(1976)
1.5
Donald Guarisco
This early directorial venture for action star Fred Williamson is a good example of the no-frills approach he'd take to his chosen genre as a filmmaker. Death Journey's script is a simple affair, with the most cursory of crime-flick plot setups giving way to a long series of chases, punchups and shootouts. It doesn't offer much in the way of characterization, dialogue or cinematic flash but it delivers the necessary exploitable elements to the action crowd. On a filmmaking level, it's got the production values of a porn flick and Williamson's directing technique is entry-level at best but its no-nonsense approach ensures it doesn't wear out its welcome. It's more of a time-killer than anything else but Williamson fans might find it enjoyable because the star/director devotes plenty of time to strutting his stuff in the best blaxploitation flick style. In short, Death Journey is more of an exploitation-flick curio than anything else and its appeal will depend on how much Williamson's trademark egotistical man-of-action persona amuses the viewer.
Death Journey on AllMovie
Death Journey (1976)