Although being known for practically starting the vigilante genre, "Death Wish" is not the daring masterpiece one would expect from a "first" in cinema. But it is a entertaining little picture, predictable but entertaining, poorly acted yet impassioned, and with a clever use of a society that was already becoming obsessed with serial killers, ideas that would later be used to full effect in films such "Natural Born Killers" and "Man Bites Dog". Unfortunately, in this movie it's more of just a plot device to have a happier ending.
Which is probably just what this movie needed. Even in the optimistic early scenes of Paul(Charles Bronson) together with his wife Joanna(Hope Lange) have a very dry and lifeless feel to them. This of course goes from bad to worse when she is brutally killed by three random hooligans. Their daughter survives but is raped in the process and becomes a vegetable for the rest of the movie.
Surprisingly, Bronson does not immediately grab the closest gun in sight. He just kind of shuffles around mourning over his family. Filmmakers would basically get rid of this type of scene in all subsequent films of this genre, including the "Death Wish" sequels. Probably for the best though, as they become dead weight in a genre not known for it's emotional side. Afterwards though, is when the real movie begins. And not to spoil anything, but he kills a lot of people. All the while the media eats it up, causing many New Yorkers to proclaim him a present day hero.
If it weren't for these last 30 minutes, this film would not receive it's present score. Instead its a soulless B-movie, but with a healthy amount of action and Bronson at top form. For better or worse, this is truly one of the best of it's kind.
Which is probably just what this movie needed. Even in the optimistic early scenes of Paul(Charles Bronson) together with his wife Joanna(Hope Lange) have a very dry and lifeless feel to them. This of course goes from bad to worse when she is brutally killed by three random hooligans. Their daughter survives but is raped in the process and becomes a vegetable for the rest of the movie.
Surprisingly, Bronson does not immediately grab the closest gun in sight. He just kind of shuffles around mourning over his family. Filmmakers would basically get rid of this type of scene in all subsequent films of this genre, including the "Death Wish" sequels. Probably for the best though, as they become dead weight in a genre not known for it's emotional side. Afterwards though, is when the real movie begins. And not to spoil anything, but he kills a lot of people. All the while the media eats it up, causing many New Yorkers to proclaim him a present day hero.
If it weren't for these last 30 minutes, this film would not receive it's present score. Instead its a soulless B-movie, but with a healthy amount of action and Bronson at top form. For better or worse, this is truly one of the best of it's kind.