This is the highly controversial sleaze epic that finally made Charles Bronson a star in America, and set a regrettable trend for trashy and ultra-violent vigilante thrillers. Bronson mechanically plays liberal architect Paul Kersey, who takes matters into his own hands after his wife is killed and his daughter is raped by a Manhattan gang (led by Jeff Goldblum in his film debut). Director Michael Winner's blood-lusting shocker is as intense and upsetting as it is morally reprehensible, and was very infuential in its day, but spawned a series of dismal sequels.

After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad, prowling the streets for would-be muggers after dark.