NINETOES VS. PUNISHER: ONE LAST KILL

Ninetoes has seen Disney+’s Punisher: One Last Kill, but is it really Frank Castle’s last stand against the PTSD haunting him?

Follows Frank Castle, a PTSD-addled veteran who returns to action when Ma Gnucci, a wheelchair-bound crime matriarch, seeks revenge after he killed her son, forcing him to fight off the city’s criminals descending upon him.

Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green

Written by Jon Bernthal, Reinaldo Marcus Green, and Gerry Conway

Starring Jon Bernthal, Judith Light, and Debra Ann Woll

Run Time: 60 minutes

Hey there, television lovers. It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am looking at Punisher: One Last Kill. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

The first part of this show makes a powerful statement, shining a light on soldiers dealing with PTSD. We find Frank Castle in his apartment, being tormented by the ghosts of his squadmates. This tears the mantle of “The Punisher” away and brings us a man who is haunted not only by his comrades in arms, but by his family (who were murdered) and several friends. As he sits by the gravestone of his daughter, in a fit of desperation, he proclaims, “I am tired…” and puts a gun to his head. Now ask yourself this: how many soldiers face this dilemma? How many soldiers get to the breaking point and take that final step, just to find peace? One more question, why is there nothing MORE being done to help these people?*

After this initial setup, Frank is visited by another “ghost of his past”, Ma Gnucci (Judith Light). At one point, Frank Castle (The Punisher) takes out every male member of her family, right down to her beloved son, her prince, right before her eyes. She confronts Frank and tells him that at 6:47 p.m., every criminal in Little Sicily will visit the tenement to kill him and everyone who gets in their way. We know where this is going, and for the rest of the show, we are treated to poetic carnage ala Frank Castle in its gory best! Every stab is a period, and every gunshot is an exclamation point in the death sentence that is imposed.

As far as acting goes, this is standard (excellent) fare! Of course, Jon Bernthal blows the screen away with his performance, but it is Judith Light who, in my opinion, steals the show as Ma Gnucci. She has the grieving, pissed off, gonna get revenge at all costs mother down to a science. Her performance is a Masterclass in grief and anger. She is the epitome of feminine rage let loose.

The writing is superb. The show is only a little less than an hour long, and a lot is fit in. It is not rushed. It is paced perfectly, and the viewer is brought ringside to Little Sicily for the event. The main statement is held throughout the show, and it is not forgotten.

The settings, Little Sicily, and the tenement building were exceptional. In a way, it is reminiscent of the movie Dredd, and I was down for it! We have a city, and a mega building where all the action goes down. It lent to an overall claustrophobic feel that had me holding my breath for most of the show.

This show is perfect for Punisher fans, action fans, and drama fans.

Until the next time, I bid you happy viewing!

*If you wish to help a veteran suffering from PTSD, consider donating to:

Military Veteran Nonprofit | Hope For The Warriors

or

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.