Matt takes Death Wish 3 Seriously
During the course of Death Wish 3′s ninety-one minutes (closing credits included), seventy-four human beings lose their lives. The story of each and every tragic soul can never be told, of course, if only because the vast majority are not even granted an identity. No backstory, no inner life, not even a name. Nevertheless, as much as they all lived and breathed, such living and breathing eventually came to an end. Not all were justified, and even fewer were pretty to look at, but all were in service of an entertainment so grand, it might one day be known as the best of the lot. Now, as the world reflects on the 30th anniversary of this immortal classic, itÂs time to chart the lives lost once and for all. In sum, the seventy-four deaths of Death Wish 3: who died, who killed, and how those honored dead came to meet their maker (in order of expiration, naturally).
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Victim: Charley
Killer(s): The Giggler, Hermosa, Angel
Method: Beaten, with repeated blows to the torso; head injury from being thrown into a lamp and end table
Special Note: Charley’s last words could have been the immortal line “You sonsabitches”, but he insisted on getting out one last incoherent request to Paul right before breathing his last.
Victim: Hector
Killer(s): Manny Fraker
Method: Stabbed in the neck with a switchblade
Victim: Black Punk
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Tom Cruise Looking Motherfucker With Japanese Headband
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Special Note: For some reason known only to God, two members of Fraderas gang dressed like outcasts from Loudness.
Victim: Jean Jacketed Black Man
Killer(s): 10-12 members of Manny Fraderas gang
Method: Beaten to death with chain, baseball bat, and plunger
Special Note: Director Michael Winner has never explained the plunger and how it was expected to contribute to the death of a human being.
Victim: Maria
Killer(s): Manny Fraker, The Giggler, Angel, Corey Glover
Method: Beaten and raped, with a broken arm that led to a series of blood clots that traveled to the heart (see: medical malpractice)
Special Note: This would be the last time Marina Sirtis showed her tits until the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Victim: The Giggler
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in the back by a .475 Wildey Magnum “big game” cartridge
Victim: Cocaine Cuba
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Punched, smashed with crowbar, thrown from roof
Special Note: Mr. Cubas presence inspired Fraderas classic line, “We’re gonna get high, high, HIGH!”
Victim: Emil’s Wife
Killer(s): Manny Fraker
Method: Slashed throat
Special Note: Fraker’s morality is such that having a friend thrown out of a laundromat is enough to justify homicide.
Victim: Kathryn Davis
Killer(s): Manny Fraker, Angel
Method: Punched in face, car pushed into busy intersection; eventual atomic fireball
Special Note: Not even Kersey could explain why he had to pick up his mail at 11:35 in the evening.
Victim: Unknown Driver
Killer(s): Manny Fraker, Angel, Kathryn Davis
Method: Car hit by Ms. Davis. An out of control vehicle; massive explosion
Victim: Gang Member #1
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned from fire escape
Special Note: Rodriguez technically only feeds the bullets, so he’s kind of innocent of murder.
Victim: Gang Member #2
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned from fire escape
Victim: Gang Member #3
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned from fire escape
Victim: Gang Member #4
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned from fire escape
Victim: Gang Member #5
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned from fire escape
Victim: Gang Member #6
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in an alley
Victim: Gang Member #7
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in an alley
Victim: Gang Member #8
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in an alley
Victim: Gang Member #9
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in an alley
Victim: Gang Member #10
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in an alley
Victim: Bandanna Leg Man
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned, falls from window
Victim: Minimum Wage Worker #1
Killer(s): Biker Gang recruited by Manny Fraker
Method: Grenades thrown into windows of a hardware store, resulting explosion
Victim: Minimum Wage Worker #2
Killer(s): Biker Gang recruited by Manny Fraker
Method: Grenades thrown into windows of a hardware store, resulting explosion
Victim: Minimum Wage Worker #3
Killer(s): Biker Gang recruited by Manny Fraker
Method: Grenades thrown into windows of a hardware store, resulting explosion
Victim: Out of Town Gang Banger #1
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in car, which flips over
Victim: Out of Town Gang Banger #2
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in car, which flips over
Victim: Out of Town Gang Banger #3
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in car, which flips over
Victim: Out of Town Gang Banger #4
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (w/Rodriguez)
Method: Machine-gunned in car, which flips over
Victim: Unknown Man Out for a Walk
Killer(s): Rooftop Gang Members
Method: Set on fire by Molotov cocktails
Special Note: All these years later, few things get me laughing as much as a person on fire.
