Movie Review: Death Sentence

Death Sentence is a down and dirty revenge fantasy. The movie does not bring anything new to the table, and tells a tried and true story that all of us have seen before in one form or another (most likely Death Wish, as both are based off novels from Brian Garfield). It asks the question "Could you?" It is the story of digging deep down inside yourself and finding someone capable of doing things, terrible things, in the face of the unthinkable. The film digs up a horrific "what if" situation that allows the dark side that is inside of us to surface. It effectively takes us on a journey into a personal hell.

There is a conversation that takes place part way through between central character Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) and co-worker Owen (Rick Ceraulo). Owen muses on the idea he would snap if his child were murdered, while Nick responds saying that you don't know how you will react until it happens. That brief exchange pretty much sums up the film. All of us can say how we would react when faced with a similar situation, but it is all talk. Anything we say may be what we think or what we hope, but until that event actually happens to you it is all just theory. Death Sentence is the story of Nick Hume's reaction.

The story is a simple one. Nick is happily married with two sons. One night on their way home from a hockey match, Nick and his older brother, Brendan, stop at a gas station. Brendan runs inside to pick up a drink when disaster strikes. A group of masked gang members enter the shop. Brendan is killed by one of them in an initiation killing. This event brings tragedy upon the Hume household. Before long, Nick is out on the street doling out some of his own justice. His justice starts a war between himself and the gang.

To describe the plot with any level of detail would not do anyone any good. You probably already have a good idea of how it is going to go down. If not, you will be able to pick up on it pretty quickly as you watch. Death Sentence, as delivered by director James Wan and screenwriter Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, is not so much about the story as it is about the look and style of it all, and it has gritty style to spare.

Wan does a great job of establishing the family dynamic early on. The opening credits play over a series of home videos of the Hume family. The videos chronicle the two sons as they grow up. By the time the credits are over Nick is established as a loving father, Helen (Kelly Preston) a loving mother, and Brendan (Stuart Lafferty) and Lucas (Jordan Garrett) as good, if very different, sons.

The narrative onus is on Kevin Bacon to carry us through everything that happens. He is the center of the film, for better or worse. He is more than up to the task. You watch as he struggles with the death of his son, the spectator police, and the darkness that he feeds off of in order to do what he has to do. It is a strong performance in the midst of pulpy, B-movie material.

His actions weigh on him more and more as the story progresses. Then, roughly halfway through, the weight pushes him over the edge and into the abyss where he has to harness that darkness and focus back on his target of revenge. You want to believe in his vigilante justice. While he is doing what he feels he needs to do, he is no hero and there will be consequences to be paid. Not in this movie of course, but he is not let off the hook as we arrive at the climax.

If the narrative is on Bacon's back, everything else is on James Wan. He began his career by helming the torture horror hit Saw, moved onto the more atmospheric Dead Silence, and here moves into a grittier reality based flick. His direction is quite good and considerably different from his prior outings. He injects a raw intimacy into the proceedings. Along with Director of Photography John R. Leonetti (who also worked on Dead Silence), Death Sentence takes you right into the seedy world with Nick as he goes about his deeds. There are a few very long takes that really draw you into the action without even realizing it. I am specifically thinking of the chase through parking garage. It felt like forever between cuts as the camera follows Nick, changes floors, and switches subjects with his pursuers; very nice work. They are the kinds of shots that don't offer any escape as they keep you right in the middle of the action (for an even better example of this technique, check out Children of Men).

Death Sentence is far from perfect. It seems like two different films. The first half features strong personal drama as Nick deals with the tragic loss and what he feels he has to do. The second half features a much less conflicted Nick who goes about his task with single-minded determination. The tonal shift is a little jarring at first. However, it works well enough for me.

My main problems lie with certain character revelations in the final act which felt out of place as nothing had been set up for them earlier and there was no need for them to really enter the mix. In fact, those scenes could easily have been excised with no harm done to the rest of the film. Then there is the little matter of the score by Charlie Clouser. For the most part it is a fine and effective piece, but the repeated use of the female vocals for the sad and introspective scenes grated on my nerves and felt unnecessary.

One other interesting aspect could be its potential commentary on the war in Iraq. There are numerous references to starting a war with the wrong person, being in a war no one can win, the potential for becoming that which you fight against, and the death of innocence. Whether or not this was on purpose or just a by product of the straight-up revenge tale, I dare not attempt to decipher. Still, it is an interesting side topic that bubbled momentarily to the surface of my mind. I would much rather stay in the realm of hyper-real ultra-violence of the over-the-top gunfights.

Bottomline. Credit to James Wan for giving us a fine revenge flick and credit to Kevin Bacon for giving us a strong performance to anchor the piece. Some great drama paired with some great thrills equal a first-rate B movie revenge thriller. It is a visceral experience that offers up that eternal question, "Could U?" (check the television set at the end) Is it in you?

Recommended.