(film review) [STREAMING] - The Punisher: One Last Kill

So, Disney said it was going to produce one-off shows called Special Presentations—standalone stories separate from the wider MCU. So far, we've had Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Strangely enough, Werewolf by Night was really good, and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was even better, although that one still connected to the wider MCU. The Punisher: One Last Kill seemingly does and doesn't at the same time, and it's never entirely clear. What is clear, however, is that this should have been a bottle episode within Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, and here's why.

Frank Castle is hiding out in Little Sicily, a neighbourhood tearing itself apart amid a power vacuum. Haunted by his past and battling PTSD, Frank is approached by a grieving woman whose loss forces him to make a choice: continue his war on the criminals responsible or turn his attention to those who genuinely need saving. Revenge and retribution, or vigilante justice?

At around 50 minutes, this is a short, punchy presentation, but it could easily have been another five or ten minutes longer. A little more dialogue and a few references to the Daredevil corner of the MCU—the state of Hell's Kitchen, the Mayor, or even the remaining Defenders—would have gone a long way. I appreciate this is meant to stand alone, but a little cohesion would have elevated it enormously. As a bottle episode within Daredevil: Born Again, and as an appetiser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it would have made far more sense.

My biggest issue is how disconnected it feels from the current MCU narrative. That may be intentional, but it mostly functions as an introduction for viewers who never watched The Punisher, Daredevil Season 2, or Frank's appearances in Daredevil: Born Again. Does it take place before Season 1? During Season 2? Somewhere else entirely? It's impossible to tell. While entertaining, it ultimately feels like an excuse to give Frank a solo outing and perhaps explain where he is before Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That's really my only complaint because, for the most part, this is Frank Castle unleashed. Think his prison escape from Daredevil Season 2 stretched to nearly 50 minutes—brutal, relentless, and immensely satisfying.

The story is flimsy, the score does its job, and most of the supporting performances are merely serviceable. Jonathan Bernthal, however, is superb. He brings every ounce of Frank's torment to the screen—the PTSD, the inner conflict, the grief and the hallucinations—all with complete conviction. When the action starts, it's exactly what you'd expect: gritty, savage and uncompromisingly violent.

The problem is that, beyond Bernthal's performance and the action, there isn't much else here. I wanted stronger connections to the wider story and a little more substance. This didn't need to be restricted to a single 50-minute presentation; a three-episode arc would have given the story room to breathe. Instead, it simply ends, offering very little in the way of resolution.