A Philadelphia shop owner forms a civilian patrol to stop neighborhood crime. The patrol's actions are seen as racially discriminatory, leading to escalating conflict.A Philadelphia shop owner forms a civilian patrol to stop neighborhood crime. The patrol's actions are seen as racially discriminatory, leading to escalating conflict.A Philadelphia shop owner forms a civilian patrol to stop neighborhood crime. The patrol's actions are seen as racially discriminatory, leading to escalating conflict.
Donna de Varona
- Sara Rogers
- (as Donna DeVarona)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCast members, Tom Skerritt and Yaphet Kotto, both previously had about three years earlier appeared in Alien (1979).
- GoofsWhen John gets arrested following the riot in the park, he has a meeting with the commissioner, who informs John that the bullets that killed Vince could be traced to Eldorado and two of his thugs. In reality, bullets cannot be traced to people, but rather ballistics is used to match them up with certain guns. Even if the guns used were registered to these individuals, someone else could have used the guns to commit the murder.
- SoundtracksYou're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
(Instrumental)
Written by James Cavanaugh, Russ Morgan and Larry Stock
Featured review
More than a Death Wish Rip-off
Why this has never been released on DVD I'll never know, especially when so much grade-z rubbish has been given the lavish 'Special Edition' treatment. This is, quite simply, one of the finest 'revenge' genre films made and far more intelligent than most of it's type. I mean, just take a look at the cast: Tom Skerrit, Michael Sarrazin. These a class actors.
What makes Death Vengeance so strong are the well developed characters. You identify with them more than anything. Paul Kersey was someone who appealed to the lowest common denominator, those who liked to cheer violent characters responding in a totally over the top fashion. John D'Angelo seemed to be grounded more in reality, reacting in a way we can understand. While not always sympathetic, Skerrit's performance made him believable.
The film was marketed in a fairly deceptive way. This is more than just another shoot-em-up no-brainer and deserves to be recognised as such. Director Lewis Teague could have taken the easy option, thrown in lots of action set-pieces and had a sky-high bodycount. Instead, he decided to engage our brains instead of our base instincts. He, and the film need to be recognised for this. Shame this doesn't happen more often. See it and you will find an underrated and surprisingly thought provoking film.
What makes Death Vengeance so strong are the well developed characters. You identify with them more than anything. Paul Kersey was someone who appealed to the lowest common denominator, those who liked to cheer violent characters responding in a totally over the top fashion. John D'Angelo seemed to be grounded more in reality, reacting in a way we can understand. While not always sympathetic, Skerrit's performance made him believable.
The film was marketed in a fairly deceptive way. This is more than just another shoot-em-up no-brainer and deserves to be recognised as such. Director Lewis Teague could have taken the easy option, thrown in lots of action set-pieces and had a sky-high bodycount. Instead, he decided to engage our brains instead of our base instincts. He, and the film need to be recognised for this. Shame this doesn't happen more often. See it and you will find an underrated and surprisingly thought provoking film.
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- integralesixteenvalve
- Oct 8, 2007
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,355,948
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,624,381
- May 23, 1982
- Gross worldwide
- $3,355,948
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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