Death Wish

Story: A doctor decides to take revenge on those who brutally attacked his family

Review: A remake of the popular 1974 film of the same name starring the late Charles Bronson in the lead, both films are inspired by a book written by Brian Garfield. In this version, Dr Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) leads a busy yet content life with his wife Lucy Kersey (Elisabeth Shue) and daughter Jordan (Camila Morrone) in Chicago. As someone who regularly tends to crime victims as part of his daily routine in the ER, Paul is used to hearing tales about the felonies that increasingly plague the area. However, his world is turned upside down when his own family is brutally assaulted, leaving him distraught and aching for revenge. As he embarks on a mission to discover the perpetrators, Paul unleashes his fury on not just those who hurt him but even those who wrong others.

While the story is quite straightforward, it also tends to be predictable and doesn’t keep you engaged throughout. You also can’t help but wonder whether the makers were right in releasing the film at this point in time — when gun violence is at an all-time high in America. In fact, there are moments where you find yourself wondering whether Paul’s rampage is even justified. The emotional connect is sketchy and the action sequences seem sluggish at best. Director Eli Roth doesn’t have a robust script to begin with, which leads to some unintentionally funny scenes.

Willis does a decent job as the man avenging his family’s torture but this isn’t one of his best performances by a long shot. Although he showcases a range of emotions — from shock and guilt to rage and retribution — he’s let down by the script. Among the supporting cast, Frank Kersey (Vincent D’Onofrio) playing Paul’s brother is the only one who stands out. The bad guys aren’t menacing enough, making one wish more attention was paid to the casting. There are moments towards the end where you find yourself on the edge of your seat, silently rooting for the veteran actor as he goes about his job but unfortunately, it’s too late by then. You can give this a watch if you enjoy revenge dramas and are a Bruce Willis fan.