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Movies / On DVD / Death Wish
Death Wish

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Death Wish (1974)

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68 %
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Reviews Counted:22

Fresh:15

Rotten:7

Average Rating:5.9/10

Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: Charles Bronson stars in a genre-defining vigilante thriller that made him a household name. A fatal sexual assault on his wife and daughter leads mild-mannered architect Paul Kersey (Bronson) to... Charles Bronson stars in a genre-defining vigilante thriller that made him a household name. A fatal sexual assault on his wife and daughter leads mild-mannered architect Paul Kersey (Bronson) to rethink the justice system in his own terms when he discovers the police to be ineffectual, bureaucratic slackers. He then starts to single-handedly reduce New York's crime rate by murdering every thug, scumbag, and no goodnik he lays eyes on. The film, despite its use of graphic violence as entertainment, was hailed as a socially complex and engaging movie that shocked audiences across the country. Subsequently, Bronson filmed a long series of films as Kersey that were heavier on violence than substance. However, DEATH WISH is a classic American film whose themes and style have been imitated by filmmakers all over the world. [More]

Starring: Charles Bronson, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Hope Lange

Starring: Charles Bronson, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Hope Lange, Steven Keats, Stuart Margolin, Stephen Elliott, Kathleen Tolan, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Guest, Jack Wallace, Fred Scollay

Director: Michael Winner

Director: Michael Winner
Screenwriter: Wendell Mayes
Producer: Hal Landers, Bobby Roberts, Michael Winner
Composer: Herbie Hancock

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jan 16, 2001

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Death Wish

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat

Fernando F. Croce

Nixonite gorge-riser

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 06 2009 01:05 PM

CinePassion

tomato

Jeffrey M. Anderson

There's an undeniable thrill when Bronson blows away some sleazy mugger.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 27 2009 03:15 AM

Combustible Celluloid

splat

Luke Y. Thompson

We know Bronson can be a tough guy, but not so much the mild-mannered guy; he seems to be trying to split the difference the whole time

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 10 2008 09:59 PM

LYTRules.com

splat
2/4

The violence is excessive and the plot predictable, although there is some style to director Winner's approach.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 30 2008 01:20 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

No review available.

comment 1 Comment | Apr., 06 2008 09:20 AM

ColeSmithey.com

splat

Poisonous incitement to do-it-yourself law enforcement is the vulgar exploitation hook on which Death Wish is awkwardly hung.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Mar., 01 2007 10:37 PM

Variety

tomato
3.5/5

Christopher Null

A compulsively watchable bit of '70s nostalgia, a curious counterpart to Dirty Harry and an icon of New York-brand justice.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 25 2006 04:22 AM

Filmcritic.com

splat

Geoff Andrew

Winner's recourse to caricature when dealing with police and thugs, and his virtually overt sympathies with the confused, violent Bronson, make for uncritical, simplistic viewing.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:15 AM

Time Out

splat
2/5

Jake Euker

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 29 2005 10:55 PM

F5 (Wichita, KS)

tomato
3/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment 1 Comment | Jun., 30 2005 09:35 AM

EmanuelLevy.Com

splat
2/5

Vincent Canby

It's a despicable movie, one that raises complex questions in order to offer bigoted, frivolous, oversimplified answers.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | May., 09 2005 03:15 AM

New York Times

tomato
3/4

Roger Ebert

The movie has an eerie kind of fascination, even though its message is scary.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2004 10:20 PM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
3/5

Ken Hanke

Solid if morally suspect revenge thriller.

comment 1 Comment | Jul., 19 2004 07:38 PM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato

The movie that sealed Bronson's reputation as a tough guy.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 01 2003 05:03 PM

Austin Chronicle

tomato
3/5

Alex Sandell

Somewhat enjoyable right-wing revenge flick.

comment 1 Comment | Apr., 11 2003 12:55 AM

Juicy Cerebellum

tomato
3/5

Nicolas Lacroix

No review available.

comment 1 Comment | Dec., 14 2002 07:08 PM

Showbizz.net

tomato
4/5

Rob Vaux

Chilling revenge pic that retains every bit of its power to disturb.

comment 1 Comment | Oct., 03 2002 06:17 PM

Flipside Movie Emporium

tomato
3/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment 1 Comment | Aug., 07 2002 11:45 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato
4/5

Scott Weinberg

First (and easily the best) dark adventure of vigilante Paul Kersey.

comment 1 Comment | Jul., 25 2002 11:05 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato
3/4

James Kendrick

Even those who disagree with its knee-jerk vigilante ideology have a hard time denying its impact because the film digs deep and works on an almost subconscious level.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 27 2001 11:26 PM

Q Network Film Desk

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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