Victim: Sunglass Sam
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest while hiding behind garbage can
Victim: Black Friend of Sunglass Sam
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Sleeveless Vest Black Guy
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in stomach
Victim: White Guy Quail Hunter
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in abdomen
Special Note: Fraker’s gang is notorious for combining the worst of all races and creeds, including white trash, Rastafarians, Hispanics, and dopes with Swastika logos. Apparently, they drew the line at Jews.
Victim: Jumping Jack Flash
Killer(s): Biker Gang
Method: Leaps to his death after apartment building set on fire
Victim: Rooftop Ray
Killer(s): Biker Gang
Method: Smoke inhalation after apartment building set on fire
Victim: NYPD Cop
Killer(s): Manny Fraker’s gang
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Balcony Punk #1
Killer(s): NYPD Cop
Method: Blasted through window by shotgun
Victim: Balcony Punk #2
Killer(s): NYPD Cop
Method: Shot once in chest while trying to leap from balcony
Victim: Rapist Ralph
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest while hauling topless black chick up the stairs
Special Note: Director Michael Winner was fucking the rape victim at the time.
Victim: Rapist Ron
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest during attempted rape, falls down stairs
Victim: Moustache Army Cap Dude
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, falls down stairs
Victim: NYPDÂs Finest #1
Killer(s): Manny Fraker
Method: Machine-gunned after exiting vehicle, which later explodes
Victim: NYPD’s Finest #2
Killer(s): Manny Fraker
Method: Machine-gunned after exiting vehicle, which later explodes
Victim: Biker Fuck
Killer(s): Righteous Citizen
Method: Shot once in chest while unarmed and on his back
Special Note: Still the most disturbing murder in the entire movie. The punk begged for his life and was shot in the face anyway.
Victim: Red Bandanna Jean Jacket Man
Killer(s): Fed Up Homeowner
Method: Smashed with a baseball bat, flips backwards down the stairs
Victim: Screaming Sally
Killer(s): Billy Idol Guy, Black Beret Bill, Manny Fraker
Method: Set on fire by torches, later machine-gunned to death
Victim: Old Guy in Sport Coat
Killer(s): Billy Idol Guy, Black Beret Bill, Manny Fraker
Method: Set on fire, machine-gunned on stairs
Victim: Cowardly Punk
Killer(s): NYPD officer
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Tom Berenger in Fatigues
Killer(s): Paul Kersey (presumed)
Method: Hit on forehead with nail attached to board, falls back and stumbles off roof
Victim: Angel
Killer(s): Rodriguez
Method: Zip-gunned to death, yet blown forward out the window, falling several stories
Victim: Balcony Boris
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Balcony Biff
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, falls off roof
Victim: Leather Rebel
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, falls down stairs
Victim: Leather Greenpants
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, falls from fire escape
Victim: Hermosa
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in chest, falls down stairs
Victim: Blue Cap Buck
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Rooftop Renaldo
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Rooftop Ricardo
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Purple Shirt Dude
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Amos
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Andy
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Trucker Hat White Guy
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, shoulder
Victim: HR of Bad Brains
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in face
Victim: HR’s Pal
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in face
Victim: Biker Dick
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Cries As He Flies
Killer(s): Richard Shriker
Method: Shot once in chest, flies off roof
Special Note: Still unsure how getting shot in the chest spurs a great leap forward.
Victim: Climbing Fool
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot in chest while in tree
Victim: Leather Cap Man
Killer(s): Righteous Woman
Method: Blasted in chest by shotgun
Victim: Mr. Green
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest, flies back through window
Victim: Red Hat Leroy
Killer(s): Molly Maid’s Employee of the Month
Method: Shoved out window by broom, falls off roof
Victim: Blondie
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest
Victim: Hangin’ Henry
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Shot once in chest on fire escape, falls back
Victim: Manny Fraker
Killer(s): Paul Kersey
Method: Disintegration by rocket launcher
Special Note: Still notable for the reaction it provokes in Fraker’s girlfriend. It’s like she knew it was him, you know?
FINAL TALLY: Paul Kersey > 42
Manny Fraker (solo, or as participant) > 9
Gang Members (without Fraker) > 9
Richard Shriker > 6
Ordinary Citizens > 4
NYPD > 3
Rodriguez (solo) > 1