Why Charles Bronson’s Death Wish Movie Was So Controversial

The classic Charles Bronson-starring vigilante thriller Death Wish was a huge commercial hit in 1974, but it also generated its fair share of controversy. Bronson plays Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered architect who decides to take the law into his own hands when his wife is killed and his daughter is assaulted during a home invasion by a sadistic street gang. Death Wish was a big enough success to launch a franchise with four sequels and a remake, and the role of Paul defined Bronson’s on-screen persona as a vengeful father.