The Butcher

A mob enforcer is set up to take the fall for a multi-million dollar heist involving a rival gang boss. Merle (Eric Roberts) is a gambler stuck on a twenty-year losing streak, but his luck is about to change. Surviving a trap that was intended to kill him, Merle makes away with a beautiful woman and a piece of the take. Most men in that position would have been content to simply walk away with their lives, but Merle has been loyal for twenty years. Realizing he's been betrayed, something inside snaps. They used to call him "The Butcher" as a joke, but the laughter turns to screams when Merle returns to deliver the ultimate punchline.

Directed by Jesse V. Johnson, The Butcher leans on a strong ensemble — Eric Roberts, Robert Davi, Irina Björklund — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about action titles of 2009.