Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1993)
Charles Bronson, Chuck Shamata, Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Parks, Saul Rubinek
Drifting as far from Michael Winner's original and interesting 1974 Death Wish as possible, this belated sequel in an often ugly series is nevertheless a harmless, fairly conventional thriller featuring a watchable cast. After his life of loss and misery at the hands of criminals, vigilante P... (read more) Drifting as far from Michael Winner's original and interesting 1974 Death Wish as possible, this belated sequel in an often ugly series is nevertheless a harmless, fairly conventional thriller featuring a watchable cast. After his life of loss and misery at the hands of criminals, vigilante Paul Kersey is ready to settle down in romantic bliss with a fashion designer named Olivia (Lesley-Anne Down). Unfortunately, the lady happens to be the target of her mobster ex-husband (Michael Parks), who has a tight grip on New York's garment district. Disfigured and finally murdered by her former spouse, Olivia is avenged in very creative ways by Paul, who resorts to such esoterica as using a remote-controlled soccer ball to deliver an explosive punishment. Bronson largely phones it in for this potboiler, though even in the winter of his life he can look quite compelling in his stoic way. Helping to keep things interesting is Parks's kinky cruelty and Saul Rubinek's vaguely bemused performance as a well-meaning prosecutor. --Tom Keogh
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R, 95 min.
Directed by:
Allan A. Goldstein,
Allan Goldstein
Release Date: Jun 01, 1993
DVD Release Date: Jan 26, 1999
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With Death Wish 5, it was the mid 90's and nobody seemed interested in an elderly action hero whose reign in the 80's has long since passed. Maybe even the filmmakers felt this way, as this final sequel was given a weak straight to video release and ... (read more) With Death Wish 5, it was the mid 90's and nobody seemed interested in an elderly action hero whose reign in the 80's has long since passed. Maybe even the filmmakers felt this way, as this final sequel was given a weak straight to video release and was hardly paid any attention to, which is a shame, because the series ends on a high note as the late Charles Bronson delivers a swan song performance to his infamous Paul Kersey character. Kersey now dates big time fashion designer Lesley-Anne Downs whose former husband, crime lord Michael Parks (probably my favorite villain in the franchise), and his mafia goons take over New York City's fashion companies. After severely hurting then killing Downs, Kersey goes back to his vigilante ways and starts working from bottom to top, taking out the entire crime gang. As always, there's always a popular henchmen within the Death Wish gangs, and in this film, besides having a popular lead villain in Parks (whose had a resurgence in his career by portraying his popular Earl McGraw, who has shown up in several Quentin Tarantino films), we are graced with a psychotic performance from the great Robert Joy (AVP 2, Hills Have Eyes remake). Some great character actors like Saul Rubinek, Miguel Sandoval, and Kenneth Welsh also show up in this underrated sequel. Part 5 also contains the best henchmen ever: a bald guy named Frankie who does the Dr. Claw voice from Inspector Gadget. Hilarious and corny! It's clear Death Wish has reached the censor happy 90's as it's relatively toned down in its violence and there isn't a brutal rape to be seen for miles (though there are still a couple of titty shots). Also, decent writing and direction from low-budget guru Allan Goldstein. Overall, a fine way to end the franchise. I know they aren't a lot of people's cups of tea, but I would have been content with this franchise never ending.
Gah. Good thing that fashion designer's studio had a rock crusher AND a giant vat of acid.
A sad end to what was an interesting Bronson role in the 70's. It doesn't even pass as an ordinary paint-by-numbers thriller.
A good end to a good series of films. This one was the most serious since the first, and also was more worried about characters than a high body count. The plot was interesting and unfolded in a neat way, if pretty standard and typical. It's a pretty... (read more) A good end to a good series of films. This one was the most serious since the first, and also was more worried about characters than a high body count. The plot was interesting and unfolded in a neat way, if pretty standard and typical. It's a pretty simple thriller, but the acting holds it above the others. Parks is the best villain out of all 5 films. Bronson still kind of just walks through, but it doesn't matter in this one. It makes him seem old and worn out, which is exactly how Paul Kersey should be after all the years of bad luck. This was definitely mid 90's action, but it was nice to see it wanted to follow more like the original by focusing more on character than chaos.
Death wish 5: this is getting silly. Surely no man is as unlucky as this guy?? every lover he ever has gets killed somehow? suppose thats what happens when u date a very very older man??
In this one he should have seen it coming when his girlfriend... (read more) Death wish 5: this is getting silly. Surely no man is as unlucky as this guy?? every lover he ever has gets killed somehow? suppose thats what happens when u date a very very older man??
In this one he should have seen it coming when his girlfriends ex is a mobster who she's witnessing against!! Doesnt he ever learn. lol Some funny moments including a radio controlled exploding football...what???..... Least michael parks is great as the lead badguy.
This had a distinct tv feel to it as it was pretty low budget and not as violent as previous instalments (jesus no one even gets raped!! its not a real death wish film with out some rape!!) with the ending i suspected a 6th was planned or a tv series which never materialised.
When the District Attorney states 'you can't trust the justice system', cue the return of vigilante Paul Kersey to battle a mobster after his latest girlfriend is killed. Easily the worst of the series with mobsters often portrayed as buffoons.
Truly not as compelling as the 1974 classic but not totally un-watchable. Might i add Bronson even seemed a little board with this one.
I saw this late on TV once, and it complimented dog crap. Absolutely ridiculous.
It seems like as the Death Wish series continues it gets worse with each progressing movie. Unfortunately the last one in the series isn't very good. The plot is kind of bland and the action scenes aren't very good.
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