Death Sentence
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Metascore
36

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 24 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

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  • Starring: , ,
  • Summary: Nick Hume is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, until one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family. (20th Century Fox)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 24
  3. Negative: 11 out of 24
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Justin Chang
    70
    Well-made, often intensely gripping genre piece.
  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Michael Ferraro
    60
    The action sequences are still pretty imaginative, if not nonsensical.
  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    50
    Death Sentence's message - that vengeance is ultimately futile, spinning out a vicious circle of rage and hate - may be commendable, but there's nothing noteworthy about the way Wan, Bacon and their troops go about delivering it.
  4. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    40
    Aside from a stunning three-minute tracking shot as the gang pursues Nick through a parking garage, and Mr. Bacon’s hauntingly pale, dark-eyed visage, Mr. Wan’s film is a tedious, pandering time-waster.
  5. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jim Ridley
    30
    The only things anyone’s likely to remember, besides Bacon’s crazy-eyes act, are John Goodman’s soon-to-be-legendary turn as a bilious bug-eyed gun dealer and a hellacious back-alley/parking-garage chase shot from a careening fender-level camera. Like much of the movie, it’s as hammily dynamic as it is impossible to swallow.
  6. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    25
    A very belated and very silly follow-up to "Death Wish."
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    20
    One well-staged sequence in a parking garage is the film's only memorable moment

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 8 out of 27
  1. JamieBernard
    Oct 10, 2007
    10
    OK, to start off, I must say first that reveiwer "Kelley M" must of been on crack while storming out of this movie. It was seriously one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, and I really don't have a clue why so many people thought this movie was bad. People seriously don't get out much. I guess now a days its all about the remake movies which get more lame.… Expand
  2. DanW.
    Mar 31, 2008
    10
    First of all in response to Kevin, I don't know how you define "acting like a normal human being", but John Goodman's character was definitely the LEAST like it. Think about it: not only did he allow the man trying to kill his son leave, but he sold him the guns to do it!! And as for the cop showing no sympathy, Bacon's character is wanted for murder, not to mention the fact that cops probably see tearjerker stories like that more often than not. This was an incredible film that went way beyond the revenge-killing cliche by showing much deeper insight into the emotional rollercoaster that Bacon's character had to go through. As for Roy P., how can you say he uses the same look in every scene? Up until Bacon escapes from hospital, he flexes his acting range from shock to fear to determination to anguish to anger, finally ending up with the look of someone who has lost the fear of death and knows he has one purpose left. Put yourself in the character's position. How in God's name would you know what you would do in those situations, what you would be capable of. I guess this is just one of those movies like History of Violence or Eastern Promises where you either love it or you hate it.… Expand
  3. SFN
    Mar 11, 2011
    10
    ok for one who ever says this movie is terrible needs a brain scan, because this movei is amazing, the whole plot of the movie is really good and i will admit it is kindof strange how it goes back and fourth but thats what makes it unique and awsome, and the action scenes were really good and i thought they were gonna suck, the movie has emotion, action, and it is trully one of the best movies i have ever seen in my life time… Expand
  4. TylerG.
    Mar 28, 2008
    7
    There is no deeper meaning to this movie, this is a movie about revenge and that is it. So don't go expecting any underlying themes about humanity or anything else. This movie is what it is, and that is a pretty damn good revenge flick.… Expand
  5. VinceF
    Jun 13, 2009
    6
    This movie is strange. It tries to act like it has a point but it's just a bloodbath dressed up with a shmaltzy soundtrack. This movie has some genuine surprises and some fairly decent acting (although John Goodman's part is unfortunately stupid). If you suspend your disbelief and prepare to be bored for about 15 minutes out of the movie, it's a decent popcorn flick. This film just tries a little too hard and ends up leaving you confused.… Expand
  6. KevinA
    Jan 24, 2009
    3
    I'm glad I didn't have to pay to see this. The family scenes were so predictable that I fast forwarded through most of them. I do have to say that the action scenes were fun to watch. They were actually quite intense even though they made me laugh. I kept wondering why the cops never really interrogated Bacon or arrested him. They had probable cause. I guess it's because he was killing scumbags that the cops couldn't seem to catch, or even seem to want to catch, even after they killed some cops. So, ultimately I would have given it a 1 if it weren't for some of the action scenes.… Expand
  7. KelleyM.
    Oct 4, 2007
    0
    Horrible! I walked out after 40 grueling minutes. ( I have only walked out of one other film in 30+ yrs.)Don't waste your time. Kevin Bacon must have been hard up for money.… Expand

See all 27 User Reviews

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