15. Death Wish (1974)
Death Wish directed by Michael Winner (RIP) is a tale of Paul Kersey, a New Yorker who becomes a vigilante after his wife is killed and his daughter sexually abused by muggers. The film spawned a franchise of sequels and was very popular in the 1970s due to growing crime rates. Paul was probably a pacifist kind of guy before the horrible incident involving his wife and daughter, but after what has happened, he cannot stop himself from seeking out lowlives, muggers, ne'er do wells and blasting them to kingdom come. Rather controversially, the police sort of let him away with it and the public are on his side. So this is not just violence, it is condoned violence and condoned vigilantism. Well Paul is sort of told to leave New York by the police, but the ending shows us he has no intention. Winner successfully portrays a grimy, grotty New York where violence lurks absolutely everywhere, just waiting to assault you. He is powerfully pro-vigilante. It was probably the sign o the times. There were a lot of movies portraying violence on civilians the time Death Wish was filmed.