Legal Systems and Ethics: Lessons from Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 American action thriller film directed by F. Gary Gray and starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler.
The film tells the story of Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), an engineer who witnesses the brutal murder of his wife and daughter during a home invasion. When the justice system fails to adequately punish the perpetrators, Clyde decides to take justice into his own hands, targeting both the murderers and those who support the corrupt legal system.

During a home invasion, Clarence Darby murders the wife and daughter of engineer Clyde Shelton, who is forced to watch. Prosecuting attorney Nick Rice is unable to convict Darby due to mishandled evidence. Unwilling to risk reducing his high conviction rate, he makes a deal with Darby; he testifies against his accomplice Rupert Ames (who only intended to steal from Clyde) so he is convicted and sentenced to death, while Darby pleads guilty to third-degree murder and receives a lighter sentence. Clyde feels betrayed by Nick and the justice system.

Ten years later, during Ames’ execution via lethal injection, he surprisingly died in agonizing pain. The police find the chemicals had been tampered with and evidence left behind implicates Darby; an anonymous caller warns him law enforcement is on their way to arrest him. Following the caller’s instructions, Darby hijacks a police car, forcing a lone officer to drive to a deserted warehouse. The officer is revealed to be Clyde, the caller. Darby attempts to shoot Clyde, but instead, the gun paralyzes Darby with tetrodotoxin-coated spikes. Clyde then straps Darby to a table and makes medical preparations to prolong Darby’s suffering, recording himself slowly dismembering and eventually murdering Darby. When Darby’s remains are found, Clyde willingly turns himself in and goes to prison.

Law Abiding Citizen

In prison, Clyde demands a new mattress in his cell in exchange for a “confession”. Nick initially refuses, but after learning that Clyde traumatized Nick’s family with the video of Darby’s murder, District Attorney Jonas Cantrell orders Nick to make the deal. In court, Clyde represents himself and successfully argues he should be granted bail, but instead criticizes the judge for accepting the legal precedent he cited, believing the judge is too easily convinced and eager to release potential criminals; Clyde was then denied bail and also jailed for contempt of court.

After giving Nick his confession, Clyde demands an elaborate steak lunch from Del Frisco’s and his iPod be delivered to his cell by a specific time, in exchange for the location of Darby’s now-missing lawyer. Nick agrees though the lunch is delayed a few minutes courtesy of the warden’s security measures. Once he had his meal, Clyde provided the coordinates to the lawyer’s location, but Darby’s lawyer still suffocates inside a box due to a time-mechanized device. Meanwhile, Clyde kills his cellmate after sharing his meal, forcing the warden to secure him in solitary confinement.

Cantrell and Nick meet Bray, a CIA contact who knows about Clyde’s past employment with the agency; Clyde’s CIA employment requires of eliminating nearly impossible targets. They are warned Clyde can kill anyone anytime he wishes and that his imprisonment may be part of a bigger plan. Bray finishes the meeting by suggesting to Nick and Cantrell that their best option is to kill Clyde. During a meeting with Nick and Cantrell, the judge was killed by an explosive hidden in her cell phone. Clyde explains to Nick that the murders are not about revenge, but the failures of the justice system. Clyde demands his release and all charges dropped to end the killings.

Nick takes precautionary measures instead, moving his entire team to the prison to work throughout the night. After Clyde’s deadline passes without incident, Nick releases his team. While walking to his car, all of Nick’s legal assistants were killed in car bombings, including his friend Sarah Lowell. Nick privately meets Clyde, beating and yelling at him in frustration that, if they had tried to convict Ames and Darby, they might have gone free. Clyde counters that Nick is apathetic and that if he had at least tried but failed, Clyde would have accepted it. Nick demands an end to the killings, but Clyde responds that he is just beginning. While leaving Sarah’s funeral, Cantrell is killed by a weaponized bomb disposal robot. Nick prepares to resign, but the irate mayor instead promotes Nick to act District Attorney and locks the city down.

Nick learns that Clyde owns a building near the prison. A tunnel inside leads to a cache of guns, disguises, and other equipment below the solitary confinement cells, with secret entrances to each cell. Nick realizes that Clyde intentionally sought solitary confinement, allowing him to leave the prison undiscovered and kill while misleading the police. Evidence points to Clyde’s next target, City Hall, where the mayor is holding an emergency meeting. Nick and his men fail to find Clyde, instead discovering a suitcase bomb planted in the room below the meeting.

Clyde returns to his cell and is surprised to find Nick waiting for him. Clyde suggests another deal, but an enlightened Nick replies that he no longer makes deals with terrorists. Nick tries to reason with Clyde, but Clyde activates the suitcase bomb. Nick immediately leaves, locking Clyde’s cell behind him while Dunnigan closes off the secret passage. Hearing the ringtone of the detonator, Clyde discovers the bomb Nick hid underneath his bed. Clyde briefly smiles and returns to his bed, looking at his daughter’s bracelet as the bomb explodes.

The epilogue shows Nick and his wife watching their daughter perform on cello a classical music piece, an after-school staged event that he previously had failed to find time to attend.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, Law Abiding Citizen only received a 26% positive rating from 162 critics, with the general consensus being that the film contained too much unnecessary violence and a weak plot.

However, the film was a commercial success, grossing approximately $127.9 million worldwide.

In May 2022, it was announced that a sequel to Law Abiding Citizen was in development. Kurt Wimmer will return as screenwriter, while Gerard Butler will produce alongside other producers. While plot details have not been revealed, the producers said they are looking forward to continuing to explore these characters and believe the film’s themes are even more relevant in today’s climate.

Law Abiding Citizen raises profound questions about the line between justice and revenge, as well as the effectiveness of the legal system in protecting citizens. The film revolves around Clyde Shelton, who witnesses the brutal murder of his family. When the justice system fails to adequately punish the perpetrators, Clyde decides to take justice into his own hands, targeting both the murderers and those who support the corrupt legal system.

The film depicts the overload and shortcomings of the government and the justice system, as well as their confusion over complex issues such as justice. At the same time, the film instills sympathy in the audience for both main characters.

Clyde’s story makes the audience ask: When the legal system fails, is self-administered justice justified? The film depicts the conflict between the individual’s need for justice and the legal process, challenging the audience to reflect on ethics and social responsibility.

However, taking justice into one’s own hands like Clyde’s can lead to chaos and danger, as individuals put themselves above the law. The film emphasizes the importance of improving the legal system to ensure fairness, while warning about the consequences of personal vendettas.

Law Abiding Citizen does not provide a clear answer, but encourages viewers to reflect on the fine line between justice and vendetta, as well as the role of the legal system in protecting citizens.