Revenger
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Revenger
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Revenger is a Korean martial arts thriller with extremely violent and grisly fight sequences strung together by a simple revenge plot. A police officer arrives on a lawless island that confines unsupervised, violent criminals, including the man who brutally murdered his wife and daughter. From the opening scenes on a beach in which a woman and small child are attacked by a gang of marauding criminals to the lengthy finale, which is a one-on-one fight to the death, gruesome kills are constant. Viewers can expect dismemberment, throats slashed, torture, stabbings, fire, sword and spear battles, and intense martial arts combat as bodies pile up. Profanity is used, i.e., "f--k," "s--t," "ass," "bastard." Men drink alcohol (some drunkenness) and smoke cigarettes. In some scenes, English is spoken; in others Korean dialogue is subtitled in English. Way too brutal for kids.
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What's the Story?
In REVENGER, the stoic but powerful Yul (Bruce Kahn), a disgraced cop, is in search of Kuhn (Hee-soon Park), the ruthless criminal who murdered his wife and daughter. Yul arrives on the island to which Kuhn and other violent criminals have been banished and now live in state of turbulence and anarchy. Yul's arrival is just in time to save the lives of Maly (Jin-seo Yoon), a female fighter, and her young daughter from certain death at the hands of marauding villains who work at Kuhn's behest. Yul is taken to a hideout of men and women who all live in fear of the merciless Kuhn and his accomplices. Yul's attempts to find the evil Kuhn lead him, Maly, and some of the others into an ever-terrifying quest for vengeance.
Is It Any Good?
Masterful martial arts combat, well-photographed and powerful, will satisfy action fans who don't mind one-dimensional characters, a humdrum plot, and graphic, sometimes stomach-turning, brutality. Bruce Kahn -- with his impassive face and meager dialogue -- is unstoppable as he dispatches dozens of villains with grace, strength, and control. All of the fighters -- winners and losers among them -- are dynamic and amazing. The filmmakers' attempt at comic relief, however, is ludicrous. Loopy savages cavorting around spouting ridiculous dialogue simply isn't funny or effective playing against the atrocities committed in close proximity. With its gruesome blood-letting and full-scale graphic violence, Revenger isn't recommended for any but the most die-hard combat sport enthusiasts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the extensive violence in Revenger. How much is too much? How do you respond to the intensity of the violence? Are you thrilled by it? Do you find yourself turning away? Why is important for families to understand the impact of violence on kids?
Movies can usually be divided into three categories: character-driven, plot-driven, or action-driven. How would you define each of these genres (i.e., what makes a movie "character-driven")? Into which category does Revenger fall?
Define the term "comic relief" as it may apply to a movie. Which scenes in this film were the filmmakers attempts at "comic relief?" Did you laugh? Do you think the comedy blended well with the extreme violence? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 15, 2019
- Cast: Bruce Kahn, Hee-soon Park, Jin-seo Yoon
- Director: Lee Seung-Won
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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13 Assassins
Incredibly violent samurai movie with epic battle scene.
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House of Flying Daggers
Gorgeous, but also very violent.
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The Pirates
Epic martial-arts tale is entertaining but violent.
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Magical, award-winning martial-arts fairy tale.
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Oldboy
Great but extremely brutal, vicious revenge story.
For kids who love martial arts
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