The first sequel to the legendary 1974 vigilante film Death Wish is not an easy film to watch. The film is dark and grainy, the characters are too broadly drawn, and there are some disgusting acts of violence. There are a couple good shootouts however, and it's always nice to see Bronson dish out his own brand of justice.
Our story picks up a few years after the events of part one. Bronson has relocated in Los Angeles and is working as an architect and currently redesigning a radio station building. His daughter is living close by in an institution. She is still greatly disturbed by her traumatic rape in the last film. She can venture out in public under the supervision of her father, but she still cannot speak. On one such trip, Bronson, his daughter, and his girlfriend (Ireland) get into an altercation with a gang of five muggers. The muggers steal Bronson's wallet and find out where he lives. They then show up at his place and... help the maid prepare dinner.
Well, that isn't quite what happens. This is a Michael Winner film, and nobody does rape scenes like Michael Winner. In one of the most shocking scenes ever found in a mainstream film, the house keeper is repeatedly raped be these creeps. Depending on the version you see, the rape lasts from only a couple minutes to nearly fifteen minutes! This film has been cut to ribbons by editors over the years as each station has their own idea of just how much of it they want to show you. Anyway, Bronson and his daughter eventually show up at the house where he is beaten and left for dead while his daughter is kidnapped by the punks. In another tasteless scene, his mute and helpless daughter is also raped and then jumps to a gruesome death from a window. I think that scene is really a lot worse than the housekeeper scene.
Of course you know where we're headed. Bronson goes on the war path and tracks these five creeps and their associates down and blows them away. Not only are there some neat shootouts, but also a few good one-liners along the way. If you can get through the brutality of the first half hour, you will enjoy seeing Bronson do what he does best.
Bronson's performance is calm and dignified like always. There are two outstanding supporting performances by Vincent Gardenia and Jill Ireland. They share a wonderful scene together as Gardenia (hot on Bronson's trail like in part one) questions Ireland about Bronson's whereabouts at night. He also informs her of Bronson's history of killing muggers in the Big Apple which leads to a hilarious scene between Bronson and Ireland later on. And YES... that is THE Laurence Fishburne as one of the muggers. He's the one Bronson shoots in the head through a radio. You'll have to see it to understand what I'm referring to.
One may be tempted to defend this film by saying that "yeah, it's pretty nasty, but so is real life crime!" I won't deny that, but I don't buy the argument here. This film with its broad caricatures of street hoods, and no less than three sexual assaults is really just a piece of exploitation. The film does have its good moments, and apparently enough of them for it to gross 16 million dollars and spawn several more sequels. But Death Wish II is really not going to impress anyone who isn't a rabid fan of Charles Bronson. I would strongly urge anyone and everyone to take a look at part 3, though! That film is an absolute blast! 5 of 10 for Death Wish II. So sayeth the Hound.
Our story picks up a few years after the events of part one. Bronson has relocated in Los Angeles and is working as an architect and currently redesigning a radio station building. His daughter is living close by in an institution. She is still greatly disturbed by her traumatic rape in the last film. She can venture out in public under the supervision of her father, but she still cannot speak. On one such trip, Bronson, his daughter, and his girlfriend (Ireland) get into an altercation with a gang of five muggers. The muggers steal Bronson's wallet and find out where he lives. They then show up at his place and... help the maid prepare dinner.
Well, that isn't quite what happens. This is a Michael Winner film, and nobody does rape scenes like Michael Winner. In one of the most shocking scenes ever found in a mainstream film, the house keeper is repeatedly raped be these creeps. Depending on the version you see, the rape lasts from only a couple minutes to nearly fifteen minutes! This film has been cut to ribbons by editors over the years as each station has their own idea of just how much of it they want to show you. Anyway, Bronson and his daughter eventually show up at the house where he is beaten and left for dead while his daughter is kidnapped by the punks. In another tasteless scene, his mute and helpless daughter is also raped and then jumps to a gruesome death from a window. I think that scene is really a lot worse than the housekeeper scene.
Of course you know where we're headed. Bronson goes on the war path and tracks these five creeps and their associates down and blows them away. Not only are there some neat shootouts, but also a few good one-liners along the way. If you can get through the brutality of the first half hour, you will enjoy seeing Bronson do what he does best.
Bronson's performance is calm and dignified like always. There are two outstanding supporting performances by Vincent Gardenia and Jill Ireland. They share a wonderful scene together as Gardenia (hot on Bronson's trail like in part one) questions Ireland about Bronson's whereabouts at night. He also informs her of Bronson's history of killing muggers in the Big Apple which leads to a hilarious scene between Bronson and Ireland later on. And YES... that is THE Laurence Fishburne as one of the muggers. He's the one Bronson shoots in the head through a radio. You'll have to see it to understand what I'm referring to.
One may be tempted to defend this film by saying that "yeah, it's pretty nasty, but so is real life crime!" I won't deny that, but I don't buy the argument here. This film with its broad caricatures of street hoods, and no less than three sexual assaults is really just a piece of exploitation. The film does have its good moments, and apparently enough of them for it to gross 16 million dollars and spawn several more sequels. But Death Wish II is really not going to impress anyone who isn't a rabid fan of Charles Bronson. I would strongly urge anyone and everyone to take a look at part 3, though! That film is an absolute blast! 5 of 10 for Death Wish II. So sayeth the Hound.