The defence The Adrenaline Seeker
“Momentum is a formal choice.”
The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.
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Death Wish
Crime · Drama · Action · 1974
After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad, prowling the streets for would-be muggers after dark.
Movie details
Death Wish
“Vigilante, city style — judge, jury, and executioner.”
1974 Crime · Drama · Action 1h 33m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.9 / 10
Community rating
After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad, prowling the streets for would-be muggers after dark.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Death Wish?
For the defence
The Adrenaline Seeker
“If it slows down, you check your phone.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
Harry Brown
Thriller · 2009
An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice.
Payback
Action · 1999
With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and leave him for dead -- or so they think. Five months and an endless reservoir of bitterness later, Porter's partners and the crooked cops on his tail learn how bad payback can be.
The Punisher: One Last Kill
Action · 2026
As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.
Sudden Impact
Thriller · 1983
When a young rape victim takes justice into her own hands and becomes a serial killer, it's up to Dirty Harry Callahan, on suspension from the SFPD, to bring her to justice.
Clean
Crime · 2022
Tormented by a past life, garbage man Clean attempts a life of quiet redemption. But when his good intentions mark him a target of a local crime boss, Clean is forced to reconcile with the violence of his past.
Death Wish II
Action · 1982
Paul Kersey is again a vigilante trying to find five punks who murdered his housekeeper and daughter in Los Angeles.
Death Wish 3
Action · 1985
Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey arrives back in New York City and is forcibly recruited by a crooked police chief to fight street crime caused by a large gang terrorizing the neighborhoods.
Out for Justice
Action · 1991
Gino Felino is an NYPD detective from Brooklyn who knows everyone and everything in his neighborhood. Killing his partner was someone's big mistake... because he's now out for justice.
The Brave One
Crime · 2007
A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.
Best of the Best 2
Action · 1993
In an underground fight club, blackbelt Travis Brickley is killed after losing to the evil martial arts master Brakus. Travis' death is witnessed by Walter Grady, the son of his best friend Alex Grady. Alex and his partner, Tommy Lee, vow to avenge their friend's death by defeating Brakus and shutting down the fight club.
Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Michael Winner
Written by
Wendell Mayes · Gerald Wilson · Michael Winner
Charles Bronson
Paul Kersey
Hope Lange
Joanna Kersey
Vincent Gardenia
Frank Ochoa
Steven Keats
Jack Toby
William Redfield
Sam Kreutzer
Stuart Margolin
Aimes Jainchill
Stephen Elliott
Police Commissioner
Court is in session
Put Death Wish on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“Speed as an alibi.”
The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.