Death Wish (2018)

Death Wish (2018)

Directed by Eli Roth

Based on the novel Death Wish by Brian Garfield

Also based on the film Death Wish written by Wendell Mayes

Screenplay by Joe Carnahan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue, Camila Morrone, Dean Norris, Beau Knapp

Dr. Paul Kersey (Willis) is on a mission to get justice for his family after a brutal attack on his wife and daughter.

This movie is an updated version of the 1974 film also titled Death Wish, written by Wendell Mayes (Anatomy of a Murder). The original story came from the novel Death Wish by Brian Garfield (Hopscotch). This film was written by Joe Carnahan (Pride and Glory) and directed by Eli Roth (Inglourious Basterds). The film stars Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Vincent D’Onofrio (The Judge), Elisabeth Shue (The Saint), Camila Morrone (Never Goin’ Back), Dean Norris (Get the Gringo), and Beau Knapp (Super 8).

This story has been given new life with this 2018 update written by Joe Carnahan. Like the previous Death Wish film, this is a story about revenge. The action throughout this one is really great, and the setups are awesome. The movie also has a pretty solid plot that has just a few twists and turns that keep it from getting campy. The dialogue is fine, but it’s nothing special. The story might be familiar, but this one does some nice things to make it feel fresh and interesting.

The actors did a good job with this one. Bruce Willis does a good job with both the emotion and the action in the story. He also has a really great connection with Vincent D’Onofrio which is fun to watch. Elisabeth Shue and Dean Norris also do a nice job with their roles in this one. Camila Morrone and Beau Knapp are just a couple of the additional cast members who made this one work. Some of the dialogue falls flat, but that’s more a fault of the writing than the stars. The material might not be incredible, but the cast knew how to play it.

This is a really fun movie, despite the flaws. The story might not be new or unique, but the treatment the production gives it is great. The violence is very graphic, so it might not be for everyone. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of movies like John Wick or Taken since it doesn’t hold back. Fans of the stars should check this one out as well. I give this one 3.4 out of 5 stars.

Rating: R

Running Time: 107 Minutes

If you want to see the 1974 film, just click the poster below to get your copy.