Review of Messenger of Death (1988) by Jason D — 07 May 2010

In true 80's Charles Bronson action movie fashion, there contains those same by-the-books guidelines that you see in all of them: Bronson's slick overcoming of obstacles with ease, overly one-dimensional villains, and an onslaught of unnecessary violence.

..not that I'm complaining of course. In Messenger of Death, our third rule kicks in immediately, when two shadowy figures come across a Mormon polygamist's farm and blow away all the wives and children with shotguns.

The massacre is big news, needless to say, and has Chicago police working the case, believing the problem to stem from a long standing feud between the Beecham brothers, three clans of Mormom separatists.

Soon enough, reporter Bronson starts his own investigation, which leads to more than just a family feud of course, and digging further to a villain that's now the world's greatest threat these days: wealthy, white-collar, anglo-saxon criminals! Lots of killing and hilarious 80's action ensues in this by-the-numbers Bronson film.

If you've seen one 80's Bronson movie, you've seen them all honestly. I will admit the Mormon angle was a bit interesting, but like all other religions, they're just kooky. Bronson never branched out of his comfort zone and was content with delivering meat and potatoes style films throughout the rest of his career.

Not bad; it certainly worked, as I've grown quite a fondness for Bronson. Something about such an unusual figure becoming an action icon, without knowing any sort of martial arts nor previously being a wrestler, just plain, old fashioned average joe action star.