'The Punisher: One Last Kill' Is a Must-See Not Only for Fans of Frank Castle, but Also of Brutal Action Movies

On May 12, The Punisher special titled One Last Kill, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green was released.

The 40-minute special is short but powerful, offering pure, concentrated action. It's a must-see for Punisher fans and connoisseurs of gritty action movies alike.

What Is 'The Punisher: One Last Kill' About?

Frank Castle lives in the Little Sicily neighborhood of NYC. He suffers from hallucinations in which he sees people from his tragic past. His long-awaited revenge on the Gnucci family, who are responsible for the deaths of his wife and children, has brought him no peace.

The clan members' deaths have led to a sharp increase in crime on the neighborhood's streets – a power struggle has begun, leaving defenseless citizens as the victims.

Castle receives an uninvited visitor: the matriarch of the Gnucci crime family. She intends to avenge her family's deaths and has placed a huge bounty on the Punisher's head.

The First Half of 'One Last Kill' Is an Unexpectedly Profound Exploration of PTSD & Mental Anguish

For more than half of the special, Frank Castle is consumed by psychological trauma and mental anguish. Jon Bernthal masterfully embodies the iconic character once again, portraying him as full of withering rage and toxic pain.

The creators of the show demonstrate that achieving revenge isn't a universal cure for all problems. Instead, helping others – even if it's utterly uncompromising – can provide a sense of meaning when what's most precious has been lost.

This topic is explored in One Last Kill with a depth that is rare in the genre.

'One Last Kill' Is Exactly What You'd Expect From 'The Punisher' in Terms of Brutal and Violent Action

The second half of One Last Kill features the Punisher going about his usual business. It's a reverse version of The Raid – Frank isn't breaking into a building, he's trying to escape a crowd of mercenaries hungry for the bounty on his head.

He deals with his enemies with the utmost brutality, using machine guns, pistols, axes, knives, and any other available objects in his signature merciless style. Fortunately, Disney doesn't limit the creators, who don't shy away from showing the gruesome details.

The action is filmed spectacularly and powerfully, with almost every punch and shot setting a high standard for the genre. Following the recent carnage in the finale of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, this new special confidently takes the top spot on the Disney universe's gritty charts.

The Punisher: One Last Kill doesn't offer anything radically new for those who have watched the Netflix series. However, in the context of the modern MCU, this special feels like a breath of fresh air, filled with concentrated fury.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'?

• The Punisher: One Last Kill has 77% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the special has a score of 7.6/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Punisher: One Last Kill scored 3.4/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'?

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