Michael Winner’s Death Wish (1974) was a gritty urban vigilante tale about how every-man Paul Kersey, took on the rising tide of crime that swept New York at the time. Despite its sensationalist style the film struck a topical nerve upon release and fared well at the box office. Featuring a strong central performance by Charles Bronson, Death Wish improved the standing of both its director and star. Death Wish II (1982) was a far more exploitative sequel, choosing to dwell on the violence rather than ponder the nature of vigilanteism. Its lurid rape scenes remain controversial to this day.