We’ve previously written about the entire Death Wish series here along with the first
Death Wish 3 poster
instalment in the bunch; we’ve also written about the second film in the series, the cunningly named Death Wish 2 and now we’re going to take a closer look at Death Wish 3. Death Wish 3 was director Michael Winner’s final stab at the franchise and perhaps he felt there wasn’t much more to add.
Death Wish 3 was released in 1985, one might argue at the end of the era in which these type of low budget vigilante movies were popular. In this instalment our hero Paul Kersey (Bronson) has returned to visit a friend in Brooklyn after being booted out at the end of the first movie. True to from, Kersey’s friend Charley is killed when his apartment is robbed and Kersey is briefly accused of the crime. Finding himself in a police cell with the real killer, a fight ensues and when the pair are released threats are exchanged.
A detective named Shriker (Ed Lauter) who recognises Kersey gives him the go-ahead to clean up Charley’s neighbourhood by killing the muggers if he helps the police improve their arrest rate. This he begins to do with his usual enthusiasm and he twice helps a local girl Maria (Marina Sirtis) escape attack. Unfortunately she is raped and killed in a third attack.
Kersey is helped in his endeavours by local resident Bennett Cross (Martin Balsam) who continues the work when Shriker decides to take Kersey into protective custody. Bennett is subsequently injured by the local gang and when Shriker and Kersey visit him in hospital, Kersey absconds to wreak revenge. With the help of another local resident they work their way through numerous criminals until they run out of ammunition at which point the neighbourhood residents join forces to help them. Shriker also decides to lend a hand as gang leader Manny Fraker (Gavan O’Herlihy) returns with reinforcements.
The game is up for the gang by this time though and the final scene plays out in Charley’s apartment. Kersey eventually ‘subdues’ Manny with a rocket launcher while the remainder of the gang are chased out of the area by the local residents. Shriker now turns a blind eye while Kersey makes off into the distance.