Matthew Vaughn, the British filmmaker who burst onto the scene with his hit debut mob thriller Layer Cake in 2004, has since carved out a niche for himself in the realm of flashy, lighthearted action flicks. Known for his visually striking and over-the-top fight sequences synced to music, Vaughn’s films such as Kick-Ass and Kingsman artfully balance graphic violence with campy humor.

What propelled these films to success was the liberal use of violence afforded by their R-rating. There’s something uniquely satisfying about witnessing Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth, in a headshot rampage, exacting fountains of blood to the tune of “Free Bird.” It is this unbridled silliness and the incongruity of the music that produces the comedy.