Review: Death Wish an offensive but entertaining reflection of Donald Trump's America

Hit horror filmmaker Eli Roth's remake of a 1970s vigilante movie is a terrible film I enjoyed a lot.

Death Wish is the story of a well-to-do family man who believes in the law being turned into a bloodthirsty maniac, who only believes in savagery, after a family tragedy.

As a seemingly pro-gun, pro-vigilantism, maybe even pro-murder movie, it couldn't have come at a worse time, considering the gun control movement going on in the US.

It also suffers from a supremely silly script and lacklustre performance from Bruce Willis in the lead.

But it works, largely because the scenes of suspense and action work. It's easy to get caught up in the tense moments before violence explodes, then that violence is generally way over-the-top and expertly executed.

The bone-headed, caveman-style politics of Death Wish will be offensive to most right-minded people. But in the same way '80s action movies with similar sentiments can be amusing, so too is the ridiculous message here.

It can also be viewed as a dark, satirical reflection of Donald Trump's America. Sure, it's heartbreakingly tragic; but it's so unbelievable you sometimes have to laugh at it all.

A sick joke, but a joke nonetheless.

Four stars.

* Death Wish opened in New Zealand cinemas on March 8.

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