Death Sentence
Directed by James Wan
- action
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
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.
What it’s like
Hard-edged and drained of warmth, with suburban daylight turned flat and grey and night scenes lit by sodium streetlamps, car headlights, and the cold blue of hospital corridors. James Wan frames his people in tight, restless handheld takes that stay close to Kevin Bacon's face as the calm office worker comes apart, then cuts to wide, sterile spaces that make the violence feel exposed rather than stylized. The score is pulsing and percussive, with long stretches of ambient street noise and sudden, ugly sound when the brutality arrives. The vibe is grim, cold and relentless, a bleak revenge spiral with little breathing room. It suits a late, alone viewing when you want tension and don't mind being unsettled. Violence is frequent, explicit and often brutal, including shootings, stabbings and a bloody beating. There is grief, threat and cruelty throughout, though little sexual content. Best for viewers who want a hard, unsparing thriller about a father pushed past every line and the cost of his choices.
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