Why the author of the original novel praised a film critics largely despised
In short: When James Wan adapted Brian Garfield’s 1975 novel, he created a polarizing vigilante thriller that critics panned as gratuitous. Yet, Garfield himself defended the film, arguing that it successfully captured his original message about the destructive, foolish nature of revenge, even if the cinematic execution leaned heavily into extreme violence.
The 2007 film follows Nick Hume, a corporate executive whose life unravels after his son is killed during a gang initiation. Played by Kevin Bacon, Hume transitions from a law-abiding father to a vengeful killer, a transformation that director James Wan captures through a gritty, high-intensity lens. While the movie was a commercial disappointment, grossing roughly $17 million against a $20 million budget, it remains a notable entry in Wan’s filmography as his final feature shot entirely on traditional 35mm celluloid film.
Critical reception was largely negative, with many reviewers dismissing the plot as nonsensical and the violence as excessive. Rotten Tomatoes reports only a 20% approval rating, and audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it a mediocre C grade. Critics like Matt Zoller Seitz criticized the film as a tedious waste of time, while others, such as Roger Ebert, noted that while the film was efficient and featured moments of suspense, it ultimately devolved into a repetitive cycle of gunfire.
Despite the backlash, the film found defenders who praised its technical execution and Bacon’s aggressive performance. Most importantly, Brian Garfield, the author of the source material, endorsed the adaptation. Garfield, who had famously disliked the 1974 Death Wish film for its pro-vigilante stance, felt that Wan’s version correctly depicted the protagonist's moral decline. He argued that the film effectively communicated the stupidity of vengeance, proving that even a movie filled with blood-and-thunder could align with his original literary intent.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Death Sentence (2007 film)
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