The idea of a one-man army taking on a barrage of enemies has a nice ring to it. This phenomenon depicts the hero as a lone wolf; a man with not much aid or back up. This transfer of vengeance from hero to audience is not only contagious but inspiring as well. Whether the hero is a soldier following orders or a hitman finishing an assignment, lone wolf warriors are hard to find and harder to replicate. Here are some of the best ones inaction movies.
10Logan (2017)
Operating from a strong sense of paternal instinct, the Marvel superhero finds himself responsible for protecting a younger group of mutants from an evil corporation that’s been experimenting on them. In what comes as a breath of fresh air, Logan’s softer side comes to the forefront as the lone wolf within him finds his younger pack and is willing to protect them with his life.
9Dirty Harry (1971)
Clint Eastwood’s performance as detective Harry Callahan is often credited as one of the most influential antihero performances, with a lot of modern-day actors trying to emulate his stance. Tasked with capturing a serial killer called “Scorpio”, Callahan’s no-holds-barred approach pits one sort of crazy against another. Like most hard-boiled cops of the time, Eastwood’s depiction of Callahan sees him internalize his rage, making him as scary and terrifying as Scorpio himself.
Related:Clint Eastwood’s 10 Most Iconic Movie Lines
8Man on Fire (2004)
Denzel Washington’s portrayal as a bodyguard tasked with recovering his 12-year-old subject brilliantly illustrates the lone wolf trope. Washington plays the role of a former marine turned bodyguard, as he single-handedly annihilates anything and everything that stands between him and his 12-year-old charge.
Related:Best Denzel Washington Movies, Ranked
7Taken (2008)
When a group of human traffickers kidnaps an American girl in Paris, they don’t know who the girl is or what her father does. Just beforethe girl gets kidnapped, she frantically calls her dad, an ex-Secret Service agent, and follows his last minute instructions to ensure a slightly thin chance at survival.
Back in the United States, the father played by Liam Neeson goes to extreme heights to track down his daughter and exact revenge on the criminals. Unlike loud, over-the-top action movies that consist of physics defying action sequences,Taken’s charm lies in Neeson’s measured approach. The actor brilliantly projects a mix of a father’s vulnerability along with an agent’s confidence.
6Oldboy (2003)
If the lone wolf trope had to be defined by a visual, it would be the corridor fight scene inOldboy.The film begins when a man who’s been locked up in a hotel room for 15 years is set free and is released into the world with a lot of questions and a lot more rage. Like most Asian films,Oldboyis garnished with cultural themes of honor and respect, while beingheavily punctuated with violence.
5The Matrix (1999)
Setin a world where the ‘machines’ have taken over, one computer programmer is fated to be the messiah of humanity’s last stand. Despite not being a lone wolf from the start, Neo (Keanu Reeves) realizes his own capability and starts annihilating the machine programs that once got the better of him and his peers.The Matrixdoes touch upon the themes of belonging and friendship, but is largely a solo show, wholly centered around Neo.
Related:Best Keanu Reeves Movies, Ranked
4The Man from Nowhere (2010)
Playing on the powerful instinct of an emotional bond between humans,The Man from Nowherefollows a former special agent named Taesik, who leads a bitter life after losing his wife in a car crash. Taesik then forms a bond with a little girl named Somi, before she gets kidnapped by a gang. With no formal aide or backup, Taesik jumps into the deep end of the underbelly of the crime world in a bid to save little Somi.
Like some Korean films,The Man from Nowherecan get a bit too melodramatic for some, but has no shortage of violence or entertainment.
3The Protector (2005)
Despite being one of the best martial artist of his generation, Tony Jaa often doesn’t get the credit he deserves. InThe Protector,Jaa goes back to his traditional routes as he stars as Kham, a localized version of Tarzan; a lover of nature and a protector of animals. When a group of criminals kidnaps Kham’s best friend, an elephant, Kham’s inner martial-artist is unleashed, and he tracks them all the way down to Sidney to rescue his elephant and get his revenge. Apart from some shoddy CGI work,The Protectoris an overall treat for martial art lovers as it beautifully highlights the values and ethos of the discipline.
George Miller’s modern-day masterpieceMad Max: Fury Roadwas one of the mostdifficult films to shoot. Spanning across a desert with a fleet of vehicles driven by oddball characters, the film told the story of dystopian destruction through a lens of human emotion.Mad Maxis a rare film that renders its protagonist inconsequential for the most part, as it sees Max tied to a bean pole for a large part of the film. Despite making friends and gaining the trust of the other rebels, Max is emotionally and physically an ideal candidate for a lone wolf.
1John Wick (2014)
When a mobster’s son killed John Wick’s puppy gifted to him by his late wife, he couldn’t dream of the consequences that would follow.Cut to four films and 439 deaths later, John Wick eliminated a lot of the bad guys from the world without majorly relying on any outside help. The retired hitman literally left behinda path of bloodshed and annihilationin his wake, all in exchange for one cute little puppy.
