Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, in the latest MCU Special Presentation, and the first reviews are out now. Titled The Punisher: One Last Kill, the standalone release arrives on Disney+ as a must-watch for action fans, not just Marvel devotees, with arguably a franchise-best performance from its lead and a satisfying villainous turn by Judith Light. The violence may be a bit much for some viewers, however, while others may be disappointed in the brief runtime.
We do get…cameos from characters we know and love in the greater Marvel universe, including confirmation on how Frank feels about one character in particular. – Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
It eventually goes the way of pretty much anything else the MCU touches: an empty vessel for more empty spectacle to come. – Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
It’s a bracing stunner…to discover the most exhilarating combat in the studio’s history in The Punisher: One Last Kill. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
The latter [half] amounts to some of the best action ever captured in any MCU installment. – Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
The action is relentless, and several moments genuinely leave you stunned at how far Marvel was willing to push things…some moments are absolutely jaw-dropping. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Action sequences are colored by Frank’s inner turmoil. He’s struggling to find the will to live, and so his violence is a lot more aggressive, even for Frank. – Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
If you were worried that One Last Kill wasn’t going to lean into the violence, don’t be. Frank Castle literally starts his blood bath on fire. – Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
To put it plainly, Jon Bernthal‘s anti-hero Punisher does a lot of killing in his Marvel Special Presentation. A whole lot…the violence lets loose like a firehose. – Jordan Moreau, Variety
Frank shoots, stabs, and pummels everyone he encounters in a hard-R-rated series of action scenes unlike anything we’ve seen from Marvel before. – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
The Punisher: One Last Kill explodes in carnage that would make most R-rated movies gasp in horror…it’s a bloodbath of shocking proportions. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
Does it also go deeper into the character’s mental and emotional states?
Crafting a claustrophobic and nightmarish headspace for the now-former Punisher…[director Reinaldo Marcus Green] takes things in a more emotional direction. – Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
Beneath all the bloodshed is a story deeply rooted in PTSD, grief, survivor’s remorse, and the psychological damage left behind after years of vengeance…what truly makes One Last Kill work is how emotionally broken Frank Castle feels underneath all the chaos. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
[There is one] hauntingly moving scene that most action blockbusters, no matter how tortured their macho protagonists are, wouldn’t dare show — much less a Marvel movie that normally punctuates shootouts with punchlines. – Jordan Moreau, Variety
Delivering his best performance yet as this character, Bernthal is a force of nature…it’s to his credit that he can pull off the complicated nature of a man like Frank. – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
This time he’s pushed to his breaking point…One Last Kill cements his Punisher as one of Marvel’s most singular performances. – Jordan Moreau, Variety
Does Judith Light play a great Marvel villain?
While her role is relatively minor…the actress’s venomous reading of her lines helps tee up the madness that ensues (and establishes her as a truly hateful villain). – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
One of the project’s biggest surprises is just how compelling Judith Light is as Ma Gnucci…Rather than simply playing a stereotypical crime boss, [she] gives the character real emotional depth. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Is it too short?
An extra 10, 20, or hell, 60 minutes would have been beneficial, but this works perfectly as a standalone tale that smashes open the door for this character’s continued exploration in the MCU. – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
[It’s not] long enough to tell us anything we didn’t know about the antihero. – Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
Does it use its time wisely?
Clocking in at a mere 48 minutes, the Special is incredibly fast-paced. During that brief runtime, it effectively and thoughtfully explores the themes of grief, PTSD, and revenge. – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
If only the rest of The Punisher: One Last Kill could’ve maintained the same momentum and narrative drive as its first twenty minutes. – Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
Will it make us want a new Punisher series?
The Punisher: One Last Kill feels like a one-off comic, which is the point, but it also makes it a great reintroduction to Frank Castle with hope that fans can see the Punisher yet again. – Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
The Punisher: One Last Kill feels like a backdoor pilot for a new solo project…if this is a taste of what we could expect from that, then Marvel Studios needs to make it happen, regardless of whether that’s on a big or small screen. – Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Is it going to make us excited for Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
It still remains to be seen how the M-rated Punisher will fit into this summer’s very PG-13 Spider-Man: Brand New Day. – Jordan Moreau, Variety
