Charles Bronson gives a splendidly steely and stoical performance as Arthur Bishop, a merciless and meticulous, but stressed-out aging veteran hit-man who lives by his own strict personal moral code. Cocky eager beaver Steve McKenna (excellently played by Jan-Michael Vincent) befriends Bishop. Bishop teaches McKenna the tricks of his lethal trade. But does McKenna have some other nefarious secret agenda concerning Bishop? Tautly directed in a supremely mean'n'lean stripped-down no-nonsense style by Michael ("Death Wish") Winner, with a crafty and ingenious script by Lewis John Carlino, slick cinematography by Robert H. Kline, a superbly shivery'n'spooky score by Jerry Fielding, and several stirring slam-bang action set pieces, this fine film certainly makes the grade as a very tense, exciting and suspenseful crime thriller. Popping up in nifty minor roles are Keenan Wynn as a crusty mob capo and Jill Ireland as an alluring prostitute. From its bravura laconic, virtually wordless first fifteen minutes to its startling double whammy surprise twist ending, this superior favorite never makes a single false step and delivers the immensely satisfying goods with exceptional skill and efficiency.

This is the original version of "The Mechanic" and I have not seen the remake....mostly because I am not a big fan of remakes. I do know the remake has a different ending

The film follows the exploits of Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson),a hired killer or 'mechanic'. Much of the film just shows the complex way that Bishop plans and executes the killings...as if his actions as works of art. And, in most cases he wants to make these deaths look like accidents. But this very cold and calculating killer lets his guard down a bit when he takes a young apprentice under his wing. Steven McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent) is actually the son of one of Bishop's contracts...and like Bishop, Steven seems to have little conscience or remorse. To see where all this is headed, see the film.

Considering the plot, it isn't very surprising that is a violent action film. However, the violence wasn't generally gratuitous and the plot quite exciting. Not Bronson's best, but among his best...though I am pretty sure many will hate the downbeat ending. I actually thought the ending was great.

The Mechanic has Charles Bronson as an aging professional hit-man who seems to take his orders from an amorphous group known as the syndicate. The only time we ever see a higher up is when Frank DeKova gives Bronson a rush assignment in Italy, that turns out to be a lot more than he bargained for.

For reasons that are never explained Bronson gets an assignment to hit Keenan Wynn, an old friend of his father's who was also in the business. And Wynn has a son Jan-Michael Vincent, a really amoral young man who wants to learn the ropes himself.

I cannot figure for the life of me why Bronson takes in Vincent and does show him the ropes. Bronson is a loner, but even loners need friends at times. I've always felt there's an undercurrent of homosexuality in the relationship. But Vincent turns out to be quite the user.

There's enough shooting and violence for those who like it in The Mechanic. As characters though, I really can't feel too much for either Bronson or Vincent.

I will say this, the ending is quite good and quite unique.