A gritty and gripping revenge fantasy %u2026 Kevin Bacon's talent and persona to make us sit up and take notice
Comment
04/26/08
Death Sentence (2007)
20
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:107
Fresh:21
Rotten:86
Average Rating:4.1/10
Consensus: A nonsensical plot and an absurd amount of violence make this revenge pic gratuitous and overwrought.
US Box Office: $9,479,756
Synopsis: A white-collar revenge fantasy in the vein of DEATH WISH (and based on a novel by the same author, Brian Garfield), DEATH SENTENCE ponders the nature and limits of retribution, asking if murder can... [More]
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Aisha Tyler
Director: James Wan
Reviews for Death Sentence
Top CriticDeath Sentence is a wonderfully tight little thriller, the kind of statement cinema an up and coming filmmaker needs to establish his overall eagerness to achieve.
09/01/07
...the film's schizophrenic nature eventually proves to be its downfall...
10/13/07
As entertainment, the film is equally unpleasant and captivating. As a more serious drama, it alternates between heartbreaking and heavy-handed.
09/01/07
Bacon's performance ensures that even at its most bombastic, the film remains grounded in truth.
09/05/07
In the same way that Quentin Tarantino and Kurt Russell elevated Death Proof, James Wan and Kevin Bacon go beyond what would have been satisfactory to crowds craving a good bloodletting.
08/31/07
I really enjoyed what [it] had to offer with takes on morals, war, and the damage violence can do to people in its grasp...
01/18/08
Charles Bronson is alive and well in the form of Kevin Bacon.
09/04/07
This well-made, often intensely gripping genre piece packs some bizarre tonal extremities and a few moments of self-critique into its tale of a grieving father seeking his own brand of justice.
08/30/07
Top CriticIt's a powerful, visceral revenge flick, and Kevin Bacon does a fine acting job bringing the vigilante to life.
08/17/08
Death Sentence seesaws wildly between being both brilliant and terrible, but ultimately it's worth seeing for some terrific action sequences and Bacon's committed performance.
08/31/07
What begins as a family drama centered around the tragic loss of their son, somehow manages to turn into an over-the-top action extravaganza.
09/01/07
It's a gritty, adrenaline-soaked thriller -- and if that's as deep as you care to dig, you'll be entertained. But for those who care to contemplate, it's quite a bit more.
10/09/09
Death Sentence is not exactly a fun time at the movies, but it is riveting.
08/31/07
An old-school exploitation picture, polished off with a modern sensibility by Saw director James Wan.
08/31/07
There is a courtroom scene of true surprise and suspense, and some other effective moments, but basically this is a movie about a lot of people shooting at each other.
08/31/07
Top CriticThe lesser moments still work because of Bacon's commitment to the part, and the better components are a firm indication that James Wan is improving with each successive film.
08/31/07
Death Sentence is a better film than many might expect and also delivers several good doses of action for fans of shoot 'em-ups.
09/10/07
It's got style to burn and is more gruesome that any schlock-horror gorefest.
08/31/07
Death Sentence tries to do two things: be a stirring family drama and a balls-out gore soaked revenge flick. It achieves only one of those goals.
01/08/08
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