Death Wish V: The Face of Death
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| Death Wish V: The Face of Death | |
|---|---|
 Film poster |
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| Directed by | Allan A. Goldstein |
| Produced by | Damian Lee |
| Written by | Brian Garfield (characters) Michael Colleary and Allan A. Goldstein (story) Allan A. Goldstein (screenplay) |
| Starring | Charles Bronson Lesley-Anne Down Michael Parks Chuck Shamata Kevin Lund Robert Joy Saul Rubinek Miguel Sandoval Kenneth Welsh Scott Spidell Tim MacMenamin Sandro Limotta Erica Lancaster |
| Music by | Terry Plumeri |
| Cinematography | Curtis Petersen |
| Editing by | Patrick Rand |
| Distributed by | Trimark Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 14, 1994 (USA) |
| Running time | 95 mins. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Unknown |
| Gross revenue | $1,702,394 (USA) |
| Preceded by | Death Wish 4: The Crackdown |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Death Wish V: The Face of Death is a 1994 action thriller, and the fourth and final sequel to the 1974 film Death Wish. Despite vowing that Death Wish 4 would be the final film in this series,[citation needed] Bronson returned to reprise the role of Paul Kersey one final time for this film, his final theatrical starring role in the movie industry. The film is produced by 21st Century Film Corporation, a company under Menahem Golan after Cannon Films' bankruptcy. The film was shot in Toronto and helmed by Canadian director Allan Goldstein. Steve Craver was originally going direct the film until the producers planned to cut down on the budget.
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[edit] Plot
The film opens in New York where Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) is invited to a fashion show: the fashion show is held by Paul’s girlfriend Olivia Regent (Lesley-Anne Down). Backstage as the show begins, mobster Tommy O’ Shea (Michael Parks) and his goons muscle in on the action and proceed toward the factory, where they wound Arthur and Reggie. Reggie, deciding he has enough of O’ Shea’s abuse, takes Albert to the hopsital. Tommy then threatens Olivia, who is his ex-wife, and has a daughter Chelsea (Erica Lancaster). Paul comes backstage, and Olivia informs him about Tommy’s arrival after Paul finds bruises on Olivia’s hand. He proceeds to confront Tommy, which Tommy threatens Paul by pointing a gun to her face. Chelsea arrives down at the factory, and Tommy leaves. Chelsea informs her mother when blood is discovered on one of the factory instruments.
N.Y. officers Tony Hoyle (Saul Rubinek) and Hector Vasquez (Miguel Scandoval)) come over to visit Kersey at his home. Paul Kersey is revealed to be in hiding by the Witness Protection Program following the events of the last film (and is given the name of Stewart, which he despises). Paul informs them about Tommy O’ Shea, and Hoyle confesses that they’ve been trying to nab Tommy for years, and asks if Olivia is willing to testify. Paul will talk it over with her. That night at a restaurant, Paull proposes to Olivia, and she accepts. Olivia excuses herself to go to the ladies room after spotting Tommy. An associate of Tommy’s named Frankie “Flakes’ ((Robert Joy)) bashes her head in a mirror, the result causing permanent disfigurement to her face. Frankie escapes, only to cross paths with Paul as he checks on Olivia. Paul goes the hospital, where he is told by a nurse that Olivia will need to have reconstructive surgery. He then talks with Lt. Mickey King (Kenneth Welsh), who admits that they’ve been working on the O’ Shea case for 16 years. Paul is angered by this, but King wants Kersey not to pick up his old habits and let the police handle it for once.
As this is going on, Tommy breaks into the factory and demands Reggie for information on who he talked to. He threatens him by burning his hand and face, before killing him. Lt. King and female officer Janice Omouri (Lisa Inoue) get Albert set up as an infiltrator to receive information, but Sal sees through his disguise. He gets run over with the car by Frankie, smashing through the window of a restaurant. He then runs over Omouri with the car, killing her instantly. Paul sees Omouri getting killed, but Frankie drives away before he can do anything.
