The 2024 “action/horror” Death Bitch is just terrible. I tried to watch it and during the first sequence, I said, “Oh, this is so bad.” Director and Co-Writer Ken Brewer strikes out with this “homage” to Death Wish.
About Death Wish
The 1974 film, based on the book of the same name, is almost a work of art. Directed by the late Brit filmmaker Michael Winner, this one follows the book loosely. It is Bronson who makes this work. Why? His character has to “learn to kill ruthlessly.” After taking out his first criminal, Paul comes back to his room to violently retch in the toilet.
Great script from a great book. Brian Garfield wrote the thriller and it was published in 1972. I can still watch the original film with Charles Bronson and enjoy it.
No Comparison
Death Bitch, while assuming the mantle of armed vigilante, offers us little in terms of acting, script, and enjoyability. It also has little in common with the original. The film offers a tiny bit of backstory. This is done in a short exposition scene. One so short you’ll miss it if you sneeze.
We get no feeling of grief or a killer searching for vengeance. We have a woman in torn trousers badly shooting a gun. Her dialogue is minimal.
The Death Bitch Story
A slasher is murdering people in the bay area. Meanwhile, a vigilante is cleaning the streets her way.
The Cast
Josi Kat is Candy.
Traci Burr is Detective Maddie.
Doug Waugh is Detective Shane Douglas.
The rest of the cast seem to be there for “novelty” purposes alone. Acting is non existent. The dialog is improvisational. Each actor delivers their lines with all the life of petrified deadwood.
Let’s Talk
Death Bitch is the most sophomoric effort I have witnessed in a long time. In the opening sequence, there are so many “f*cks” floating around I lost count. Not one actor stands out.
The film is clearly aimed at a niche market that I am not part of.
Little Care
The gunfight sequences are laughably bad. No one even tries to convincingly shoot their weapon. One scene has an “actor” doing recoil, but in slow motion. *It is not a slo-mo sequence.* There is no flow in the film at all.
Now, having said all the above, I will admit to not finishing the film. It was practically painful to watch. I literally could not finish it.
Everything is a loss on the screen. The “techno” soundtrack, the poorly done VFX and the clearly fake guns, all let the side down.
Kudos
Now that I’ve blasted the entire film out of the proverbial water, I will say this. Brewer and his co-writer Meri Gyetvay have done an impressive amount of work for the budget. *A reported $3,800.* To be fair, a good portion of their “problems” could well be down to that.
There are two “clever” moments that I caught before giving up. The first, is the brilliant gag of naming the Chief Don Johnson. *Miami Vice, oh yeah.* Secondly the interaction between the pork pie hat wearing detective and his partner. Yes the acting and dialogue were like stones falling to the ground, but darn it, they felt natural. Odd but true.
The filmmakers intent is apparently there. They just fail to deliver. Perhaps Death Bitch makes more sense, or is more enjoyable under different circumstances. Being part of their target demographic, which again, I am not, helps immeasurably. Maybe being drunk or high? I don’t know.
The Verdict
Death Bitch earns a shaky 1.5 stars. I resisted the temptation to offer up 0 stars. This was down to the heart the filmmakers show with their low/no budget. Sadly, I have to be honest and say this is nowhere near my cup of tea.
The film is streaming on Fawesome right now. If you are a part of that film’s niche, head on over. You may well like it.
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