IMDb > Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994)
Death Wish V: The Face of Death
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Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994) More at IMDbPro »

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Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
3.9/10   1,995 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Brian Garfield (characters)
Michael Colleary (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Death Wish V: The Face of Death on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 January 1994 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The vigilante is back... more
Plot:
Paul Kersey is back at working vigilante justice when when his fiancée, Olivia, has her business threatened by mobsters. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
No matter who you are… don't mess with Paul Kersey. more (52 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Charles Bronson ... Paul Kersey

Lesley-Anne Down ... Olivia Regent
Michael Parks ... Tommy O'Shea

Chuck Shamata ... Sal Paconi
Kevin Lund ... Chuck Paconi

Robert Joy ... Freddie 'Flakes'

Saul Rubinek ... Tony Hoyle

Miguel Sandoval ... Hector Vasquez
Kenneth Welsh ... Lt. Mickey King
Lisa Inouye ... Janice Omori
Erica Lancaster ... Chelsea Regent
Jefferson Mappin ... Big Al
Michael Dunston ... Reg

Claire Rankin ... Maxine
Sharolyn Sparrow ... Dawn
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Death Wish 5: The Face of Death (UK) (video box title)
Death Wish: The Face of Death (USA) (DVD box title)
more
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Singapore:M18 | Finland:(Banned) (1994) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1994) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (2002) (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) | USA:R (certificate #32637) | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:MA | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:15 (video rating) (2005) | UK:18 (original rating) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) (uncut) (2005)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Charles Bronson's salary was more then the film's budget. more
Quotes:
Paul Kersey: [Points gun to O'Shea] Guns make you nervous? more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
SOME LIKE IT HOT more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
No matter who you are… don't mess with Paul Kersey., 27 January 2007
6/10
Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.

After years in L.A., Paul Kersey is back in New York with his new fashion-based designer fiancée Olivia Regent and along with her young daughter Chelsea. Kersey has put away his old habits, until Olivia's ex-husband Tommy O'Shea (who happens to be mob figure) uses her business to run an illegal money laundry scheme and tries at every optometry of scary her from testifying against him in court. They go one step to far when they disfigure and then later on kill Olivia. By law Chelsea is to live with her father. This tips Kersey's world up side down and vengeance mode comes kicking back in.

What a crying shame. I'm shocked to see the user rating for this "Death Wish" instalment to be so low. Making it by far the weakest of the series. I don't agree, but hey you can't have it all your own way, right. Anyhow, this was the filth and final "Death Wish" to date and it was actually the first one I ever saw. Maybe that's why I seem to cut it a bit more slack then say number four.

So, it's been going on for twenty years and Charles Bronson (who was around 70 at time) is still around looking to quite fit and rather animated. Definitely more so than his two previous efforts. Back to form with his dry, ice-cool persona and showing some feeling along the way. What I like about this outing (other than being a improvement over "Death Wish 4") is that it seems to go back to the dark underbelly and cruel vibe (maybe more so) that worked in the earlier forays. Kersey is up against more upper-class foes, than the usual street pests. At heart is goes back to the basic, heavy-handed revenge yarn, where the detailed situations are harrowing and the violence is simply cold-blooded. He might not want to return the favour (as firstly he lets the cop do their job), but his finally forced back into his beloved side-trade, as it's in the blood and the loved ones are taken away from him… again. Once you start, there is no going back… even when the police know his secret. The way he subtly toys around with the guilty criminals to get them rather anxious, waiting for their turn to be mowed down. Only adds to that ominously nasty touch that waits and the dark humour has real snappiness to it here. The deaths scenes are at times wickedly inventive (well it beats going up to someone and just shooting them) and rapid stunt work is exceptionally pulled off with such thrilling poise. Oh and how can I forget about the gratuitous slow motion? Some times it works and other times your thinking… "Oh why?". Anyhow you gotta love it on this occasion!

As director (and writer) Allan Goldstein stylishly tailored it on a much larger scale that seemed to pay dividends with its competently showy set pieces and crisp pacing. There's always something there to hold your interest. In all, there's no denying it's by the numbers and the predictable plot has a fair share of clichés grounding it. Although it goes out there to delve a little deeper into the material (a highly witty and concise script: "Idiots with guns, make me nervous".) and truly making you feel for the characters. The hammy bad guys are typically portrayed as slimy, ruthless tyrants that deserve what they get. You'll sure be cheering on Kersey here, after you cop a taste of the lively performances of Michael Parks (who's tremendously scummy as Tommy O'Shea) and Robert Joy (makes light work as the paranoid nutter Freddie 'Flakes'). Lesley-Anne Down's presence simply glows and is credibly good as Olivia Regent. Giving able support are Saul Rubinek, Kenneth Welsh and Miguel Sandoval. The technical side of the production is soundly staged. The special effects are put to good use and come off well. What is nailed down is a traditionally sounding music score that likes too flutter about with loud echoing cues and the standard camera-work sufficiently frames every shot with nice scope.

By me saying it shares some common ground with the original films. I guess you'll be hoping for something rough around the edges and some exploitation to fit right in. Too bad, as that isn't going to happen. Those looking for the obligatory rape scene too (which appears in basically all four), forget it. This one is going for the mainstream pool. Even the ending has that cop-out feel about it with what has gone all before it.

For all your troubles it's nothing more than a glossed up, blunt action/crime vehicle for Bronson, which manages to mix the good and not-so-good aspects of the series. Only fans should bother.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why is there a pool of acid in a clothing design shop? mozartmessiah
If you where Kersey which weapons to use on Micheal Myers of Halloween TNM1776
Death Wish V in 'Bronson's Loose!' The Making Of The Death Wish Films AstroBoy07
Charlie was just too old generalusgrant
Death Wish 6 MARVMOOCOW
Absolutely the worst produced movie ever!!!! southslam-1
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