As a movie critic who’s seen my fair share of action-thrillers, I must say that 2018’s ‘Death Wish’ is a peculiar case. It’s like a phoenix rising from the ashes, finding new life on streaming platforms years after its controversial and critically panned release.
2018’s action-thriller, initially met with criticism and controversy due to its release coinciding with multiple U.S. mass shootings, is now a streaming success on Tubi. Despite initial negative reviews and being one of Willis’ most contentious films, the remake of Charles Bronson’s 1974 film has found a new fanbase six years later.
The film titled “Death Wish” explores the complex moral and ethical implications when an individual decides to become a vigilante seeking peace and justice after being let down by the law. Notably, this movie gained popularity shortly following Clint Eastwood’s release of “Dirty Harry“. As part of a trend of violent movies featuring protagonists who take matters into their own hands with frequently harsh outcomes, it sparked debate about its necessity. However, when Bruce Willis reprised the franchise, it wasn’t necessarily winning over fans of the original movie that proved to be the most challenging obstacle; instead, it faced other challenges in gaining acceptance.
The storyline of Death Wish follows an age-old trope: a man’s family is brutally murdered, and when the law offers little assistance in finding the culprits, the once peaceful surgeon embarks on a violent quest for retribution, eliminating anyone who dares to cross his path. The challenge with remaking a movie that is nearly five decades old, which has already been imitated and reimagined numerous times, is that it risks becoming yet another clichéd narrative in an overused genre. However, it’s worth noting that this film was also met with significant criticism for its questionable timing at the time of release.
Death Wish’s Controversial Release
Initially planned for release in 2017, the action film Death Wish encountered a barrage of criticism due to unfavorable timing coinciding with significant real-world events. Specifically, its launch was postponed to March 2018 following the devastating mass shooting in Las Vegas, but it faced further backlash when released, as it came only weeks after a school shooting in Florida and during the contentious debate on gun control in the United States.
The movie received numerous negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a disappointing 17% rating on the Tomatometer. Critics often pointed out that the storyline felt dated and overused, and the excessive violence seemed to replace genuine psychological suspense. It’s hard not to notice that many reviewers mentioned the film’s “ill-timed” tone.
Contrastingly, the movie “Death Wish” garnered a favorable response from audiences, earning a solid 72% rating on the Popcorn Meter. Despite falling short at the box office with earnings of $49.6 million against a budget of $30 million, it satisfied action movie enthusiasts by offering a classic Bruce Willis performance that helped establish him as a genre icon. It is not uncommon for an action film to be valued more for its action sequences than for the complexity of its plot. In 2018, “Death Wish” managed to outshine Bronson’s 1974 original (with a current score of 68%) and, as it gains popularity on Tubi, it continues to captivate viewers seeking engaging entertainment for a chilly autumn evening.
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2024-10-28 17:35