Death Wish (1974)
Genre: Action / Drama
Duration: 93 minuten
Country:
United States / United Kingdom / Italy
Directed by: Michael Winner
Stars: Charles Bronson, Hope Lange and Vincent Gardenia
IMDb score:
6,9 (48.120)
Releasedate: 24 July 1974
Death Wish plot
"Vigilante, city style — judge, jury, and executioner."
Paul Kersey's daughter is raped and his wife assaulted by a bunch of criminals. His wife dies from her injuries and the police do not give him much hope. When Kersey receives a gun as a gift on a work assignment, he decides to take the law into his own hands.
Actors and actresses
Paul Kersey
Joanna Kersey
Frank Ochoa
Jack Toby
Sam Kreutzer
Aimes Jainchill
Police Commissioner
Carol Toby
Hank
District Attorney
Reviews & comments
mrklm
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- 11931 messages
- 10217 votes
Paul Kersey [Charles Bronson] is a well-paid architect who lives with his family in New York. When his wife [Hope Lange] dies and his daughter [Kathleen Tolan] is severely traumatized after a brutal burglary and rape by a trio of bandits (including Jeff Goldblum in his film debut), the police soon make it clear that the chance of detection is very slim because no one can identify the perpetrators. When Paul's boss asks him to do a job in Arizona - a state where gun-carrying is allowed - he befriends his client [Stuart Margolin], who invites Paul to his shooting range and presents him with an old pistol. gives. It makes Paul think and he resolves to stop being defenseless when he comes face to face with a criminal.
It is important to know that New York in the early 1970s was a very unsafe city with a bad reputation. This is reflected in the gloomy locations and the often indifferent reactions of bystanders, for example at the beginning of the film in the supermarket. Kersey's gradual transformation from a former conscientious objector into a trigger-happy vigilante is intelligently crafted and believable. With Dino de Laurentis at the helm as producer, you know the film lacks a clear moral compass and tends to raise questions rather than provide answers. But in 2018, it's worth asking the question again, especially in the form of this highly entertaining crime thriller.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Solid.
Death Wish is a typical film that has to introduce an action hero and knows that in part 1 of the series to do quite reasonably. Paul Kersey is quite different from the other action heroes from the time of 1974, nowadays the competition will beat him unfortunately.
It's just a shame that director Winner has chosen Bronson to take on the role. An iconic actor, of course, but why is a bit of a mystery to me. He can't act very well, everything he does comes across as tired and his appearance isn't exactly memorable either. I don't think he's a very cool character, unfortunately.
In the end, Bronson is slightly better compared to his fellow cast members. These are often very limited in the picture or are just relatively boring and monotonous. Villains are often finished after minutes and the good guys are mainly standard roles that you will encounter in every similar film.
The film does go along nicely with the concept. Just some kind of vigilante blasting all the scum of the streets with his gun. The film also does some pretty cool stuff with it and makes sure there's plenty of livestock to finish off. The pace is therefore good after half an hour, the first half hour itself is built up slowly.
The first half hour gives Bronson more space to really act, but that doesn't really work. Furthermore, it has 1 remarkably explicit and shocking scene in the beginning, but then you have already had the notable part of the introduction. In the second part we have to wait for some action because the story doesn't have much to offer.
Easy to get through, and doesn't last too long at 93 minutes. I just don't think Kersey is a really cool character and it has mainly become a wait and see film. Once the weapons are brought out it is all very interesting, otherwise it is not very exciting but just enough for a pass.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 4009 messages
- 3001 votes
Death Wish and Charles Bronson, names that sound like clockwork and are actually so well-known that I can't even say whether I've ever seen the film or not. It almost has to be, I would say, but it all didn't seem very familiar to me.
The story is well known, although I expected Kersey to be a detective or at least a police officer. Kersey takes the law into his own hands after a brutal robbery of wife and daughter in their own home with far-reaching consequences. Hesitantly, Kersey then takes the first shaky steps in becoming a vigilante. It is realistic and interesting that his first experience in that area does not leave him in the dark, after which he develops into an outright fighter. Also interesting is the split in which the police find themselves.
Death Wish can rightly be called a neonor in a filthy and criminal New York where the streets are wonderfully dark. The soundtrack is nothing short of delightful and Bronson is fine in his burgeoning action hero/enforcer role. Bronson is in any case someone who always gives a certain stimulus with his taciturn and hard roles while the man had a reputation as a grumpy troublemaker on set. Funny to say the least is Jeff Goldblum as a scum. Furthermore, the not too long running time also does the film good and I can't really think of much bad about Death Wish. Such a great movie.
Translated from Dutch · View originalPre- and sequels
Death Wish V: The Face of Death
1994
3 comments
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
1987
3 comments
Death Wish 3
1985
2 comments
Death Wish II
1982
2 comments
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