Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994)

Ah yes, the Death Wish series of films, each and every one guaranteed to invoke some ire and even hatred from critical circles and film lovers alike. Yet to think that they don't have fans from movie land would be wrong - case in point Death Wish 5: The Face of Death.Often considered to be the runt of the litter, it's actually better than what some would have you believe. OK! So the formula is the same as usual, Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey will have to take up his vigilante arms once again when someone close to him falls by the wayside. The law is still an ass and the bad guys can literally get away with murder, but they can't get away from crossing the path of Kersey.It is what it is in that respect, another chance for Bronson to please fans of the series, to attack his role with machismo and a quip on the tongue. Where inventive deaths are conjured with a side order of vigilante relish. There's even strains of film noir in here, with a henchman as a transvestite and another with a dandruff problem that bothers him so. There's even a mannequin factory for added noirish flavours.The production isn't exactly high end (tongue in cheek folks), and the usual suspension of disbelief is very much required, but for fans of Chuck and the series, then this delivers the goods. Bloodily so. 7/10

I remember seeing the original trailer for this in theaters and it was thrilling. I finally got around to seeing 'Death Wish V: The Face of Death' and it was a total waste of time.The movie isn't nails on chalkboard it just lacks any redeeming qualities. Characters, action, or entertainment of any type.The 'Death Wish' series have always had their own unique style as high budget exploitation films. 'Death Wish V' breaks that mold by trying to be something the audience doesn't want to see, a low quality mainstream Hollywood action film.Paul Kersey's (Charles Bronson) back in NYC after his stint as a California vigilante in 'Death Wish IV' and remarried to a beautiful rich fashion designer on 9th Avenue. Predictably she's being extorted by her ex-husband and gangster Michael Parks. While the gangsters' ethnicity is never made clear, Irish? Italian? Well at least they're Catholic as there are two separate Catholic funeral scenes. These gangsters have no gimmick at all. They're just boring.Mrs. Kersey wants to expose the illegal dealings of 9th Avenue to district attorney Saul Rubinek. It's also never made clear what kind of crimes are being committed in the garment district other than simple money laundering. Laundering money from what illegal business? Child labor? Smuggling drugs in clothing? It's never explained.Predictably Mrs. Kersey ends up just like the last two Mrs. Kerseys, dead. Bronson's 0 for 3 on wives in this series. I've been keeping count.Worse still, Bronson looses custody of his step daughter to Michael Parks. They don't fight it out in family court or anything. His goons just beat Bronson up.Now it's time for Paul Kersey to emerge as the vigilante to avenge his wife's murder. He better hurry, the movie's already half over! None of the death scenes are interesting, and the final shootout is reminiscent of 'Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein.'What's also odd is how the gangsters and the DA both know Kersey as the vigilante killer! So why is he walking the streets? He's killed dozens of people over the last four films? This movie is a total waste of time and makes no sense. Quit while you're ahead with number IV.

Even at about 109 years old Paul Kersey is still getting the babes. This being a Death Wish movie, this woman is living on borrowed time and like all females in this series, she's going to get riddled with bullets, or explode or get raped. Or a combination of those. After the inevitable, Paul actually runs to her dead body. So he must have really liked this one, because he just walked away from his woman who exploded in part 3 without a care in the world - and walked away from his woman who was machine gunned down in part 4, leaving her corpse on the ground. This one must have been really special to get a couple of seconds of Kersey grieving. With her out of the way, it's time for our favorite serial killer, I mean vigilante to take down the scum responsible. This time it's a group of mobsters led by a mumbling Michael Parks and his idiot henchmen. This film is steeped in 90s cheese and feels like a direct to video entry. The bar was not set high with any of the sequels, but this is bottom of the barrel filmmaking. It can't even deliver a decent death count and the few deaths that happen, even though they try to be comical, they are witless. The worst of the series and a sad footnote in film history as Bronson's final theatrical film.

Charles Bronson is back for the last time as vigilante Paul Kersey. Many years after Part IV, Paul Kersey is now living in the witness protection program(for undisclosed reasons) whose girlfriend(Lesley -Anne Down) is the ex-wife of a powerful mobster, who wants sole custody of their daughter, and retaliates against her, while at the same time trying to expand his empire in New York. Kersey must come out of retirement, and become the famous vigilante again.Charles Bronson is still remarkably game for his age, though looks bored in the film, which, despite some potential, is just tired and uninspired, though Michael Parks is good as the mob leader. Poorly directed , and filmed cheaply, sequel will be an unsatisfying end to the series, though Paul Kersey's last line to a policeman is good, and a nice coda for the character. Charles Bronson's last theatrical film.