‘Death Sentence' should be deterrent for mindless gore
‘Death Sentence' should be deterrent for mindless gore

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Published: August 31, 2007

Kevin Bacon has vengeance on his mind in "Death Sentence,” a new film from the director of "Saw.”

After the murder of his son by a gang member, risk analysis manager Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) turns to vigilanteeism.

He first kills the gang member responsible for his son's death. Then, when the gang comes after him, Hume begins taking out more of the gang. As the war escalates, the stakes get raised for Hume and the rest of his family.

"Death Sentence” is based on the novel by Brian Garfield. It was the sequel to the novel that became Charles Bronson's "Death Wish,” and "Sentence” aims for a similar 1970s thriller feel.

James Wan, who brought "Saw” and its sequels to the screen, directs "Death Sentence,” and he has a physical energy, especially when choreographing the extended scene in which gangster Billy Darley (Garrett Hedlund) and his crew chase Nick across streets, through back alleys, back rooms and a parking garage.

Bacon changes from a happy, dedicated family man in the movie's opening moments to a hollowed-out, hopeless shell of a man in the film's final frames.

"Death Sentence” is nicely filmed but lacks internal logic. Many times, Nick must do the most stupid thing he can for the plot to advance. While Wan seems to want to make "Death Sentence” a more realistic action thriller, he still can't resist having his protagonist shake off bullet wounds and instantly become an expert hand-to-hand combatant. The film is extremely bloody — legs and heads are among body parts blown off.

Despite Bacon bringing a greater presence to the protagonist's role than is the case in many revenge thrillers, "Death Sentence” doesn't rise above standard fare.

— Matthew Price

Related Topics: Crime, Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, Capital Punishment, Gang Violence