Death Wish

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The vigilante sub-genre is an interesting one. While I can't say that I really approve of it, it simultaneously fills me with great feeling of satisfaction. And who couldn't possibly enjoy seeing scummy criminals receive their just desert? Revenge/justice feels even more rewarding when it comes in the shape of man-of-steel Charles Bronson.

Even though the movie is titled Death Wish I think it shows remarkable restraint when it comes to living up to its name. It all starts nice and quietly with Paul Kersey (Bronson) and wife Joanna (Hope Lange) on vacation. Yes, they are happily married and have a great daughter. Life sure is good for Paul and family. Well, it's good until about the 20 minute mark when Joanna is brutally beaten and their daughter is brutally raped. The assault is suitably uncomfortable, with Jeff Goldblum debuting as one of the rapists. One thing that has always struck me about this scene is seeing the daughter getting her ass spray-painted by one of the assailants. There is something about how they do it, like she was an inanimate object that disturbs and puzzles me. The end result is Joanna dying in the hospital and their daughter sent into a catatonic state. Paul is a peaceful man (aren't they always?), but is frustrated by the inactions of the police. He starts noticing just what a jungle New York City really is. In an attempt to give Paul other things to think about, his business partners send him out of state to work on a real estate project. He complies and is introduced to the ways of old justice. It's done in a clever fashion at an old western town for tourists. We see the courageous sheriff kill all the robbers. Bronson stares at the show and you know what he's thinking. As a gift for helping out with the real estate project he is given a very nice looking Colt revolver. Kersey goes back to New York. Of course it doesn't take long before he uses it. After an initial panic attack he realizes that killing the scum of the earth is actually a decent way of spending an evening and so he continues. Along the way he receives praise from the public inspiring people to take the law into their own hands. I think in the short time span we see Paul and Joanna together their relationship is very well established. Paul receiving their vacation pictures after she's dead works great as the catalyst for his call to arms. We see what he had and then we see him opening the box containing the gun. The violence in Death Wish is never gratuitous. He shoots the criminals and that is it. Kersey even has a rather modest body count with ten dead bad-guys. Fortunately Kersey was only warming up. The Death Wish sequels provide gratuitous violence and nudity aplenty. I like that they go for a more crude approach, but I equally appreciate the first one for its restraint in brutality. One of the truly exhilarating things about Death Wish is seeing Kersey go hunting after developing a taste for vigilantism. The villains approach. They feel confident. Of course they do. He is just an old man. What could he possibly do? Guess again punks! This is one man you do NOT want to mess with. I'm simply unable to stop grinning as Kersey leads them on. It's a diabolical cat and mouse game, where both parties believe they are the cat. Another thing I really enjoy about Death Wish is that the ones responsible for the deeds against Kersey's family are never caught by the police. Paul doesn't make any effort in trying to find them either. Instead he turns on the underbelly of New York in general. All of them must pay for their collective effort in destroying the lives of honest, hard working people. As for leading man Charles Bronson, I have nothing but praise. He makes a believable character you can relate to. And when it comes to serving up justice there is no man harder or better to do the job. While action stars like Schwarzenegger and Willis provides muscles and attitude to their characters Bronson doesn't play hard. He IS hard. Some will argue that he's acting is stiff, but I think his restraint (or inability to overact) is his strength. Just look at those squinting eyes. He could stare you to death if he wanted to.

Part of what makes Death Wish memorable is how politically incorrect it is. While the mayor wants him stopped he doesn't want him arrested either. They can't make a martyr out of the guy. So instead the police cover it up and make Kersey leave town. Neither the police, nor Kersey shows much confidence in the justice system. Is it okay to take the law into your hands? Death Wish goes a long way in saying yes.

8/10