Death Wish II (1982)

Bronson’s loose again!

Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has found relative peace in Los Angeles after the chaos caused with his hands-on approach to justice in New York two years earlier. His daughter is still suffering trauma from this, but he does his best to show her the better sides of life. Kersey has also found a love interest in the shape of Geri (Bronson’s real wife Jill Ireland). The storm appears to have calmed down. Unfortunately, Paul soon realizes that he is actually in the center of it.

While Death Wish showed us Paul’s gradual descent, or would that be ascent, to vigilante Death Wish II doesn’t need that. Kersey killed 9 scumbags on the streets of New York. All we need this time is motivation to make him pick up former hobbies. A gang of criminals featuring a young Laurence Fishburne provides him with said motivation. Paul’s maid is gang raped and eventually killed in particularly long and unpleasant scene. He is knocked out, his darling daughter kidnapped and subsequently not treated in the gentlest of ways. I consider myself rather hardened, but director Michael Winner still managed to push Death Wish II to uncomfortable limits. That is also why it has frequently been censored. Vigilante justice will be screaming in your ears after the first half hour. This second film is much more exploitative than the first one, dwelling much more on the sexual and violent aspects.

Raping Kersey's maid was a big mistake, but the worst is yet to come. 

Paul takes a short break after these tragic events before finding his gun and getting ready for payback. After acquiring a suitable vigilante outfit for scouring the streets the lone gunman starts his mission for justice/revenge. Watching Bronson prowling the streets is easily one of the movies’ highlights. Various great locations create a dark urban dystopia along with fitting 80s music by Jimmy Page.

Already in the opening credits a radio station broadcasts about how much the murder rate has gone up along with rape and other crimes. With an abundance of homicides it seems strange that the detectives come to the conclusion that a vigilante is on the loose, but hey, they could just be really smart guys. This leads them ask how the whole vigilante problem was taken care of in New York. Paul Kersey’s name comes up once again. Since they essentially sanctioned vigilante justice back there by letting him go, they aren’t that interested in Kersey being taken in and potentially letting out a political bomb while making him out as a martyr in the process. Kersey won’t be stopped though! Kersey is given leeway around most corners. A couple he saves from a gang of hoodlums is less than cooperative when the police ask them for a description. Most of the law abiding citizens appear to be pro-vigilantism. I cheer on Bronson as well, as will you.

There is something very satisfying with seeing scumbags meet their demise, especially when it comes in the shape of Charles Bronson. Death Wish II is at times highly unpleasant to watch building anticipation for the consequences. And there are indeed consequences for wrongdoings here! Michael Winner has created an urban hell that makes for a fascinating watch. Bronson provides us with a believable character with warmth and yet conveys stoicism aplenty. If you like brutal revenge movies then Death Wish II is for you.

8/10