Stanisland Magazine

Jon Bernthal’s new The Punisher movie is an exciting and action-packed episode with a short fuse of story

The Punisher has stepped out of obscurity in recent years thanks to Jon Bernthal‘s guttural portrayal of the violent vigilante. His latest performance as Frank Castle in The Punisher: One Last Kill did indeed stoke major swooning from fans as a tie-in to the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day — but does it live up to expectations?

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As far as renditions of The Punisher go, Bernthal continues to put in the work as the extreme anti-hero, and from the film’s opening, we’re again given a window into his long-standing battle against PTSD, sparked by both the murder of his family and his military service.

What You Need To Know

The film is co-written with Bernthal and its director Reinaldo Marcus Green (with whom he also worked on HBO’s We Own This City). In The Punisher: One Last Kill, Castle’s history with the Gnucci family (loosely based on Welcome Back, Frank) catches up with him, as the family’s mother, Ma Gnucci (Judith Light), now wheelchair-bound, sets out for revenge by placing a bounty on his head. Mama Gnucci gives Castle until 06:47 pm — the exact time her youngest son was killed in front of her — before a message containing his location is sent out to a community of hitmen. Castle spends much of that time hallucinating, finally taking action after looking down at his legs — because they’re on fire, of course.

The Verdict

While it’s entertaining, it clocks in at 51 minutes and really is quite pointless. It’s not an insufferable piece of filmmaking, but it also left me pondering: why didn’t they just shoot a new season like everyone wants?

Like Judge Dredd, the bulk of the action takes place in a housing estate, where we see Bernthal grunt his way through the compound in true series 1 and 2 fashion. Chopping and shooting his way through a terrifying number of punks and crooks, throwing them off balconies, all while the complex slowly catches fire, it makes for a diverting watch of sorts.

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The actor is thrown off rooftops and lands on buses, but one moment still haunts the entire experience — despite all these theatrics, Bernthal’s CGI stand-in is captured falling off a building into an electrical box. Really? After all the aforementioned, Disney decided they’re going to slide in a CGI rendering of the actor? And to make matters worse, it’s in slow motion, so you really can’t unsee it.

Overall, it’s an okay watch, but it is far from a finished article. If anything, it dampens the connection to the original series. Given we’re not likely to get another season of The Punisher, and that this doesn’t really tie in anything to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we’re left wondering, what was the point? It’s enjoyable, but the same Frank Castle isn’t turning up for Spidey’s new movie.

The Cast

• Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle / The Punisher)
• Judith Light (Ma Gnucci)
• Jason R. Moore (Curtis Hoyle)
• Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page)
• Kelli Barrett (Maria Castle)
• Andre Royo (Dre)
• John Douglas Thompson (Johnny)
• Colton Hill (Colton Hill)
• Nick Koumalatsos (Nick)
• Jamal Lloyd Johnson (Barry)
• Roe Rancell (Dennis)
• Mila Jaymes (Charli)
• Dominick Mancino (Benny Gnucci)
• Joseph DeVito (Bobby Gnucci)
• David Manuele (Carlo Gnucci)
• Eduardo Campirano (Frank Castle Jr.)
• Addie Bernthal (Lisa Castle)
• Mugga (Debbie)
• Dónall Ó Héalal (Mickey)
• Rafael R. Green (Isaiah)
• Evelyn O. Vaccaro (Isaiah’s Mother)
• Jesse Ray Sheps (Adnan)
• Meltem Gulturk (Mother)
• Eon Song (Nurse)
• Annika Pergament (Herself)
• George Schroeder (Gruff Man)
• Henry Corvino (Eddie Gnucci Jr.)
• Victor Dobro (Marine #1)
• Pedro Hector Mojica (Marine #2)
• David Collins (TV Newscaster)
• Philip J. Silvera (Thug)

Streaming Options

The Punisher: One Last Kill is available to watch exclusively on Disney+.