Nick steps in at this point essentially to revisit the part played by Denzel Washington in Ricochet, the superior first incarnation of Law Abiding Citizen. Explaining the “deal,” Nick asserts, oh-so-cynically, “Some justice is better than no justice at all.” A fade-out on his last look at the dreadful scene leads to the revelation that Clyde survives this ordeal, and worse, must contend with the legal dealing done in his name by Nick. Clyde groans and whimpers and resists, mostly feebly. Trussed up and pounded into the foyer floor, Clyde watches helplessly as the ugliest loudest villain rapes and kills his wife, then drags his precious little daughter off screen for a similar fate. The ostensible reason for Clyde’s rage is set up at film’s start, when his suburban serenity is suddenly wrecked by two home-invading mouth-breathers.
“We’re gonna get this situation under control.” Of course they are - but only after the killer, Clyde (Gerard Butler), does more damage, personal and spectacular, to Nick, his primary target and opponent. As Mayor Henry scowls at her “boys,” the camera pulls out to show the DA, Jonas (Bruce McGill), and his A-Number One prosecutor Nick (Jamie Foxx) insisting on their manly man skills. Law Abiding Citizen is prone to this sort of comedy, not exactly funny, more smug and clever-seeming.
“You boys,” she seethes at the men she holds responsible, “have fucked this up.
On hearing that a psycho killer is committing serial murders from inside his prison cell, Mayor April Henry of Philadelphia (cooler than cool Viola Davis) is annoyed. Do you wanna know who’s really got the power? Bring your ass to the tower.