Death Wish V: The Face of Death

• Written and Directed by Allan A. Goldstein
• January 14, 1994
• Based on characters created by Brian Garfield

Kersey tries to protect his fashion designer girlfriend from her brutal mobster ex-husband threatening her fashion business.

So we have gotten to the fifth and final original Death Wish film. From a technical perspective Death Wish V: The Face of Death is much better than the first three films and from an overall structure and execution of the story is better than all four of its predecessors. A little more cohesive and a little more focused in the style and general presentation. Sure it’s done on a lower budget than probably some of the others but objectively it’s better done.

That doesn’t mean Death Wish V: The Face of Death is a great film. And that also doesn’t mean it’s terrible either. If you’re a fan of hyper violent movies or just Charles Bronson vehicles this is exactly what you expect. If you are looking for something more substantive this might not be for you. Gone is Paul Kersey trying to take out the general criminal element. Now he’s a straight up assassin. Then again, he was like that in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown. But here he is assassinating the people that harmed his family which I guess but is more in line with Death Wish II. 

Paul Kersey is now in the witness protection program teaching art…somewhere. The feds are rather cool with what he’s been doing and decided to hide him rather than prosecute him. Previously Kersey’s activities were more something only a few knew about yet kept it to themselves. I just love how every time he kills somebody it’s basically “Pshaw! Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you covered.”

Bronson was a good actor. Maybe not great but certainly good and with a definite presence whenever he walked on the screen. He could be tough without doing much and that’s exactly what he brings here. Not calling Bronson’s performance bad in this. Rather it is adequate. Then again you don’t need greatness, but he gives this mid budget action film more than it deserves. Then again so does just about everybody else.

Michael Parks as Tommy O’Shea is a semi hammy yet certainly dangerous feeling villain. Kind of crazy but not over the top crazy end. He is the violent crazy who could definitely kill you if you don’t do what he wants but is not reflexively violent to the point you wonder how he isn’t caught already by the police for something. And he’s just the right amount of asshole to be entertaining to watch. 

I am an unabashed fan of Saul Rubinek. While I haven’t seen everything he has ever done, everything with him in it that I’ve seen he has been fantastic. This is no different. He knows how to speak his lines appropriately and to give little nuances like looks and facial reactions and so forth that add a level of realism that helps suspend your disbelief. In this he plays Paul Kersey’s contact in the witness protection program or the district attorney’s office or whatever. They are not really clear on it which left me thinking something.

This feels like it certainly started as a Charles Bronson vehicle but somewhere along the line somebody decided to make it into a Death Wish film. There are any number of elements where it could certainly fit into the Death Wish universe but just as easily be another time thing. Paul Kersey in witness protection and teaching art feels like a leftover element from whatever it may have originally been. And what exactly were they hiding Paul from? Other criminals that may figure it out who Paul Kersey was like the guy in Death Wish 4? They never really explained it.

There are some creative skills in this. You’re not watching this for the plot but rather how well Kersey takes care of the bad guys. A remote-controlled soccer ball is among the more unusual methods of his. That might be unique for a filmed kill for a character with dandruff called Freddie “Flakes” Garrity (Robert Joy).

This movie is just big and dumb and extremely violent. You get to see blood squibs and villains getting their just desserts. Death Wish V: The Face of Death is a movie that’s bad in all the right ways. It’s lowbrow entertainment. Often it makes little sense. It’s what you watch when you want to relax and not have to think too hard. Some movies are a fine meal. This is junk food. When done well there’s value in both.

Death Wish V: The Face of Death is an entertaining bit of filmed hyperviolence. It’s not great cinema but if you like Charles Bronson or ridiculously violent movies then this is for you. If you’re looking for something a little more intelligent move on.