Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 14, 2019

Allan Goldstein's "Death Wish 5: The Face of Death" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailers for the film; original promotional materials; and audio commentary by author and film historian Paul Talbot. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

A very unpleasant encounter

A lot of older guys can only wish that they look as good as Charles Bronson does in the final Death Wish film. He was seventy-two years old when he landed in Toronto to work with Allan Goldstein and his crew, and he could easily pass for someone ten, maybe even fifteen years younger. But can a man in his early seventies actually do all of the ass-kicking that Bronson does in this film? Well, sure, why not? If all of his opponents are in their forties and fifties but their bodies have endured so much abuse that they aren’t any better than what they ought to be thirty years later, then absolutely. The gangsters that Bronson destroys in the film are exactly like that, damaged goods, only acting tough in front of other guys that let them do so.

The film is set in New York City, where Paul Kersey (Bronson) has been living together with his girlfriend, fashion designer Olivia Regent (Lesley-Anne Down). On the night when Olivia introduces her latest collection, local gangster Tommy O’Shea, who was once in a relationship with her, and a couple of his boys enter her studio and then seriously hurt the main manager (Jefferson Mappin) after he informs them that their ‘business arrangement’ is unsustainable. Kersey, who has been watching the modeling show with Olivia’s daughter, intervenes and the gangsters leave, but a few days later O’Shea sends one of his executioners (Robert Joy) to deliver a stronger message. Moments after Kersey proposes to Olivia with a beautiful ring in an upscale restaurant, she heads to the restroom and has her face destroyed by O’Shea’s guy. While Olivia recovers in a local hospital, Kersey informs D.A. Brian Hoyle (Saul Rubinek) that he intends to see O’Shea get what he deserves, and somehow the news immediately reaches the gangster. On the night when Olivia is released from the hospital, O’Shea’s men visit his home and this time execute her. The angry old-timer then vows to destroy O’Shea and his gang and after some quick scouting goes to work.

The tone and atmosphere of Death Wish 5: The Face of Death are very well-managed, and the end product is actually a surprisingly tense action film. Also, there is quite a bit of genuinely mean footage, but it is not of the type that cheapens the action; it enhances it and ultimately makes the drama look legit.

Perhaps the biggest reason why Bronson’s final vigilante mission does not disappoint, however, is the fact that at times his nemesis is even better than him. Indeed, Parks charges his character with such negative energy that it becomes absolutely impossible not to wish him a terrible end. The gangster is a real creep that does such awful things that in a way he essentially validates Bronson’s extreme response in the second half of the film. Without his loose attitude and mannerisms, and really the nastiness that he exudes in every single scene, the film simply would have looked incredibly average. (For reference, this happens to be precisely the reason why the previous Death Wish film is rather underwhelming -- the two drug dealers look like Hollywood producers with intolerable egos, not criminals who understand how to control a crime business).

Goldstein and cinematographer Curtis Petersen give the film an attractive appearance, but there are some parts that could have been edited better. The outdoor footage that was shot in Toronto in particular has some cuts that actually make it look rushed and even unfinished. Basically, it feels like someone instructed Petersen to get all the needed footage done at once and as a result there are parts that look a lot more casual than the rest of the film.

The retro soundtrack was created by Terry Plumeri, who in the early ‘80s collaborated with Dick Halligan and Abel Ferrara on the cult action thriller Fear City.

Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Allan Goldstein's Death Wish 5: The Face of Death arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older remaster which is actually quite good. However, it should have been encoded much better because a lot of indoor/darker footage struggles to reveal exiting details and nuances. To be perfectly clear, throughout the film there is some light but noticeable black crush, but the real reason why delineation isn't a lot more convincing is actually the less-than-optimal encoding. Indeed, quite a bit of the existing grain becomes noisy and in the process flattens the tiny details and nuances that the transfer should be exposing. Obviously, this also has a negative effect on overall depth. The rest is quite good. Clarity, in particular, is very nice, and image stability is outstanding. The color grading is good, though some small nuances can be improved and expanded. There are no annoying cuts, debris, and damage marks, but I did spot a couple of flecks. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I thought that the lossless track was very good. This film actually offers some decent opportunities for it to show some muscle -- for example the scene where the female detective is crushed by the car -- and in terms of separation, balance, and dynamic movement I think that it does pretty well. However, toward the middle of the film I noticed a bit of unevenness that may not be inherited. It is difficult for me to tell with absolute certainty, but I think that if the film is remastered in the future, this would be a quality of the audio that will probably be addressed.

Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Commentary - presented here is yet another excellent commentary with Paul Talbot, author of Bronson's Loose! The Making of the 'Death Wish' Films and Bronson's Loose Again!, who discusses in great detail the production history of Death Wish 5: The Face of Death, its similarities and differences with the previous Death Wish films, and Charles Bronson's career. The man's knowledge of everything Bronson was and did is exceptional.

• Trailer - vintage theatrical trailer for Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• VHS Preview - vintage VHS trailer for Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080i).

• Image Gallery - a large collection of vintage promotional materials for the film.

• Cover - reversible cover.

Death Wish 5: The Face of Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If years ago friends or old articles convinced you not to waste your time with the final Dead Wish film because it was the weakest in the franchise, I would like to encourage you to find the time to finally see it and decide for yourself. For what it's worth, I think that it is quite good, and much better than the fourth film. Bronson was seventy-two years old when he made Death Wish 5: The Face of Death and looks terrific for his age, but I have to say that Michael Parks steals his thunder. This release is included in this double-feature and Region-Free release from Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. RECOMMENDED.