Here’s a cast and character guide to 2007 action-thriller Death Sentence. Death Sentence is based on the novel of the same name by Brian Garfield, which was a sequel to his book Death Wish. Garfield was unhappy with how the Charles Bronson film adapted from that 1972 novel dealt with it’s themes of vigilantism, feeling they’d turned the main character into a hero, so he penned Death Sentence as a rebuke. The Death Wish film proved highly controversial upon release for its depiction of a normal man who picks up a gun and stalks the streets of New York looking to kill criminals to kill, following an attack on his family.
The success of Death Wish paved the way for a host of vigilante thrillers during this era, including Taxi Driver and The Exterminator, and would influence The Punisher comics. Bronson would return for 1981’s Death Wish II – which had nothing to do with Garfield’s Death Sentence – and a further three sequels, ending with 1994’s Death Wish V: The Face Of Death. A remake spent years in development hell, with Sylvester Stallone once attached. Joe Carnahan signed on as writer/director and wanted Liam Neeson for the lead, but famously left in protest when Bruce Willis was cast instead. Eli Roth directed the eventual Death Wish remake, which was released to poor reviews in 2018.
Death Sentence was the third film from director James Wan (Aquaman), and outside of its vigilante theme has no connection to the Death Wish series. The story follows a family man who seeks revenge for his son’s murder, but his vengeance just leads to more bloodshed. Here’s a cast and character guide.
Kevin Bacon – Nick Hume
Kevin Bacon (Tremors) plays businessman Nick Hume, who is a loving husband and father. When his son Brendan is killed in a vicious gang initiation, he seeks out the killer Joe Darley and stabs him to death. The killer’s brother Billy later puts a “death sentence” on Nick and his family for this, so Nick has to take down the whole gang.
Garrett Hedlund – Billy Darley
Billy (Garrett Hedlund, Tron: Legacy) is the head of a gang responsible for Brendan’s death in Death Sentence. When his brother Joe is killed by Nick, he swears vengeance on the businessman, leading to bloody consequences for them both.
Kelly Preston – Helen Hume
Kelly Preston (Christine) is Helen, who is left devastated by her son’s murder and grows concerned when Nick starts to emotionally withdraw. He eventually confesses his murder of Joe to her, but Helen is later murdered by Billy and his gang when they invade the Hume home, which also leaves her other son Lucas in a coma.
Aisha Tyler – Detective Wallis
Archer’s Aisha Tyler plays Detective Wallis in Death Sentence, who works the case for Brendan’s murder. She suspects Nick’s involvement in the death of Joe Darley and lets Nick know that no good will come of his revenge mission. In the end, she finds the wounded Nick in his home and lets him know Lucas has awoken from his coma.
John Goodman – Bones Darley
John Goodman (Kong: Skull Island) plays Bones in Death Sentence, who Nick goes to in the third act to buy guns. Bones later reveals he’s Billy and Joe’s father and the leader of the Darley gang, but he sells the guns regardless because he only cares about business.
