Death Wish 3

Death Wish 3 (1985)

Directed by: Michael Winner

Runtime: 92 minutes

Starring: Charles Bronson, Ed Lauter, Deborah Raffin, Gavan O’Herlihy

From: Cannon

Here is a movie that has become famous in some circles due to just how over-the-top ridiculous (yet fun) it is. For example, Ruthless Review’s take on the film, which I do admit is full of exaggerations (it’s not “the bloodiest film in history” or the source of over 500 on-screen deaths) but yet describes just why it’s popular amongst some people.

I haven’t seen the first or fifth-and final-film in the series, but it’s not like they’re really connected in any way. I should try and find the first one, though, as it’s a more serious look at a common man, Paul Kersey (Bronson) who decides to become a vigilante against crime after his wife is killed and his daughter sexually assaulted by criminals, and the ramifications of doing so, including problems with the law. The second film, that is just 80’s sleaze, with a really nasty gang-rape scene in the beginning (one of the guys who participates was… Laurence Fishburne! Really.) and other sexual assaults done, including one done on the daughter in the first movie (she became catatonic in the years since the attack in the original film); yeah, that’s not too appealing to me, and even though you have decent action and some stuff to laugh at (not to mention a synthesizer-heavy soundtrack from Jimmy Page; yes, THAT Jimmy Page), it’s hard to enjoy. The third and fourth, though, are more goofy and you can enjoy them more, especially this one.

Basically, old Chuck is a professional vigilante, more or less, and he ends up in New York to visit an old friend. However, a gang attacks them in his apartment, and the friend ends up dead. The cops blame Kersey for the crime but the chief (Lauter) lets him go to continue being a vigilante as long as he reports directly to the chief. As you can see, “realism” isn’t a big factor in the film. So, Bronson ends up living in his buddy’s apartment (I know, but go with it) and it’s filled with old people and/or minorities, and yet it’s in the middle of a mainly white neighborhood that can be best described as “post-apocalyptic”, that’s how run-down and lawless it is. But, I don’t want to keep on harping on how it’s not that plausible-for example, maybe it should’ve been set in a black neighborhood and he helped the people there against a more realistic gang setting… oh wait, there’s the “knight in white armor” sort of thing with a white guy helping out black people…-so I’ll continue on. After he’s in town for the time being, that’s where you get an almost non-stop amount of violence and assaults, with some romance and drama filled in there.

Here is a film review on YouTube, and while it’s goofy at times, I guess it matches the tone of the movie itself. You at least get a taste of how over-the-top yet great it is, along with hearing the music, also done by Jimmy Page. So, if you enjoy action films and those that are preposterous yet satisfying to watch for that exact reason, then this is a must-see. Sure, Bronson himself ended up not liking the movie for it's ridiculousness and he wasn't pals with director Winner any longer, but you can ignore that in order to kick back and enjoy this slice of meagcheese.

Check back Sunday night as I'll post at least one new review between now and then.