Review of Death Wish (2018) by Wayne K — 03 Jun 2018

Yet another remake of a not-so-classic flick from several decades ago, this time helmed by gore porn maestro Eli Roth. Interesting choice, but it's easy to see his fingerprints all over the finished product: Gallons of blood, merciless killings, a graphic torture scene shot in lascivious detail.

Roth doesn't hold back, but to be fair it doesn't look like he's pushing any kind of agenda. Yes, Mr Willis is a vigilante, essentially going around indiscriminately killing thugs who've never personally done him wrong in plain sight, never being identified because he's clever enough to wear a hoodie.

But Roth does acknowledge that what he's doing isn't right, though having a series of radio DJ lightly chastising him doesn't exactly constitute a fair and balanced argument. Willis still doesn't look fully invested, giving the kind of disinterested performance that's he been criticised for in recent years, but he is given more opportunities to cry than usual.

All in all, it's a pretty simple and predictable vigilante tale of 'Wronged person picks up a gun and kills baddies', with few consequences for his actions. It might be a complete fantasy for those who wished they could do the same, but it's nowhere near as bad as some have declared it to be.