As we learn from this series, it doesn't pay to get close, or to be close, to Paul Kersey (the legendary Charles Bronson), as those people that do tend to suffer a high mortality rate. Tragedy is never far from this man's door.
When a particularly loathsome quintet of punks rapes his daughter, and she dies in an escape attempt, Kersey is once again motivated to mete out brutal vigilante justice. When the LA cops realize what's happening, they consult the cops in NYC, knowing what happened there, and since the authorities in NYC opted never to prosecute Kersey, they have to send out detective Frank Ochoa (Vincent Gardenia reprises his role) to help cover their asses.
While the screenplay, by David Engelbach, is not exactly believable, the belated sequel "Death Wish II" is still incredibly effective on a visceral level. Even in its cut, R rated version, it's a pretty merciless, mean-spirited exercise in sleaze. Director Michael Winner, who directed the memorable first film and who would also direct the next sequel, keeps the action coming and the pace consistent. It's always a vicarious pleasure to watch a relentless bad ass like Bronson give cinematic scum the vicious comeuppance that they all deserve.
And the gang this time are monumentally creepy; hulking Thomas Duffy stands out as ringleader Nirvana, who proves very tough to take down when the cops move in on him. Laurence Fishburne is another member of the gang, but he has very few lines. Other familiar faces add to the enjoyment: Anthony Franciosa, J.D. Cannon, Ben Frank, Robert F. Lyons, Drew Snyder, Paul Lambert, Paul Comi, Charles Cyphers, and Roberta Collins, while the love of Bronson's real life Jill Ireland is his love interest, a journalist doing a piece on methods of dealing with violence.
With a blistering music score by Jimmy Page blasting away on the soundtrack, and much effective use of L.A. locations, this is intense stuff, and offers up some choice sequences. One of course has Bronson meeting with one of the thugs and promising the young man that he will be meeting Jesus shortly. The other has him intervening as a man and woman are being assaulted, and when they're being interrogated later, they sing his praises to the consternation of the investigating detective (Frank).
Understandably, this entry in the series may be too tough for some people to take, but those who delight in seamy vigilante cinema are sure to find viewing this a pleasure. Followed by the over the top, comic book styled "Death Wish 3".
Seven out of 10.
When a particularly loathsome quintet of punks rapes his daughter, and she dies in an escape attempt, Kersey is once again motivated to mete out brutal vigilante justice. When the LA cops realize what's happening, they consult the cops in NYC, knowing what happened there, and since the authorities in NYC opted never to prosecute Kersey, they have to send out detective Frank Ochoa (Vincent Gardenia reprises his role) to help cover their asses.
While the screenplay, by David Engelbach, is not exactly believable, the belated sequel "Death Wish II" is still incredibly effective on a visceral level. Even in its cut, R rated version, it's a pretty merciless, mean-spirited exercise in sleaze. Director Michael Winner, who directed the memorable first film and who would also direct the next sequel, keeps the action coming and the pace consistent. It's always a vicarious pleasure to watch a relentless bad ass like Bronson give cinematic scum the vicious comeuppance that they all deserve.
And the gang this time are monumentally creepy; hulking Thomas Duffy stands out as ringleader Nirvana, who proves very tough to take down when the cops move in on him. Laurence Fishburne is another member of the gang, but he has very few lines. Other familiar faces add to the enjoyment: Anthony Franciosa, J.D. Cannon, Ben Frank, Robert F. Lyons, Drew Snyder, Paul Lambert, Paul Comi, Charles Cyphers, and Roberta Collins, while the love of Bronson's real life Jill Ireland is his love interest, a journalist doing a piece on methods of dealing with violence.
With a blistering music score by Jimmy Page blasting away on the soundtrack, and much effective use of L.A. locations, this is intense stuff, and offers up some choice sequences. One of course has Bronson meeting with one of the thugs and promising the young man that he will be meeting Jesus shortly. The other has him intervening as a man and woman are being assaulted, and when they're being interrogated later, they sing his praises to the consternation of the investigating detective (Frank).
Understandably, this entry in the series may be too tough for some people to take, but those who delight in seamy vigilante cinema are sure to find viewing this a pleasure. Followed by the over the top, comic book styled "Death Wish 3".
Seven out of 10.