Death Wish generated its fair share of controversy
Summary SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT The classic Charles Bronson-starring vigilante thriller Death Wish was a huge commercial hit in 1974, but it also generated its fair share of controversy. Bronson plays Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered architect who decides to take the law into his own hands when his wife is killed and his daughter is assaulted during a home invasion by a sadistic street gang.
While audiences resonated with Paul’s quest for vigilante justice, critics were more skeptical about the message surrounding the film’s violence. Backlash towards a violent thriller can often have a detrimental effect as the controversy provides the movie with free publicity. The controversy surrounding Joker’s portrayal of violence made it a must-see cultural event and catapulted it past the billion-dollar mark to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever made.
Were The Criticisms Of Death Wish Valid? While most audiences can tell the difference between cinematic spectacle and real life, the criticisms of Death Wish’s message do have some merit. Paul was a conscientious objector in the Korean War and swore off using firearms since his father was shot dead in a hunting accident. Paul’s “hero’s journey” is his rediscovery of the advantages of violence, which is a dubious message.
Why Death Wish Was A Box Office Hit Despite The Backlash Despite the backlash, Death Wish was successful enough at the box office to kickstart a wave of similar vigilante thrillers. The controversy may have helped its financial prospects, because the passionate reviews – even the negative ones – made Death Wish a talked-about movie that audiences wanted to see for themselves.