Death Wish II

Death Wish II has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on Troma NOW. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 538 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Charles Bronson sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on MGM Amazon Channel.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Death Wish II earns its spot. Death Wish II treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Paul Kersey is again a vigilante trying to find five punks who murdered his housekeeper and daughter in Los Angeles. Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1982. Death Wish II is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Death Wish II delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Charles Bronson's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.