Taken To 10 More Alternate Picks
“I will find you… and I will kill you.” This confident, chilling speech unknowingly cemented Taken’s place in thriller history. While the film itself doesn’t do anything particularly original or outstanding, it does deliver one heck of a rollercoaster ride. If you’ve finished streaming this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks. Of course for all the movies we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Taken.
The Equalizer
Denzel Washington elevates this action-packed thriller with some great acting. The Equalizer essentially takes a simple concept and absolutely runs with it – to great effect. The story here revolves around Robert McCall, a former special service commando who fakes his own death in order to live a quiet life. However, he comes out of self-imposed retirement to save a young girl. This girl happens to be under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters. What begins as a moody and gritty picture soon develops to include all the usual hallmarks of the thriller genre. However, this does make for a really enjoyable second half as the action comes thick and fast.
Taken 2
This one seems obvious but Taken 2 is undeniably similar to the original. In true sequel fashion, it doesn’t quite live up to expectations set by the first but it is a fun film nonetheless. The story once again centers on Bryan Mills, who invites his teenage daughter Kim and ex-wife Lenore to Istanbul. However, the human trafficking gang from before kidnap Bryan and his ex-wife. Now it falls to Kim to try and save him. While the hook is different, the film sticks to the same tried and tested formula of the first.
John Wick
How strong is the bond between man and dog? That’s a question John Wick (and the series as a whole to be honest) answers across its illustrious trilogy of films. Whereas the sequels are full-on action, the opening act of this first film perfectly captures the love and respect between man and animal, something which becomes a focal point for this stoic hero in the future. The first John Wick does a great job capturing this idea and blurring it in with ideas of vengeance and revenge. While the sequels do ramp up the intensity – and visually stunning fight sequences – the original is a simple but effective thriller.
Man On Fire
Man On Fire is a dark, gritty crime thriller. In a way, it feels inspired by The Punisher, with John Creasy in the driving seat hitting back and gaining vengeance in the way he deems fit – even if that’s not always morally sound. John, as it turns out, is a hard drinking burnt out ex-CIA operative. When he’s hired as the bodyguard for 9 year old Pita Ramos, his life changes forever. Pita is kidnapped and Creasy finds himself forced to try and bring her back no matter what. The action is well shot and while the synopsis makes this sound like an ordinary thriller – it’s definitely not. There are some wonderful moments here that make Man On Fire unlike many other movies of its kind.
Haywire
Haywire is a formulaic action thriller but what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with impressive action and a decent performance from Gina Carano. The story centers on freelance covert operative Mallory Kane, who works as a black ops super soldier. When she’s betrayed, she seeks revenge against those who have double crossed her. With an international manhunt underway, Mallory pools her resources to hit back.
The Man From Nowhere
The Man from Nowhere is another well-paced action flick straight from South Korea. Our protagonist here is ex-special agent Cha Tae-Shik whose only connection to the rest of the world is a little girl called So-Mi. Her Mother, Hyo-Jeong, smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization and entrusts Tae-Shik with the product. When the traffickers find out, they kidnap So-Mi and her Mother, leading Tae-Shik on an enraged mission for vengeance – even if that means putting his own body -and livelihood – on the line. This movie has a lot in common with Man on Fire and in a way actually usurps the American version. This a dark, moody picture and well worth a watch.
Skin Trade
In terms of similar movies to Taken, Skin Trade definitely fits the bill. While the movie is pretty formulaic and has a cookie cutter story, it also has some stand out moments too. Our protagonist here is tough NY cop Nick, who falls on the wrong side of a Russian mob involved in human trafficking. After killing Nick’s wife and daughter, our protagonist remains determined to make them pay. Teaming up with a Thai detective, the pair set out to destroy the gang completely. While the story is pretty average, the action is well shot and there are numerous segments here that make for an enthralling watch.
Peppermint
Peppermint certainly doesn’t service a brand new story but it is a movie that takes a tried and tested idea and makes it as entertaining as possible. Our main character here is Riley North, a woman who returns from self-imposed exile five years after her husband and daughter were killed. Now looking for revenge against those responsible, Riley remains determined to make those people pay. Tightly written, Peppermint was panned hard by critics when it released. However, it remains a highly enjoyable movie even to this day.
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is another revenge-fueled tale, one that sees an ordinary guy, Nick Hume, waging war against a street gang. Before we get to that point, the movie begins with Nick’s son murdered as part of a gang initiation rite. Losing hope in the justice system, Nick sets out on a murderous crusade against the hardened criminal Billy Darley and his gang. Violence begets violence and as everything starts to escalate, the movie becomes consumed in its own revenge. It’s a very simple story but one that plays on that simplicity to great effect. So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Taken. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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