Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 3, 2016

While not an actor of any discernible range, Charles Bronson has made the effort throughout his long career to play a variety of characters. Of course, most of these performances end up in a position of violence, with the mustachioed brute facing down foolish enemies, but at least he’s trying. 1988’s “Messenger of Death” finds Bronson portraying a journalist for a Denver-based newspaper, marching around looking for clues and interviews to help him create popular stories. It’s not an impossible stretch to picture the icon in a newsroom, surrounded by bustling writers while hammering out his latest piece, but Bronson isn’t far from a threat or a weapon in the movie. “Messenger of Death” is a serviceable thriller with few surprises, but, as always, Bronson is the big draw, using his natural way with intimidation to infuse the feature with a few thrills, portraying the most aggressive, least professional newspaperman perhaps cinema has ever seen.

In rural Colorado, a massacre has occurred, with shadowy gunmen entering the home of Mormon man Orville (Charles Dierkop) and slaughtering all his wives and children. The shocking event triggers interest from Garret (Charles Bronson), a top reporter for the Denver Tribune, who follows Chief of Police Doyle (Daniel Benzali) to the scene of the crime, immediately picking up on the oddity of the situation. Setting out to find the killers, Garret travels around the state to interview Orville’s family, including zealot father Willis (Jeff Corey) and brother Zenas (John Ireland), who both adhere to radical religious views. Teaming with Jastra (Trish Van Devere), a local editor, Garret picks up on inconsistencies and influences that may be tied to the murders, while back home, Homer (Laurence Luckinbill), a wealthy businessman, is determined to push Doyle into politics, complicating the investigation.

If there one thing absolutely true about Charles Bronson, it’s that he was fond of director J. Lee Thompson. “Messenger of Death” represents the eighth of their nine collaborations, with the leathery appeal of the star a perfect fit for the helmer’s hard-edged, no-nonsense creative interests. Unleashing their special brand of brood, the pair approach the feature with reserve, finding Paul Jerrico’s screenplay (adapting a book by Rex Burns) taking its time to develop the psychological disease Garret uncovers. The movie does open with the horrifying massacre, watching two armed men leisurely exit their truck, enter Orville’s home, and gun down three mothers trying to protect their hidden children. Thankfully, Thompson shows some restraint with violence, but the scene remains potent, commencing a mystery of sorts that has Garret switching from journalism to police-style work, using his particular set of skills (decades before Liam Neeson) to extract critical information out of suspects. However, after the opening show of force, “Messenger of Death” takes some time before it winds up again, using the bulk of the picture to develop itchy personalities and identify Garret’s thinning patience with the Mormons.

Let’s be real here: Garret isn’t a very good journalist. He’s not one to warm up interviewees, instead hitting them with hostile accusations from the get-go, often destroying additional time to learn more about the case. He’s curt and arrogant, even taking a shotgun to a casket during a funeral to prove the absence of a body. Bronson plays him like only Bronson can: through acts of intimidation, leaving the performance perfectly in line with the rest of his dramatic achievements. This reliability helps “Messenger of Death” acquire badly needed personality, making the story more about Garret’s forceful manner with deceptive individuals than the larger depiction of greed and corruption that emerges later in the movie, tied to water woes on virgin land. And, for longtime finds, Thompson even manages to get Bronson to wear a sweater and smile in the opening act, showing a casual side rarely exposed to the camera.

Mystery comes to “Messenger of Death” in the form of avenging angel imagery that appears at crime scenes, providing inspiration for Garret to dig a little deeper into the fundamentalist Mormon world, where polygamy is common and answers are few and far between. This isn’t an action film, but suspenseful moments make periodic appearances, including highway pressure as aggressive tanker trucks make life difficult for Garret and Jastra, trying to run them off the road. And there’s a bruising bathroom encounter that’s a little more Bronson-y in nature, watching the journalist use his fists to pound his latest byline into the face of his attacker. True excitement isn’t a priority for “Messenger of Death,” but the feature squeaks by with the little it offers.

Thompson isn’t exactly challenged by the material, but it lacks his usual proficiency. “Messenger of Death” is nicely photographed by Gideon Porath, and the score by Robert O. Ragland is excitable, working overtime to breathe life into Garret’s journey. What’s a little surprising about the effort is its difficulty with spatial relationships, finding Thompson and his editors missing a few shots to help clarify critical sequences, including a standoff amongst the Mormon family that erupts into violence. Granted, this is a Cannon Films production, which usually identifies minimal budget and limited shooting days, but “Messenger of Death” is a tad too disorienting at times, taking the sting out of charged moments.

Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation comes through with a reasonable degree of detail, working with an older scan to make sense out of close-ups, which retain the most exciting elements of the viewing experience. Distances are preserved and set decoration is easy to study. Some softness remains, but not enough to smother frame activity. Colors are serviceable, with greenery a particular highlight, exploring Colorado wilderness with strong hues. Skintones are pleasing. Grain is noisy at times. Source is in solid shape, with no overt stretches of damage.

Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains appropriate to the production era (limitations remain), through it carries with a slight shrillness, making surges in range slightly crispy. Scoring is appealing, with passable instrumentation and emphasis, securing mood. Dialogue exchanges are comfortable and direct, managing hushed threats and louder encounters without incident. Atmospherics maintain the outdoorsy feel of the effort, while sound effects, including gunshots, keep their punch.

Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:27, SD) is included.

Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not Bronson's best but far from his worst, "Messenger of Death" tries to live up to expectations with a sizable grand finale, sending Garret into a cocktail party armed with critical information extracted from jittery witnesses. The feature ends with a literal bang (end credits spring into action the moment the story is completed), showing a little respect for its audience. Thompson doesn't want to waste anyone's time with an extended denouement, exiting "Messenger of Death" in a hurry, at least maintaining economy to make up for the occasional lack of cohesion.