The Punisher: One Last Kill is an all gas, no brakes, red-blooded action thriller that takes Marvel’s most violent, The Punisher (Jon Bernthal, The Bear), and plunges him into a Raid-like premise where every crook in Little Sicily section of New York is gunning for his life to collect the bounty placed on his head.
It cannot be overstated that this is an extremely violent film where blood is spilled in gallons, and no deaths are shown off screen. If this is not your brand of bourbon (and there’s nothing wrong with that), then maybe wait for Frank Castle to show up in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. If this is something you’re into then buckle up sailor, because this is everything you wanted from a Punisher special and more.
The premise of The Punisher: One Last Kill is pretty straightforward. Frank Castle, free from Wilson Fisk’s prison in Red Hook, has laid waste to the Gnucci Crime Family in Little Sicily. In the wake of the mob’s demise, all hell has broken loose as anarchy rules the streets. Frank, as he’s prone to be, is haunted by his family’s death and his military past. He cares not for the world around him, one he has created. That is until Ma Gnucci (Judith Light in a truly unhinged performance) confronts him about slaughtering her family, and informs him that at 6:47 p.m. every criminal in the city will be coming after him to collect the bounty she placed on his head—a bounty that requires his death. And, when 6:47 p.m. hits, all hell does break loose.
It’s absolutely wild that Marvel greenlit this project. Yes, you can find the very R-Rated back episodes of Daredevil, The Punisher, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist on Disney+. However, none of these are viewed as necessary viewing for the very PG-13 rated Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Nor are any of them in the Disney+ carousel with the new season of the Disney Chibiverse. The sheer amount of gore and unflinching violence is so intense and over the top that it makes last week’s finale for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 look like a bedtime story Marvel would tell Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel during a wholesome sleepover.
Jon Bernthal is perfect in the role of Frank Castle. He always has been. However, here in this story that he co-wrote, it’s the perfect story to put Frank on the side of the angels. He’s always been a shoot first, second and third type of guy who will help his friends (especially Karen Page), but he’s never been Mr. Civic Duty. He’s more about killing them all and letting God sort out the rest. Here, we do see a human side of Frank, and Bernthal knows this character so well that he humanizes Frank in the final act with just a nod of the head and a look in his eye. Marvel needs to do everything in its power to keep Bernthal in this role, as he is absolutely perfect.
Also, it cannot be emphasized enough just how good Judith Light is in the special. If you only know her as Angela Robinson from Who’s the Boss? or from her work on Broadway, you’ll be floored at her portrayal of Ma Gnucci. Even if you celebrate her entire filmography you’ll still be floored. Light portrays a woman broken by Frank’s actions and a venom-spewing criminal hellbent on revenge in the same sentence with such brilliance.
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green (Bob Marley: One Love), the entire stunt team, and cinematographer Robert Elswsitt (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) crafted such incredible action sequences. The camera work is absolutely phenomenal as the siege of Castle’s apartment complex feels like it’s shot near documentary-style. And in the third act, there’s a sequence fueled by such a perfect musical choice, that describing it would actually ruin it for you if you haven’t seen it. And if you have seen it, you know exactly the scene, and you know how much that ruled.
The Punisher: One Last Kill was simply a perfect vehicle for Frank Castle (and a reminder that Marvel should do special presentations more often!) It was a batshit crazy action film that allows his character to come to a clear understanding of what he needs to do with his life—be a hero. And what’s more Marvel than that?
