Death Wish 3 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Charles Bronson gets back to New York to find his friend dead, so he uses a rocket launcher to solve the city’s problems, because therapy is for quitters.

🍿 Death Wish 3: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Kersey Returns to a War Zone

Paul Kersey arrives in a devastated New York City to visit his friend Charley, only to find him murdered by a ruthless street gang. The neighborhood is terrorized by Manny Fraker and his crew, creating an atmosphere of fear and violence. Kersey is initially arrested for the murder due to being found at the scene with a gun.

An Unlikely Alliance

Police Chief Richard Shriker, recognizing Kersey as a vigilante, offers him a deal: free rein to eliminate the gang problem, provided he keeps the police informed. Kersey agrees, moving into Charley’s apartment and joining forces with the terrified residents. He begins to arm himself, preparing for a full-scale war against the gang.

Escalation of Violence

Kersey’s actions escalate the conflict, leading to a series of violent encounters and tragic events. He befriends several residents, including Bennett, a war veteran, and Kathryn, a public defender. Kersey employs increasingly dangerous tactics, improvising traps and using heavy weaponry to combat the gang, gaining the support of the community. His vigilantism sparks a neighborhood rebellion against the gang’s reign of terror.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson): A vigilante architect who returns to New York to wage war on street crime after his friend is murdered.
• Richard Shriker (Ed Lauter): A police chief who secretly enlists Kersey to fight the overwhelming street crime.
• Fraker (Gavan O’Herlihy): The ruthless leader of a violent street gang terrorizing a New York neighborhood.
• Kathryn Davis (Deborah Raffin): A public defender and Kersey’s love interest who becomes a target of the gang.
• Bennett (Martin Balsam): A World War II veteran and friend of Kersey’s who supports his vigilante efforts.
• Rodriguez (Joe Gonzalez): A resident of the neighborhood who joins Kersey in fighting the gang after a personal tragedy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Fraker: “I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna kill a little old lady, just for you. Catch it on the 6 o’clock news!” – Fraker threatens Kersey after being released from jail, showcasing his sadistic nature.
• Paul Kersey: “It’s my car!” – Kersey calmly states this before dispatching two thugs trying to break into his bait car.
• Paul Kersey: “Nothing’s good enough for our friends.” – Kersey says this while hand-loading ammunition for his Wildey Magnum, highlighting his dedication to protecting the neighborhood.
• Paul Kersey: “Chicken’s good. I like chicken.” – An awkward, understated line during Kersey’s dinner with Kathryn, exemplifying his gruff personality.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $9,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $16,116,878
• Worldwide Gross: $16,116,878

💥 Death Wish 3 Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, Death Wish 3 is ridiculous, but I can’t help but love it. The over-the-top violence is so cheesy, it’s hilarious. Watching Charles Bronson go full Rambo with a rocket launcher is pure, unadulterated 80s fun. It’s the kind of movie you watch with friends and laugh at the absurdity of it all.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 80s action movies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy vigilante stories”
  • “Those interested in Charles Bronson’s filmography”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Rape”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Depiction of gang violence”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “Death Wish 3 loses the social commentary of the original, opting for cartoonish violence. Bronson mows down punks with machine guns, and it’s pure 80s action. The film’s absurdity is what makes it fun to watch.
• AllMovie: “Death Wish 3 trades in the original’s gritty realism for over-the-top action. While it lacks depth, it delivers on mindless entertainment with Bronson dispensing justice with a heavy arsenal.

Audience Reactions

The over-the-top violence and ridiculous plot made it unintentionally hilarious.: Bronson’s performance and the sheer absurdity of the action sequences were highly entertaining.

Overall Consensus: Death Wish 3 is considered a guilty pleasure. Its lack of depth is compensated by its over-the-top violence and campy action, making it a fun, if absurd, watch.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Most of the film, despite being set in New York City, was actually filmed in London, England.”
• “The Wildey Magnum used by Charles Bronson in the film was actually his personal handgun.”
• “Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin composed the film’s score.”
• “Don Jakoby, one of the writers, used the pseudonym ‘Michael Edmonds’ due to dissatisfaction with rewrites that made the script too violent.”

🖥️ How to Watch Death Wish 3?

Death Wish 3 can be found for streaming rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for cable availability, or purchase a physical copy on Blu-ray or DVD.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Death Wish 3, you might like these similar films:

• Cobra (1986): Sylvester Stallone dishes out brutal justice in this hyper-violent action film, embracing vigilante justice against a criminal gang.
• The Exterminator (1980): A Vietnam veteran takes the law into his own hands to clean up the streets of New York, sharing the same theme of urban vigilantism.
• Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985): Rambo-esque action and over-the-top violence, with the hero taking on hordes of enemies single-handedly
• The Equalizer (2014): A man with a mysterious past uses his skills to protect helpless people from violent criminals.
• Class of 1984 (1982): The film portrays a school taken over by violent punks, akin to Death Wish 3’s gang-infested neighborhood, reflecting fears of urban decay.

🛒 Death Wish 3 Related Products

• Death Wish: Limited Edition Box Set: A collector’s edition box set featuring all Death Wish films, including Death Wish 3, with exclusive artwork and bonus content. A must-have for any fan of the series.
• Wildey Hunter Pistol Replica: A detailed replica of the Wildey Hunter pistol used by Charles Bronson in Death Wish 3. A stunning display piece for fans of the film and gun enthusiasts.
• Death Wish 3 Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original Death Wish 3 movie poster. Perfect for decorating a home theater or fan cave.
• Death Wish 3 T-Shirt: A vintage-style T-shirt featuring the Death Wish 3 logo and Charles Bronson. A cool and comfortable way to show off your love for the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Death Wish 3 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Foxy” – performed by Roy Budd
• “Death Wish II soundtrack excerpts” – performed by Jimmy Page

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

How many people die in Death Wish 3?

Ever wondered just how many bad guys Paul Kersey took out in ‘Death Wish 3’? This video breaks down the body count, and honestly, the number is kinda shocking!

Death Wish 3 – Lend Me 5 Dollars Man! HILARIOUS!!

Remember that super cheesy scene where a thug asks for $5 right before getting his butt kicked? This video perfectly captures the unintentional comedy of ‘Death Wish 3’ – you HAVE to see it!

Machine Gun Massacre | Death Wish 3 | Charles Bronson

Want to see Charles Bronson unleash some serious justice with a machine gun? This video compiles the entire epic massacre scene from ‘Death Wish 3’ – it’s pure action movie gold!

✨ Rate