Death Wish II (1982)

Architect Paul Kersey once again becomes a vigilante when he tries to find the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper, this time on the dark streets of Los Angeles.

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

David Engelbach, Brian Garfield (characters)

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Paul Kersey
Jill Ireland	...	Geri Nichols
Vincent Gardenia	...	Det. Frank Ochoa
J.D. Cannon	...	New York D.A.
Anthony Franciosa	...	Herman Baldwin
Ben Frank	...	Inspector Lt. Mankiewicz
Robin Sherwood	...	Carol Kersey
Silvana Gallardo	...	Rosario
Robert F. Lyons	...	Fred McKenzie
Michael Prince	...	Elliott Cass
Drew Snyder	...	Deputy Comm. Hawkins
Paul Lambert	...	New York Police Comm.
Thomas F. Duffy	...	Nirvana (as Thomas Duffy)
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Stomper
Stuart K. Robinson	...	Jiver

Storyline

After using himself as bait to rid New York City of its muggers in Death Wish (1974), Paul Kersey relocates to Los Angeles with his traumatised daughter, trying to wipe the slate clean, and bury the past. However, once again, Paul catches the eye of a new bunch of savage street thugs, and before long, rape and murder destroy his family. Now, armed with his unforgiving semi-automatic Beretta 84 pistol, Kersey prowls the filthy backstreets of L.A., eager to pick up where he left off, and clean up the city. But, Paul's brutal method of justice is starting to attract unwanted attention. Will the police corner the notorious vigilante this time?

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Plot Keywords:

rape | prostitute | woman in jeopardy | gang rape | vigilante | 

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Taglines:

He wants the filth off the streets. If the police can't do it... He will - his way!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1991, the UK television station Channel 4 screened a documentary about cinema censorship and this included a brief shot of the maid about to be forced to perform oral sex, subtitled 'Scene cut by censor'. This was in keeping with Channel 4's reputation for controversy at the time, and it can probably be safely assumed that the then BBFC secretary James Ferman would have been unhappy about this.

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Goofs

After Jiver attacks the housekeeper, Nirvana (Charles Wilson) orders Stomper to take the housekeeper into the bedroom but calls Stomper "Nirvana".

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Quotes

Cutter: Okay, lady. Quietly now... do it niiice.

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema and video versions were extensively cut by BBFC head James Ferman (to the fury of Michael Winner). 3 minutes 42 seconds were removed from the rape of Rosario the housemaid and a minor edit was made to the rape of Carol by Punkcut. Although 19 secs of cuts were reinstated for the 2005 video release (the R-rated US release was submitted) the film was then cut again in 2006, losing a further 27 seconds of 'sexual and sexualized violence'.

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Connections

Referenced in Psychos in Love (1987)

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Soundtracks

Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Traditional
Performed by the church congregation

User Reviews

Better than original arguably the best masterpiece sequel of all time!

Death Wish II (1982) is arguably the best masterpiece sequel of all time! It is my personal favorite action sequel from the 80's. Since a month away in March 2nd Death Wish remake is coming out with Bruce Willis, I am reviewing all Death Wish films. I am a huge Death Wish fan and Charles Bronson - "Die Hard" fan. This is a sequel to the original classic 1974 film Death Wish. It was brilliantly directed by Michael Winner who once again teamed up with Charles Bronson. This film is very entertaining, fast paced, not boring not dramatic real action movie. I love this film to death I grew up watching it. It is long only 1 hr and 28 mins. it is not that long. It is my third favorite "Death Wish" film in the series I always enjoy it.

This is an action packed stylish revenge flick in the 80's. this movie was filmed in 1981 and come out in 1982, the same year that First Blood come out. The first Rambo film is my all time favorite action film alongside with death Wish II. This sequel in my opinion is better than the original because it has more action and it is styled on a revenge. Charles Bronson is back as Paul Kersey the original vigilante. The film was filmed in Los Angeles, California in which the plot was set. Charles Bronson's wife Jill Ireland was in here and she played Kersey's girlfriend. In all Death Wish films Jill Ireland's character Geri Nichols was the only one who wasn't killed off. Charles Bronson refused that his real wife is assaulted and brutalized so she did come on in this movie and she was brilliant, not only gorgeous but she arguably acted brilliantly well.

Charles Bronson is fantastic as Architect Paul Kersey getting revenge on a muggers who raped and killed his house keeper and his daughter. It is time to settle the score. He is excellent and it is his best performance in here. Paul kersey is his best role in my opinion.

I love this film to death, I saw it as a kid I watched the trilogy. Death Wish 1,2 and 3 were all directed by Michael Winner which he did a brilliant job as the director. The film has a lot of action real bloody squibs it is rated R. It has rape, explosions, great gun fights and great shootouts. Paul kersey is looking for 5 rapist and killers who brutalized his daughter. I love how Paul tracks the first killer down and shoots him right in the chest. "You believe in Jesus? ,Yes, I do. Well, you're gonna meet him." bang he shoot's him dead. Paul Kersey saves an older men and his wife from been raped again and he kills most of the rapists and save the couple before they would be killed. He shoots down the second mugger in a final attempt he shoots' him dead. I love how Paul Kersey is tracking down the killers one by one like a Predator. I love the idea that actor Vincent Gardenia as Det. Frank Ochoa returned from the original film to be in this sequel. He stood up from Paul, he saved Paul's life, he killed the sniper aiming on Paul and sacrifice him self. Vincent Gardenia's brilliant performance too bad he is no longer with us anymore.

In the final shoot out with a lot of automatic weapons, Paul kill's two out of three muggers one get's away. He kill's their friends too who are arm's dealers. He shoot's with his Beretta 84 one shooter trough window glass of the car and the mugger Jiver (Laurence Fishburne) in the head of radio when he tried to flee and he killed him. I love the final fight between Paul and Nirvana (Thomas F. Duffy). Charles Bronson did his own stunts, but in which Nirvana pushes Paul in the wall you can see that was Bronson's stuntman. All the actors in this movie does a fine job. No CGI or shaky cam, real actions, real guns and automatic weapons all made for real. I love action movies like this. Jimmy Page makes a music score for the Death Wish that I love specially in the beginning of the credits. Jimmy Page replaced Herbie Hancock. Actress Robin Sherwood replaced actress Kathleen Tolan who was playing Carol Kersey, Paul's daughter. It was never explained what happened to Steven Keats character Jack Toby from the first film. The muggers in this movie are: Thomas F. Duffy, Kevyn Major Howard, Stuart K. Robinson, Laurence Fishburne (as Laurence Fishburne III), E. Lamont Johnson and they are believable. In this movie one of the muggers was also Laurence Fishburne who was called that time in the 80's Larry he also played in Red Heat and A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors and he acted well in this movie.

Michael Winner brilliantly directs this stylish action masterpiece and David Engelbach writes an excellent script that delivers. I always enjoy this film and it is one of the best sequels in the Death Wish series. My all time number 1 favorite is Death Wish 3 this is my third favorite "Death Wish" film.

Death Wish II is a 1982 crime thriller action film directed by Michael Winner. It is the first of four sequels to the 1974 film Death Wish.

10/10 it is my favorite action film in "Death Wish" series. Today all action movies are wrong in Hollywood they don't make em' like this anymore. Charles Bronson was the best actor.

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death Wish 2

Filming Locations:

Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery - 1831 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$16,100,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,100,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

American-European Productions, City Films, Golan-Globus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 91 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1