Many Christians may not admit it but they probably have entertained the dark fantasy of avenging a loved one in a roaring rampage of revenge. Did the hit movie Taken, with its perfectly delivered and iconic dialogue, create this fantasy? Or did it merely tap into an unspoken desire? Does Liam Neeson’s deep-voiced threat sound cool because we all have a deep-down desire for vigilante justice? Rarely do these movies wrestle with questions of ethics. Francis Bacon calls revenge “wild justice.” These films create a scenario where the hero’s quest feels just. The wrongs they revenge are so potent that we desire justice, and we want it to be ‘wild.’ It is worth thinking about the degree to which our pleasure in seeing the victim carry out vengeance is a departure from a biblical view of justice.

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Philip Tallon about his online-exclusive article, “Wild Justice: Why Do We Love Revenge Movies?”https://www.equip.org/article/wild-justice-why-do-we-love-revenge-movies/

Please note this article will be fully accessible by the public in the future, to get early access to read it now, please see our FAQ section on Early Access to Online-Exclusive Articles by clicking here. Coming soon! Check back here and at our article archive page. https://www.equip.org/early-access-to-online-exclusive-articles-faqs/

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Other articles and Postmodern Realities podcasts featuring this author

The Mandalorian

Episode 217: Thinking About Religion in The Mandalorian

This is the Way…Or is It?: Thinking About Religion in The Mandalorian

Tenet

Episode 205: Time May Change Me, But I Can’t Change Time: Reversing Time to Understand Christopher Nolan’s Tenet

Time May Change Me, But I Can’t Change Time: Reversing Time to Understand Christopher Nolan’s Tenet

A Hidden Life

Episode 155 The Marathon of Martyrdom: A Review of A Hidden Life

The Marathon of Martyrdom: A Review of A Hidden Life

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Episode 154: The Dead Won’t Stop Talking: A Review of The Rise of Skywalker

The Dead Won’t Stop Talking: A Review of The Rise of Skywalker

Fred Rogers and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood:

Episode 150: The Eternal Importance of Being Awkwardly Earnest: A Review of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

The Eternal Importance of Being Awkwardly Earnest: A Review of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Steven Spielberg Movies:

Episode 139 Clear Skies, Hurt Hearts, Can’t Lose: Why Spielberg’s Aliens Help Make us More Human

Clear Skies, Hurt Hearts, Can’t Lose: Why Spielberg’s Aliens Help Make us More Human

Tolkien

Episode 123 Tolkien’s First Fellowship

Tolkien’s First Fellowship A film review of Tolkien

Alfred Hitchcock films:

Episode 100: A. Hitchcock Films

The Coen Brother’s Films:

Episode 050: O Father, Where Art Thou? The Coen Brothers and the Riddle of Existence

“O Father, Where Are Thou? The Coen Brothers and the Riddle of Existence

The Films of Quentin Tarantino:

Episode 001: The Films of Quentin Tarantino

“Reservoir Gods: Quentin Tarantino’s Premodern Theology

Related:

Episode 173 Jesus Wake Up!

Episode 200 Wisdom for College Zoomers

Wisdom for College Zoomers





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