Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

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

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 4, 2023

Allan Goldstein's "Death Wish 5: The Face of Death" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include audio commentary by author and film historian Paul Talbot and vintage trailer for the film. 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 V: 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, Death Wish 5: The Face of Death arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

In 2018, we reviewed this Australian release, which presented Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. Both films were sourced from old but good masters.

This release of Death Wish 5: The Face of Death is sourced from the same master that was accessed to prepare the Australian release and offers a virtually identical presentation of the film. Indeed, even though it uses a dual-layer disc, the limitations of the master are such that even on a very large screen meaningful improvements are extremely difficult to spot. I did notice that a few close-ups appeared slightly better defined, but all other areas, and especially darker areas, looked either extremely similar or identical to those that the Australian release produces. However, it has to be said that the most obvious limitations of the master are in darker areas because it is where grain becomes shaky and noisy. This is why delineation, clarity, and depth fluctuate the most there. This release has a superior encode and strengthens some areas, but the encoding alone cannot offset all limitations in grain exposure. Color balance is good. Some primaries can be better saturated, and some nuances can appear healthier, but the overall quality of the visuals is good. A few flecks pop up here and there, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Death Wish V: 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.

The lossless track performs very well. Only toward the middle of the film there is a bit of unevenness that a future remastering job will probably address. I also noticed it when I viewed the Australian release of Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. In all other areas of the film, clarity, sharpness, and depth are very convincing. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

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

• Commentary - this is the same excellent audio commentary by Paul Talbot, author of Bronson's Loose! The Making of the 'Death Wish' Films and Bronson's Loose Again!, that was included on the Australian release of Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. Mr. Talbot 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 over the years is exceptional.

• Trailer - vintage theatrical trailer for Death Wish 5: The Face of Death. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

Death Wish V: 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. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an old but good master and features yet another terrific audio commentary by Paul Talbot, the ultimate authority on all things Bronson. RECOMMENDED.