Director: J. Lee Thompson
Writer: William Roberts and J. Lee Thompson
Release Year: 1983
Charles Bronson, Mr. Merciless Vigilante himself, as a rough veteran cop obsessively chasing a psychopath who is some kind of deranged, schizophrenic hybrid between real-life serial killers Richard Speck and Ted Bundy? Well, to me that pretty much sounds like a cinematic dream come true, even more so because the film – especially during the first half hour – has the allure of a typically early ’80s, vile teen-slasher movie!
Director: Scott Frank
Writer: Scott Frank, based on the novel by Lawrence Block
Release year: 2014
Crime does not pay. Or, well, it might for a while, until your money’s gone. Then you’ll get your wife back. In pieces.
Unlicensed private detective Matthew Scudder (Liam Neeson) has been through some rough waters of his own. His reputation draws the attention of a drug trafficking kingpin, who wants to hire Scudder to track down the people responsible for kidnapping his wife. Against better judgement, Scudder accepts the job, leading him onto the trail of two misogynistic serial killers targetting women across the city. When things become more bleak in the process of bringing the culprits to justice, Scudder has the choice to make it a federal matter or join forces with the lesser of two evils: the aid of wealthy criminals, a drug addict and a young vagrant.
Director: Umberto Lenzi
Writer: Ernesto Gastaldi
Release Year: 1974
Italian Title: Milano Odia: La Polizia Non Può Sparare
Not nearly human, but delightfully beastly
A psychotic small-time criminal realizes that the everyday robberies, rapes and murders he commits aren’t making him all that much money, so he figures to hit it big time by kidnapping the daughter of a rich man. Piece of cake, or so it seems, but as to be expected, things don’t go down all that smoothly.
Director: Doris Wishman
Writer: Judy J. Kushner
Release Year: 1974
Victim: Male, Caucasian. Cause of Death: Suffocation by FF-watermelons.
This film stars Chesty Morgan, just so you know. When mobsters kill Crystal’s (Chesty Morgan) boyfriend, she swears to take revenge. She’s got two big weapons. And she’s not afraid to use them.
Director: Michael Winner
Writer: Don Jakoby and Brian Garfield
Release Year: 1985
Charlie’s Angels… of Vengeance!
Charles Bronson is back in the streets of New York and his relentless quest for justice continues in this third entry in the ‘Death Wish’ franchise. Paul Kersey takes the term “stick to one’s guns” quite seriously here, as virtually everything that fires something becomes the ultimate deadly weapon in his hands. And all the scum throughout the city will know it!
Director: Renaud Gauthier
Writer: Renaud Gauthier
Release Year: 2013
HA-HA-Ha-ha (try) staying alive!
Duane Lewis is a handsome twenty-something New Yorker, but he has one major problem. The sound of disco music causes him to turn into a maniacal killer. Unfortunately for him, disco is something nearly impossible to avoid in the year 1976.
Director: Shunya Ito
Writer: Hirô Matsuda based on a manga by Tooru Shinohara
Release year: 1973
Japanese title: Joshuu sasori: Kemono-beya
Bird of Prey, Bird of Retaliation
Nami Matsushima (aka Sasori aka Scorpion) is loose in the city streets, continuing her frantic quest for freedom. Driven by her instinct for survival and desire to lead a normal life. Having fled from prison once again, she will now enter an urban world of crime & prostitution, while being hunted down by a one-armed cop out for revenge.
Director: Shunya Ito
Writer: Fumio Konami, Hirô Matsuda based on a manga by Tooru Shinohara
Release year: 1972
Japanese title: Joshuu 701-gô: Sasori
W.I.P without dull clichés and stereotypes
In love with a corrupt police detective, Nami (Meiko Kaji) foolishly agrees to infiltrate the Yakuza. Things go very wrong. Betrayed, battered and bruised, she ends up in a violent prison environment with only one thing left on her mind… Revenge.