Movie Profile: DEATH SENTENCE (2007)

Attribute Details
Title Death Sentence
Release Date August 31, 2007 (USA)
Director James Wan
Writer Ian Jeffers (Based on the 1975 novel Death Sentence by Brian Garfield)
Genre Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama
Runtime 105 minutes
Budget $20 million
Box Office $17 million worldwide
Lead Cast

• Kevin Bacon (Nick Hume)

• Garrett Hedlund (Billy Darley)

• Kelly Preston (Helen Hume)

• John Goodman (Bones Darley)

• Aisha Tyler (Detective Jessica Wallis)

Literary Connection Direct sequel novel to Death Wish (1972) by Brian Garfield, though adapted as a standalone thematic film.

Trailer

Plot Overview

Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered, successful executive living a peaceful suburban life with his wife Helen (Kelly Preston) and two sons. His life is shattered when he stops at a gas station in a tough neighborhood. A ruthless street gang, led by Billy Darley (Garrett Hedlund), violent raids the station as part of a gang initiation ritual, brutally murdering Nick’s eldest son, Brendan.

Despite the killer being caught, Detective Jessica Wallis (Aisha Tyler) informs Nick that the justice system will likely only hand down a light sentence of 3 to 5 years due to technicalities. Unwilling to accept this, Nick intentionally drops his testimony, allowing the killer to go free—so he can hunt him down and kill him himself.

Nick gets his revenge, but his actions spark a escalating, bloody gang war. Billy Darley realizes who killed his gang member and targets Nick’s remaining family in retaliation. Pushed beyond his breaking point, Nick shaves his head, arms himself to the teeth with weapons bought from a corrupt gun dealer (John Goodman), and embarks on an all-out, suicidal rampage to eradicate every single member of the gang.