A 2000 film by George A. Romero and starring Jason Flemyng, Leslie Hope, and Peter Stormare.
Henry Creedlow is a spineless nice guy who constantly gets stepped on, he's forced to face his lifestyle and what proceeds is a Roaring Rampage of Revenge as he takes control of his life.
This film provides examples of
- Asshole Victim: All of Henry's victims had it coming to them.
- Bad Boss: Milosh, Henry's boss. A sleaze who berates and belittles his workers, and cheats on his wife with Henry's wife
- Badass Boast: "No more Mr. Nice Guy"
- Badass Normal: Henry after his face changes.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Henry arguably forced into it with the unexplained change to his face.
- Black Bead Eyes: Henry, after his face mysteriously turns into a mask
◊. - The Blank: Henry gets referred to as this throughout the film after his face is replaced by the mask.
- Clothing Combat: Henry uses his necktie to choke Janine into submission.
- Crapsack World: Well, at least towards mostly Henry.
- Defiant to the End: Most of Henry's victims continue to show contempt towards him up to their ends, particularly Milosh, Janine and Jimmy.
- Destination Defenestration: Henry throws Janine out of a window: using a chair to smash the glass first. The extension cord he wraps around her neck ensures that she never reaches the ground.
- Energy Weapon: Henry kills Miles Styles by hoisting him into the air and shooting him in the head with an industrial laser.
- Hate Sink: Miles Styles is completely devoid of any redeeming characteristics. He is obnoxious, demanding, patronising, sexist, racist, miserly, unfaithful, philandering...the list goes on.
- Here We Go Again!: The end of the film.
- I Am Spartacus:
- Indulgent Fantasy Segue: Twice in the film.
- First when he appears to murder a lady who pushed through him to get on the train, and a second time when he appears to send an axe through his wife's head.
- Ironic Echo:
- "We make heat."
- "If I was going to shoot someone, it wouldn't be myself."
- "Best money I ever spent."
- Jerkass: Henry's boss Milosh, his wife Janine, 'best friend' Jimmy, and his maid who steals from him. They all get what is coming to them.
- Loser Protagonist: Henry is seen as this in the film by just about everyone before he kills them all.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Why does Henry's face get replaced with a mask? Why does it only go away once he has gotten his revenge? We never find out.
- Meta Fictional Title: Bruiser is the name of the magazine that Henry (and most of his victims) works for.
- Mister Muffykins: Henry's wife Janine has a yappy toy poodle that he despises. When he suffers his breakdown, one of his first acts is to shoot a framed photo of the dog.
- Nice Guy: Henry before his face changes.
- Nice Guys Finish Last: Henry at the beginning of the film.
- A Party, Also Known as an Orgy: For something that is ostensibly a work event, the Bruiser magazine masquerade has very heavy sexual overtones, with most of the entertainers dressed in S&M outfits. But considering the magazine seems to be an adult men's magazine similar to Playboy, it's probably within what is considered a work event for those who work at the magazine (especially for Miles Styles' views).
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Henry gets back at all those who stepped on him.
- Shoe Slap: When Henry is stalking Janine and she hides under the boardroom table, she takes off one of her high-heeled shoes to use as a weapon. She never gets a chance to use it, however.
- Theatre Phantom: Henry becomes one during the company's masquerade. Having organised the masquerade, he attends dressed as the Phantom of the Opera, incorporating his white mask of doom. As usual, most people fail to notice him. He then skulks around backstage and uses the props he arranged to be present to take his revenge on Miles Styles.
- Villain Protagonist: Henry.
- White Mask of Doom: The initial mask he makes with Rosemary. Later his face. Subverted when he goes to see Rosemary with his mask face painted over.
