this a brutally brilliant tale of revenge and the toll it takes on its purveyors. (Kim Jee-woon, 2011)
80%
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Infernal Affairs
A Hong Kong crime epic about an undercover policeman posing as a triad, and his counterpart, a triad mole in the police force.
Later remade as "The Departed" in the US, this superior original is fast-paced, tense and intelligent (Wai-keung Lau, 2002)
Later remade as "The Departed" in the US, this superior original is fast-paced, tense and intelligent (Wai-keung Lau, 2002)
95%
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La Haine
A story that follows three youths from the troubled suburbs of Paris as they make their way through a difficult period of unrest.
Electric performances and interesting social and racial questions elevate this gritty drama beyond what you expect it to be. What Kidulthood wishes it could be. (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1996)
Electric performances and interesting social and racial questions elevate this gritty drama beyond what you expect it to be. What Kidulthood wishes it could be. (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1996)
100%
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Mesrine
The true story of an enigmatic french gangster (Vincent Cassel) and the unbelievable life he led.
Gritty and fun in equal measure Cassel is excellent in this french criminal Thriller/Crime. (Jean-Francois Richet, 2010)
Gritty and fun in equal measure Cassel is excellent in this french criminal Thriller/Crime. (Jean-Francois Richet, 2010)
82%
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New World
When the head a major crime syndicate dies, his two lieutenants vie for power and one of them is a deep cover cop.
Corruption, murder and betrayal fill this excellently made South Korean crime caper proving they can stand up with any in the genre. (Hoon-jung Park, 2013)
Corruption, murder and betrayal fill this excellently made South Korean crime caper proving they can stand up with any in the genre. (Hoon-jung Park, 2013)
64%
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Pans Labyrinth
In the middle of the Spanish Civil War, a young girl escapes the violence by seemingly imagining a bizarre fantasy world.
A masterfully original film from Guillermo Del Toro, it is a strage and brilliant story full of scenes you are not likely to forget. (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006)
A masterfully original film from Guillermo Del Toro, it is a strage and brilliant story full of scenes you are not likely to forget. (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006)
96%
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Public Enemy
An epic showdown between a dirty cop and a serial killer as things go from gruesome to deeply personal.
A typically searing and tense Korean crime Thriller/Crime, this excellent cat-and-mouse film is certainly not for the faint of heart. (Woo-Suk Kang, 2002)
A typically searing and tense Korean crime Thriller/Crime, this excellent cat-and-mouse film is certainly not for the faint of heart. (Woo-Suk Kang, 2002)
7.2
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Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
A wrongly imprisoned woman is released and in turn goes on a journey of redemption and revenge on those who she thinks wronged her.
Part of the inimitable Old Boy series, this Thriller/Crime is as slick and violent as only Korean films seem to be, and is must-see for fans of the genre. (Chan Wook Park, 2005)
Part of the inimitable Old Boy series, this Thriller/Crime is as slick and violent as only Korean films seem to be, and is must-see for fans of the genre. (Chan Wook Park, 2005)
74%
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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
A brother must turn to the black market to get his sister a new kidney that will cost him of of his own and much more.
Though a little too gruesome for some and lacking a little coherence this is a worthy asian Thriller/Crime you won't forget quickly. (Chan Wook Park, 2002)
Though a little too gruesome for some and lacking a little coherence this is a worthy asian Thriller/Crime you won't forget quickly. (Chan Wook Park, 2002)
7.7
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Tell No One
A dark French Thriller/Crime, following a man who has been led to believe his murdered wife is still alive.
Compelling cinema, with a heart-wrenching plot of shame and secrets, delivered with haunting suspense. (Guillaume Canet, 2009)
Compelling cinema, with a heart-wrenching plot of shame and secrets, delivered with haunting suspense. (Guillaume Canet, 2009)
94%
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The Chaser
An ex-policeman-turned-street-smart pimp attempts to capture the elusive serial killer who has been preying on his girls.
A suberb noir-Thriller/Crime that puts most of its western counterparts to shame. It is tense, violent and sharp as a razor. (Hong-jin Na, 2008)
A suberb noir-Thriller/Crime that puts most of its western counterparts to shame. It is tense, violent and sharp as a razor. (Hong-jin Na, 2008)
83%
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Based on the wildly popular Swedish books, this is a tale of murder and family feuds that a disgraced journalist is tasked to unravel.
A stunning lead performance from Noomi Rapace in an incredibly difficult role make this dark and sprawling Thriller/Crime unmissable. (Niels Arden Oplev, 2009)
A stunning lead performance from Noomi Rapace in an incredibly difficult role make this dark and sprawling Thriller/Crime unmissable. (Niels Arden Oplev, 2009)
86%
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