Death Sentence

Name: Death Sentence
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Released: August 31, 2007
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 36
Cast: John Goodman, Kelly Preston, Kevin Bacon

2007

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 24 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 153 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 153 Ratings

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DEATH SENTENCE

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: August 31, 2007

Starring: John Goodman, Kelly Preston, Kevin Bacon

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)

Director: James Wan

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 min

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Awards & Rankings

69	#69 Most Shared Movie of 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Variety - Justin Chang

Well-made, often intensely gripping genre piece. Read full review

Film Threat - Michael Ferraro

The action sequences are still pretty imaginative, if not nonsensical. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Frank Scheck

Bears more than a slight connection to the landmark of the genre, 1974's "Death Wish," starring Charles Bronson. It is based on novelist Brian Garfield's sequel to his original book, though any resemblance is tenuous at best. Read full review

The New York Times - Matt Zoller Seitz

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. Read full review

L.A. Weekly - Jim Ridley

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. Read full review

New York Post - Lou Lumenick

A very belated and very silly follow-up to "Death Wish." Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marjorie Baumgarten

One well-staged sequence in a parking garage is the film's only memorable moment Read full review

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User Reviews

JunoY.

Jan 19, 2008

Never mind the nay sayers. Watch it. Experience the anti hero moments. It's more than good vs evil. It's epitome of human needs, survival and choices.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ChaseC.

Jul 29, 2009

This is one of my favorite movies, I guess I just have bad taste, because almost all of my favorite movies are rated at the worst with metacritic. This movie is one of the most badass movies i have ever seen, Another nice thing about this movie is there isn't the bad techno music while This is one of my favorite movies, I guess I just have bad taste, because almost all of my favorite movies are rated at the worst with metacritic. This movie is one of the most badass movies i have ever seen, Another nice thing about this movie is there isn't the bad techno music while they are having a fire fight. This movie is a must watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Juggernut

Dec 23, 2017

The critics got it way wrong here. This movie is fantastic. I must have watched it at least 10 times now. The story is a little far fetched, but who cares, its a movie. Kevin Bacon is great, the action is nonstop and the movie is very emotional. The soundtrack is also a masterpiece.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RegOz

Apr 5, 2012

What can I say? Perhaps I am biased, but I will be totally sincere. This is NOT a great movie, but I enjoyed it so much, that I myself got surprised! My friends did too, and they are people that nobody on Earthh could call 'dumb' but the opposite. Partly, the reasons for my excitement aboutWhat can I say? Perhaps I am biased, but I will be totally sincere. This is NOT a great movie, but I enjoyed it so much, that I myself got surprised! My friends did too, and they are people that nobody on Earthh could call 'dumb' but the opposite. Partly, the reasons for my excitement about this film, may be because Kevin Bacon is the leading figure and I adore Kevin Bacon, for he is one of the most accomplished, versatile, serious, and down-to-Earth actors of Hollywood-and he is as underrated as Gary Oldman or Sean Penn (yet even a better actor -and according to the media and general belief he is also a nicer person-than them), so whenever I watch a movie where he is performing, my attitude becomes more open, for just his acting gives a movie a higher value. That said, (and I am acknowledging I may be biased), this movie is not brilliand but good in its genre. Those who love action filsm we'll see here a bit of the anti-hero. You may find this movie a bit unrealistic, and you are probably right. I don't think, however, that when they made Death Sentence the producers wanted to create a classic, but instead a good action- fiction film! I think they succeeded, for Death Sentence is always intense, and engaging! I know that some of us think that a situation like this is very unlikely to happen. A person doesn't turn into "Rambo' or a "killing machine' just because they want justice for their family and the legal system does not provide them with that. Nonetheless, I wonder if something like that would happen to my boy...what would I do, or at least attempt to do? I am a girl- and a feminine one- but in my own way, perhaps pain and sorrow would force me to take a difficult, emotional, and yet ilogical decision! I don't know!. Perhaps the movie is not that unrealistic, after all. So, my advice is: forget about prejudices and go and be ready to watch a movie that although a bit strange, it never bores! A solid 7 for sure! PS: and if you already love Kevin Bacon, he will not disappoint you, for this movie wouldn't be the same if someone else played his part.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Dec 9, 2017

Director James Wan made a name for himself with the low-budget hit "Saw." However, it wasn't until the 2010-2013 era of his career that he reached true mainstream appeal and established himself as one of the biggest names in modern horror with the like of Insidious and The Conjuring. SinceDirector James Wan made a name for himself with the low-budget hit "Saw." However, it wasn't until the 2010-2013 era of his career that he reached true mainstream appeal and established himself as one of the biggest names in modern horror with the like of Insidious and The Conjuring. Since then has branched to even bigger and better things by placed at the helm of big-budget action films, such as entry in the Fast & Furious series and the upcoming Aquaman. Before all of that though, there was a period following his work on Saw where he made some movies that arguably aren't among the most noteworthy of his work. Death Sentence is one of them.

It's a pretty standard revenge flick. Mild-mannered "Nick Hume" (Kevin Bacon) sets out for revenge on the gangsters who killed his son. A compelling idea, but the movie ultimately suffers from overly-emotional melodrama that misses the mark by being too cheesy. The soundtrack is embarrassingly bad and the acting is subpar across the board. Bacon manages to show off a few good moments of genuine despair, but really the only people worth watching onscreen are John Goodman in a particularly humorous role and Edi Gathegi, the only gangster who can act. This sort of thing isn't helped by the surprisingly amateurish direction from Wan in any scene other than the action ones, where he does manage to show of some clever camera angles and fun, gory kills. The visuals try to go for a more artistic approach with grainy visuals, but instead the whole thing just looks like it was shot on a handheld. Once the action really starts going there is some fun to be had. Provided you can really suspend your disbelief that is. These are some of the least-threatening gangsters ever portrayed onscreen. Right from the get go they are constantly outsmarted and over-powered by out everyday, briefcase-toting protagonist who despite likely never having been in a fight in his life, has the moves of an action hero when the bullets start flying. It's ridiculous to the extreme. Now, Death Sentence isn't necessarily bad. Or at least not in this reviewer's opinion. It's not an entirely well-executed film. There are moments where it's got something going for it. Unfortunately, it's never a brain. As a result what we are left with is a very talented director's weakest film (at least so far). If you're a James Wan superfan like myself, this is worth watching just for the history lesson on the man's career. Longtime of fans of the Death Wish series might also get a kick out of this, as it's based on the book that serves as a sequel to the first Death Wish. For everyone else this is worthy of a skip. A weak and largely idiotic revenge action-thriller with only a handful of truly good moments.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

grandpajoe6191

Sep 25, 2011

Kevin Bacon is just the best revenge dad I've seen to current date. His performance begs to differ in "Death Sentence". Unfortunately, the movie's lethargic script and uninspiring dialogue doesn't.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

KelleyM.

Oct 4, 2007

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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