Death Wish 3 Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1985

The first two Death Wish entries in the long-running series were dark, nihilistic dramas about a man who looses his family to the dregs of society in a most horrifying way. Although each possessed plenty of violence, it wasn't depicted in an over the top manner… it hit home.

Death Wish 3 sheds its former dramatic roots and becomes the equivalent of Rambo in New York as our favorite protagonist returns to the city where his vigilante crusade began, only to discover a new battle against society's trash awaits him…

Many criticized Death Wish and Death Wish 2 for their graphic depictions of rape and violence, and although it's true certain scenes in those films could be difficult to watch they were actually necessary in order to show us just how truly evil some people can be. And how a good man can be pushed over the edge and take matters into his own hands.

Death Wish 3 initially suggests more of the same. After a stay in Los Angeles (where Death Wish 2 occurred), Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) returns to New York to visit an old friend, but upon reaching his friend's apartment he discovers him beaten and barely clinging to life. Minutes later, he dies and the police arrest Kersey, believing him to be responsible.

At the station, Police Chief Richard Shriker (Ed Lauter) quickly recognizes Kersey as the vigilante that one prowled the New York streets. Rather than keep him behind bars, Shriker decides he'll use Kersey to clean up an area of East New York that the police don't dare tread. He tells Kersey that if he releases him, he expects him to handle the gang problem using any means of force desired. And with that we truly see Death Wish 3 for what it will really be – an unrealistic action romp through the nightmarish, gang-infested streets of New York.

Of course you'll witness the obligatory rape scene, though the Death Wish tradition is toned down significantly; it's more of an afterthought rather than the graphic powder keg that starts off the vigilante crusade. You'll see gang members that are shamelessly anarchist and vile as they mug and kill peaceful and elderly residents of a poor neighborhood. Oh, and how could I forget – you'll see the vigilante war culminate in an all-out war zone that made the L.A. Riots appear tame!

This is one of those "check your brain at the front door" guilty pleasures. If you take Death Wish 3 seriously or look for perfect realism, you're going to be turned off by what you see. You have to give Bronson credit for refusing to give up his action star status even as he was well into his seventies, but you can see he's pushing it in his on-foot chase scenes. Bronson had a certain charisma and flair, though, and if anyone his age can pull off such a physical combat-oriented role, it's him.

Apparently 75% of the elderly victims owned firearms, yet it never dawned on them to actually USE them until they witnessed Kersey's crusade. Suddenly emboldened by the actions of their savior, they start pulling out zip guns, pistols and shotguns from their closets and drawers and take the war to the streets! Still not far-fetched enough for you? Then you'll just love how Kersey obtains his arsenal of weapons: mail order! That's right – the heck with visiting your shady neighborhood gun dealer when you can order big guns and a bazooka through the mail.

Don't expect a whole lot from the script or acting either. Bronson exudes his normal confident charisma and easily carries the movie on his shoulders, but outside of his pleasing performance the rest are pretty flat. The bad guys are… bad! The victims are… scared! That about sums things up. But you know what? Such one-dimensional characters worked just fine for this movie. It's not a serious drama – it's an action-fest that tosses plenty of bad guys on screen for us to boo and jeer, then allows us to cheer Bronson on as he metes out his special form of justice.

Death Wish 3 isn't a great film, but it's good, cheesy, violent fun for adults. If you enjoy Charles Bronson movies, or watching vigilantes clean up America's worst neighborhoods, chances are you'll find this film a hoot.

Movie rating: 7

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Charles Bronson
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