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A realistic movie with a ruthless evil character where good doesn’t always triumph in the end


In real life, good doesn't always win. Especially in the olden times, when there were no cameras, no phones, and no means of recording events, one can only imagine how many horrible incidents must have occurred simply because there was no one to witness them, or because the perpetrator was stronger or more powerful.

I am looking for a movie featuring a truly evil, ruthless character with no remorse and no regard for societal norms—someone who does whatever they please without hesitation.

Let me give you an example to get a feel of what I am looking for -

If you have watched the series Game of Thrones, there is a scene where The Mountain kills Oberyn Martell by pressing his thumbs into his opponent's eyes while vividly describing how he raped Oberyn's sister and then killed her. One can imagine Oberyn helplessness in his final moments. He finally finds out for a fact that the mountain did indeed did that and there is nothing he can do about it now that he is about to die.

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Would films like "Funny Games" (1997) by Michael Haneke count? What about Gaspar Noe's films like "I Stand Alone" (1998) and his most disturbing flick "Irreversible" (2002)? Various controversial shockers like "Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom" (1975), "Men Behind the Sun" (1988) and, although its often over the top and exaggerated so not too terribly "realistic" but still, "A Serbian Film" (2010)?

Movies like "Arlington Road" (1999) had no happy ending. From Hollywood, that is.

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I haven't watched any of the films you listed yet, except for A Serbian Film. I haven't watched Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) or Men Behind the Sun (1988) for the same reason you mentioned—they seem too exaggerated, something that wouldn't happen in real life. The Game of Thrones scene I mentioned may very well have happened at some point in history; in fact, many times. It wouldn't be that hard to believe.

The reason I mentioned the GOT scene is because it checks all the boxes I had:

Believable/Realistic
Overwhelming physical strength
Set in olden times when one could get away with anything
No remorse
Total domination, both physically and psychologically
The bad guy wins
Which of those movies would you say checks most of the boxes? Regarding #6, it's okay if the bad guy eventually loses, as long as it's after doing a lot of winning. I know that there aren't a lot of movies out there where the bad guy wins.

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I have always wanted to see a movie like you mentioned where the villian wins unfortunately there are not many. It gets so boring ,predictable, and cliche to always see the good guy win. The only movie I can think of that kind of fits your description is Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer.

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I guess it's because everybody wants a happy ending.. and yes it makes movies very predictable. You know what is going to happen, just don't know how it will happen.

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I saw the American 2007 version of Funny Games and found it quite interesting.

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I'd say this https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_1_nm_6_in_0_q_leon pretty much fits your criteria. One of my favourite films.

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The Great Silence https://moviechat.org/tt0063032/Il-grande-silenzio

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Great recommendation, and from the same genre I’d recommend Cut-Throats Nine (1972). Both were major inspirations for The Hateful Eight.

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No Country For Old Men had an ambiguous ending.

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No Country for Old Men is my pick. The OP will love this movie if they haven't seen it.

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I have and it definitely is one of my most favorite ones.

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Great film!

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The Rebels win at the end of Return of the Jedi.

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The Rebels were the Jedi which was the light side not the dark side lol.

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Even Terrorists call themselves "Freedom Fighters" just saying...

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LOL

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Eden Lake (2008)

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Yes and also Wolf Creek this is a fun topic lol.

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The Skeleton Key from 2005.

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3:10 to Yuma IIRC

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