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Death Wish II

Death Wish II

Action · Crime · Drama · 1982

Paul Kersey is again a vigilante trying to find five punks who murdered his housekeeper and daughter in Los Angeles.

Movie details

Death Wish II

“He's Planning to Clean Up the City. HIS way!”

1982 Action · Crime · Drama 1h 32m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Paul Kersey is again a vigilante trying to find five punks who murdered his housekeeper and daughter in Los Angeles.

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 II?

The 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.

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A mild-mannered father is transformed into a killing machine after his family is torn apart by a violent act.

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The Rookie

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Assault on Precinct 13

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No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers

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Two feuding brothers of differing political views, one a policeman, the other a martial artist, join forces to avenge the death of their father, a retired agent who was brutally murdered by the mafia.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Winner

Written by

David Engelbach · Michael Winner

Charles Bronson

Charles Bronson

Paul Kersey

Jill Ireland

Jill Ireland

Geri Nichols

Vincent Gardenia

Vincent Gardenia

Det. Frank Ochoa

J.D. Cannon

J.D. Cannon

New York D.A.

Anthony Franciosa

Anthony Franciosa

Herman Baldwin

Ben Frank

Ben Frank

Inspector Lt. Mankiewicz

Robin Sherwood

Robin Sherwood

Carol Kersey

Court is in session

Put Death Wish II on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

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.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.