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Guns were meant to blaze, fists were meant to punch, and blood was meant to splatter. Some movies look at these basic facts with a wearisome disapproval, but others wallow in the violence and add a layer of intoxicating absurdity to the proceedings.
I’m talking, of course, about pulpy action thrillers. These badass flicks pit our heroes against the odds. Their only way to victory? Racking up an impressive body count. All these films will wow you with dazzling fight choreography, but they also each walk a weird line between being hyper stressful and oodles of fun.
(Oh, and at the risk of being contrary, we are not including any Quentin Tarantino or Fast & Furious flicks on this one. Controversial? Sure, but we promise that none of these ten movies will leave you disappointed.)
'John Wick'
John Wick is a movie about a man so badass that he murders dozens upon dozens (maybe even hundreds?) of gangsters all in an attempt to avenge the death of an adorable dog he had for just one day. To be fair, the dog was a gift from his dead wife, so you can understand why a guy would pick up a gun and shoot the pain away. [Watch John Wick on HBO NOW]
'The Guest'
The Guest is a deliriously weird and fun indie thriller that is bursting with pulp. Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens stars as David, a war vet who visits the family of his dead comrade. While the grieving mother is all too happy to welcome this nice young man into her house, there’s no doubt that he’s not being completely forthcoming about his intentions. [Watch The Guest on Netflix]
'The Boondock Saints'
The Boondock Saints is one those cult hits that became so mainstream that it almost became a cliche to like it. Still, the film’s absurd levels of violence and Boston blue collar kitsch make it eternally entertaining. Sean Patrick Flanery and The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus co-star as the fraternal MacManus twins who go on a vigilante murder spree after killing some Russian mobsters. [Where to Stream The Boondock Saints]
'Point Break'
Point Break is a veritable masterpiece in bonkers filmmaking. Keanu Reeves stars as an FBI agent who goes undercover as a surfer in order to infiltrate a crime circle that wears Presidential masks while committing heists. This movie also includes skydiving, tsunami chasing, a naked chick beating the shit out of a dude, and Flea. Naturally, it was one of my favorite films when I was ten. [Where to Stream Point Break]
'Crank'
Crank is a simple homespun tale about a British hit man named Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) who discovers that he has been poisoned with a freaky Chinese synthetic drug that will kill him if he doesn’t keep his adrenaline up. Naturally, he deals with this medical crisis by getting into fights, stealing cop cars, and having public sex. [Watch Crank on Netflix]
'Road House'
Patrick Swayze was the rare breed of actor who could just as easily sweep a woman off of her feet on a Catskills dance floor as beat the bejesus out of someone in a gritty road house. Case in point: the well-named 1989 thriller Road House. The action flick can be written off as dumb fun, but it’s also meticulously crafted pulp entertainment. [Watch Road House on Netflix]
'Battle Royale'
Battle Royale is one film so crazy that no matter how good it is, it’s still guaranteed to disturb you. The film is based on the manga of the same name and feels like an amped up version of The Hunger Games where there are no heroes, just losers. What makes this version all the more upsetting — and arguably more compelling — is the fact that the kids thrown in this televised murder competition are all from the same class. Meaning, they’ve known each other their whole lives. [Watch Battle Royale on Netflix]
'Bound'
When most people think of the action in Bound, they immediately recall the lesbian love scenes between Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon. However, Bound is also a gloriously fun and deliriously gory crime thriller. And why wouldn’t it be? Lest we forget, it’s also the very first film by the Wachowskis. Sex, violence, and mafia money…what more do you need out of a pulpy action thriller? [Watch Bound on Netflix]
The Professional
After 12-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman) comes home to discover that a rotten band of DEA’s have murdered her entire family, she teams up with the misanthropic hit man down the hall to avenge her baby brother. No matter which cut of The Professional you watch — the original director’s cut, often called Léon, or the shorter American version that cuts most of the pedophilia-laced tones of Leon and Mathilda’s relationship out — you’re going to get to see some of the coolest action sequences ever. Not to mention the fact that this film features one of Gary Oldman’s juiciest performances. [Watch The Professional on Amazon Prime Instant Video]
'Die Hard'
Die Hard has become more than a mere action thriller; it’s a super successful Hollywood franchise and veritable American institution. So, it’s easy to forget that the original film is a tightly composed, consistently exciting, altogether perfect film. Between Alan Rickman’s dastardly villain, Bruce Willis’ indefatigable hero, and a Christmas setting, it may even be the platonic ideal of a pulpy action flick. [Where to Stream Die Hard]
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