“Death Wish” Movie Review

 

“Death Wish”

Movie Review

 

Death Wish is a 1974 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film based on Brian Garfield's novel of the same name. Directed by Michael Winner, the film stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, a vigilante architect who turns vigilante after his wife and daughter are attacked during a home invasion and his wife dies from her injuries. It is the first film in the Death Wish film series.

At the time of its release, the film was criticized for caution and advocated unlimited punishment for criminals. The novel is said to have condemned vigilantism, while the film embraced the idea. The film was a commercial success.  

Paul Kersey is a successful, middle-aged architect and family man who lives happily in Manhattan with his wife Joanna. One day, Joanna and their grown daughter, Carol—who is married to Jack Toby—are followed home from D’Agostino’s by three thugs. The trio, disguised as delivery men, breaks into Kersey's apartment. Upon finding that Carol and Joanna only have $7 on them, the thugs attack them, beat Joanna, rape Carol, and flee. Arriving at the hospital, Paul is devastated to learn that Joanna has died from her injuries. After his wife's funeral, Paul has an encounter with a mugger in a dark street. Paul fights back with a homemade weapon, causing Mugger to flee, while Paul is shocked and excited by the encounter.

Paul’s Boss sends him to Tucson, Arizona to visit Ames Jainchill, a client on a residential development project. A few days later, Ames invites Paul to dinner at his gun club. Paul's pistol marksmanship at the target range impressed Ames. Paul reveals that he was a conscientious objector while serving as a combat medic during the Korean War. His hunter-father taught him to handle guns, but after the elder Kersey was mortally wounded by a second hunter, Paul's mother made him swear never to use guns again. Paul was successful in helping Ames develop residential housing. Ames drives Paul back to the Tucson airport and gives Paul a gift for his work on the development, which he places in Paul's checked luggage.

Back in Manhattan, Paul learns from Jack that Carol is devastated by her rape and mother’s death; Carol is now catatonic and selectively mute. With Paul's blessing, Jack commits Carol to a mental institution. Paul learns that Ames gave him a nickel-plated colt police-positive revolver and a box of ammunition. He loads it up and goes for a night walk when he is kidnapped at gunpoint. Paul shot the mugger, freaked out, ran home, and vomited. The following night, Paul travels through the city in search of dangerous and violent criminals; Of course, over the next few weeks, he kills several thugs, either by presenting himself as a convenient victim and engaging in conflict or by watching them attack other innocents.

NYPD Inspector Frank Ochoa investigates vigilante murders. His department narrows it down to a list of those who have recently had a family member killed by assassins or have been involved in combat. Ochoa immediately became suspicious of Paul and was about to arrest him when the District Attorney intervened and told Ochoa, "We don't want him." The district collector and the police commissioner did not want the figures to come out that Paul's awareness had greatly reduced street crime; They fear that if the information in question becomes public knowledge, the entire city will descend into surveillance chaos. If Paul were to be arrested, he would surely be branded a martyr. Ochoa doesn't like the idea and instead relents to "scare him".

One night, Paul shot two more muggers, wounding a third in the leg. Paul follows the mugger and locks him in a warehouse. He challenges him to pull the mug faster, Wild West style and the unconscious man escapes, bleeding. Young patrolman Jackson Reilly finds Paul's gun and hands it to Ochoa, who tells him to forget he found it. Ochoa arrives at the hospital where Paul is recovering and agrees to secretly dispose of Paul's revolver in exchange for Paul leaving New York City permanently. Paul takes over Ochoa's deal and his company agrees to transfer him to Chicago, while Paul tells the media that he is the victim of another scam.

Paul arrives at Union Station in Chicago by train. Greeted by a corporate representative, he observes the harassment of a young woman. He forgives himself and helps the young woman. As the stablemates make obscene gestures, Paul makes a ginger gun and smiles at them.

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