The next day, Paul takes Olivia back to his apartment and informs Hoyle by phone that Olivia will not testify. He then goes over to Hoyle’s house at night and says that she will: Paul couldn’t tell Hoyle over the phone because someone was bugging it. Hoyle informs Vasquez, and they send a cop over. The cop comes over and Paul answers it. Paul stops and hesitates at letting him in, recognizing the ‘cop’ as being Frankie. Paul informs Olivia to use the fire escape to make her quick getaway, as Frankie and two other men break in and start shooting the place. Frankie follows Olivia up to the fire escape, and shoots her in the back. Paul escapes by jumping off the ledge, and falling into a pile of trash bags. Franke, Chicki (Kevin Lund). and Sal (Chuck Shamata) move in for the kill, but sounds of police sirens interrupt their plans.
The following week, Paul and Chelsea both mourn Olivia’s death and watching T.V. to see that Tommy has “been cleared” of his involvement in his ex-wife’s death. Tony arrives to offer his apologies to Paul, but Paul orders him and the team sent to protect Kersey off his property. A short time later, Vazquez arrives with Tommy and handing him a court order: since Paul wasn’t legally married, Tommy has claim over his daughter. Paul fights but gets knocked unconscious. Paul now becomes a vigilante, and gets his gun ready.
Paul follows Chicki to an Italian restaurant where he orders cannoli. While Chicki is in the restroom, Paul laces it with cyanide. Chicki finishes one cannoli, but dies shortly after starting the second one, and as he is choking, Paul pushes his face into the plate. Vasquez reveals to O’ Shea that Chicki was killed by Paul. (Revealing two things at the same time: that Vasquez is dirty and O’ Shea thought Paul was Stuart all along). Paul’s next target is Frankie, whom he manages to take out in his fortress-like home and blows him up with a rigged electronic soccer ball. Paul then calls Hoyle and arranges to meet with him privately. As Hoyle hangs up, he hears another conversation (which signals to him Paul was right regarding an earlier conversation). Paul waits at Olivia’s house, holding one of Chelsea’s dolls until Vasquez comes and points a gun at Kersey. Without hesitation, Paul shoots Vasquez. Hoyle arrives and sees Vasquez dead, and finally understands how far deep this goes and Kersey’s vendetta mission. Hoyle is in cahoots with Tommy, but finally lets Paul handle it his way. “I was never here” he tells Paul as he leaves.
As a funeral procession for Frankie ‘Flakes’ takes place at a local church attended by local mobsters, a young boy enters and gives O’ Shea a receipt. Back at his headquarters, O’ Shea’s associates open the crate and reveals it to be the dead cop (Vasquez). Tommy talks to Sal back at his house, and the two resolve to take a final stand again Kersey by using Chelsea as bait. Sal grabs Chelsea and Paul follows Sal, just as Tommy predicted. Back at his house, Tommy hires three more men Frankie (Scott Spidell), Mickey (Tim MacMenamin), and Angel ((Sandro Limotta) to take care of Paul. Paul arrives at the factory and using his survival instincts, tricks the three into shooting up a dummy in a truck with the presumption that it’s him. Paul appears and kills Frankie and Mickey and wounding Angel in the leg. Angel is led by Paul to the plastic machine, and turns it on to wrap him in plastic. Angel reveals Chelsea’s location, and hands Paul up on the movable rack. He then radios O’ Shea using Frankie’s channel, announcing that he is coming for him. Chelsea hears this and easily escapes Tommy’s grasp. O’ Shea orders Sal to find and kill Kersey. He comes across Angel and mistaking him for Kersey, shoots him. Sal turns off the machine and continues to search. Kersey appears and knocks Sal into a grinder in the next room. The police soon arrive as Chelsea escapes the factory building. Inside, Paul manages to find Tommy and beats him. Lt. King arrives and is quickly wounded by Tommy. Paul manages to defeat Tommy by knocking him in a pool of acid.
The final scene shows Kersey making sure King is okay before he leaves, calling out “If you need anything, call me.” before reuniting with Chelsea.
[edit] Critical response
Most critics and fans considered this the weakest installment in the Death Wish series, due to its cheap budget and clichéd script. Leonard Maltin summed it up: "No plot, just a pretext...with an emphasis on torture."[citation needed] However, the film does have its fans. Of those who like the movie, many point to the clever kills which relied on technology, allowing for Kersey's advanced age.
[edit] Sequel plans
After Death Wish V' s limited release, Bronson and Menahem Golan ended their working relationship. Golan announced plans for a sixth Death Wish installment without Bronson, but the film was never made. Rumors have spread that a remake of the original film is under discussion, yet it remains a lingering question of who owns rights to the Death Wish concept.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
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