Make America Hate Again? The Politics of Vigilante Geriaction

The article explores the politics of the vigilante geriaction film, with specific focus on the remake of Death Wish (Eli Roth, 2018). In its construction of a nation under mortal threat from within and without, the subgenre is uncritical in its reinforcement of Trumpian rhetoric regarding the marginalization, precarity, and obsolescence of the older white male. Typical of the contemporary vigilante film, through its visual style, representation of masculinity, and aging star (Bruce Willis), Death Wish attempts to resuscitate a form of authoritarian heroism considered outmoded in the contemporary cultural landscape.