before i saw death wish and i know there be more than just the context of it be a starring vehicle for one of the major bad ass of the action picture and charles bronson ( who best role be still the one with the least word and once upon a time in the west ) and and that it contain the element that would spark an entire sub genre ( for good or bad ) . i know that there be also a kind of historical context for the time and of how it be in new york city as well a in others during the 70 ( though especially in the 70 ) i remember my mother tell me about how the atmosphere of death wish with it thief and rapist and abuser be for real and that they be around every corner and and that crime be indeed at an all time high then . so watch the film with this in mind and it bring a little extra drama to the story of paul kersey ( bronson ) . there be the style and and underlying humor and that appeal for the genre fan ( and there be a minor bit of exploitation in make kersey a bleeding heart liberal with skill behind a gun ) . but there be also a sense of overall tragedy to it all . the tragedy come out of a truly disturb scene kersey wife and daughter go home from the market and unaware that a trio of hoodlum ( one of them a fresh face jeff goldblum no less ) follow them and bust in and and beat and rape them . this be indeed so terrifying and real it top a scene like the one in clockwork orange with the assault on the writer while it somehow even more shocking when it in an apartment in the now and with hoodlum a random and sadistic a the one here . kersey mourn the loss of his wife and daughter ( the latter to dementia ) briefly and but it stick with him through the whole film and in one way or another . the first sign of him know what around him on the street at night ( and one of the funny bit of the film bleakness ) be when he take a sock full of quarter to use on the hoodlum . this be short live after a visit to the south west and where he get slip a gun in his suitcase . the rest of the film unfold a it would and at least under the circumstance of the genre . yet within the grip of death wish be a genre picture ( and this be something that the sequel and other lessor b film have forget ) be that there have to be a sense of reality and and real danger and to the film and not to mention the sort of evolution of kersey into how he become a killer and a vigilante of the scum who try to rob and threaten to kill . although the police procedural that parallel his story isn not as strong a his and it work fine within the scope of the story that have to turn out in a certain way . but there be other factor to go with it besides a strong story ( base on an even strong book brian garfield ) . bronson be and indeed and great at be and well and bronson . if the violence in the film doesn not pull any punch for it time period and bronson doesn not skip be good at show kersey inner strength of defense as well a his weaker side . it not a very complex performance aside from the conflict midway through the film with kersey and but it in a way truer than the film could deserve . michael winner and the director and be also an asset with this and in give to the film it gritty tone . and and a an added bonus and there the sweet musical score from herbie hancock . death wish be a film of it time and but one that still have significance and and entertainment value for today . people my age ( i. e. college kid ) will be attract to it for it retro style and and and a it be in the vein of a film like taxi driver ( though less visceral ) and a a stylistic action film . and for the old folk and the drama of the film and and the solid storytelling and will keep it interest . in short and it the proverbial good vigilante film of it time and give bronson one of his most memorable turn .