Thomas Storai 
“The Punisher: One Last Kill is a compelling character study that is at the same time deeply emotional and action-packed. Jon Bernthal delivers a poignant, emotionally resonant performance.”
The Punisher: One Last Kill is the latest Marvel Television Special Presentation; the first one was Werewolf by Night. After making his return in Daredevil Born Again season 1, Jon Bernthal takes the Punisher in a new solo story with this special before making the jump to the big screen with Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July. The special is now on Disney +.
THE AFTERMATH OF REVENGE
Werewolf by Night proved that Marvel could use the Special Presentation to tell self-contained stories that didn’t require a full film or series. It’s definitely a useful medium, one that Star Wars should also consider using. With that, they can tell small and yet important stories. Fans were definitely happy to see the Punisher return in Daredevil Born Again, and this Special allows the story to fully focus on him for a specific event.
This story dives deep into Frank Castle’s mind, exploring what happens to him now that he has taken his revenge. His search for meaning is a deeply emotional one. It’s a compelling character study that shows how he feels, what he thinks, and what he imagines. It really shows him as vulnerable. As the audience, you’ll feel sorry for him. Taking revenge doesn’t bring the peace he had hoped for. On the contrary, it’s a struggle that’s tearing him apart.
AN ACTION-PACKED RIDE
Because it’s a Punisher story, there’s the violence part as well. There’s definitely the right balance between drama and action. Undoubtedly, it delivers on all sides. Once the fighting starts, it doesn’t hold back and goes full action-packed. It’s a thrilling and extremely violent ride. A full dose of adrenaline. As you expect from the Punisher, the fight choreography is impeccably executed. It doesn’t disappoint. There are a lot of dead bodies. What happens is a real challenge for Frank. It gets messy, and that’s exactly what we love about the character.
CAST
Undeniably, Jon Bernthal is perfect as Frank Castle. He knows how to handle the emotional side of the character, his inner struggles, and how to handle the physicality of the character. He delivers a poignant, emotionally resonant performance that lingers with you as the credits roll. Beyond his performance, Jon Bernthal is fully committed to the character to the point that he co-wrote the story with director Reinaldo Marcus Green. It’s great to see actors being that involved with the characters they portray. He did find the right story to tell.
VERDICT
The Punisher: One Last Kill is a compelling character study that is, at the same time, deeply emotional and action-packed. It doesn’t hold back, delivering an extremely violent ride. Jon Bernthal delivers a poignant, emotionally resonant performance. Marvel once again proves the Special Presentation format works, and hopefully, this means they’ll continue with these one-shot stories.
The Punisher: One Last Kill is streaming on Disney +.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
