'The Punisher: One Last Kill' Why Shorter is Better
Let me tell you something about the Punisher. He’s not a very interesting character. Maybe there’s more lore to him in the comics, but for popular media, he’s almost one-note. Frank’s family gets killed by a bunch of mobsters, so he dedicates the rest of his life to murdering criminals. It’s the classic Inigo Montoya Princess Bride bit. You killed someone I love; now you must die. It’s an easy arc to follow. Who wouldn’t want to go on a killing spree if everyone you loved was whacked? That is, if you don’t mind jail time? Stretching Frank Castle’s story into an entire television series is overkill, whereas The Punisher: One Last Kill is the type of short and sweet Punisher story that delivers on everything the character is iconic for, and a little more.
Is Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle comic accurate? The stoic presence of the character Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, and Ray Stevenson brought to the screen is replaced by an emotionally unstable maniac. I don’t remember a time when Frank screamed continually like a gorilla, then later broke down in tears. But this isn’t a complaint. Castle was a flat, emotionless figure before Benrthal came in, bringing some reality and dimension to Frank. Instead of just some guy who wants vengeance, Frank suffers from PTSD due to a military that neglected him. He’s more of a statement on the plight of soldiers who are tossed aside by their country. For all that “thank you for your service” nonsense, America might as well say “thoughts and prayers” as they do with school shootings instead of doing anything productive that can save lives.
When we see Frank in One Last Kill, he’s an alcoholic, Max Payne 3 mess. After wiping out the targets he needed to with nothing left to do, Frank drowns his miseries while the world around him burns. In a fantastic single-take scene, Frank wanders the streets of Little Italy as madness engulfs him. All the punishment Frank laid out is for nothing, as he still suffers from trauma, can’t let go of his grief, and crime is even worse than when he took care of it.
This is a far more interesting interpretation of a character who initially didn’t have much dimension. In real life, Frank Castle wouldn’t be a silent killer. He’d more likely be like this, a completely unhinged madman. Yet he harms only those who deserve it. Castle does questionable things, yet he’s not the bad guy. He’s simply misunderstood. All of these layers are explored in the Punisher TV series, which should not be 13 episodes per season, while also constantly cutting to the boring cop character.
Disney seems to have learned from Netflix’s series and has vastly shortened Frank Castle’s story into something too brief. At 44 minutes (47 if you include credits), The Punisher: One Last Kill exits abruptly. It ends where you’d like it to continue. Yet, that’s the intention of the special. Mislabeled as something that sounds like the end for the Punisher is actually a new beginning. One Last Kill sets itself up for more Punisher action. Hopefully, it’s for a movie instead of a series. If OLK proves anything, it’s that less is more. We get in a nutshell that Frank’s abuse from his past led him to where he is today. He was messed up before his family even died. Frank’s the vet the country neglects, while baby boomers who avoided service send young people to die.
As fascinating as Frank’s trauma is, a TV series beats the point over the audience's head like a led pipe coming from Frank’s hand. Although 44 minutes is too short, it captures the character beautifully and gives Frank a reason to kill again. This isn’t One Last Kill; it’s a kill that will lead down a spiral of endless violence until Frank dies himself. There’s no walking into the sunset for this character. Actions have consequences. The more people Frank puts in the ground, the more pop-up-like blossoming flowers to hunt him down. That’s the message Disney seems to be going for. Violence is never the answer. Meanwhile, The Avengers utilize violence to seize extraterrestrial and interdimensional threats.
The biggest problem with the Punisher isn’t on screen, yet. When Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes out, how’s Frank Castle going to fit in that universe? The Punisher is bloody and gritty, while Spidey is light and fun. Putting an assassin like Frank Castle in a world filled with Gods dilutes Frank’s impact. He should be in his own world, not the candy colored MCU. Until the new Spider-Man releases, audiences can enjoy the best interpretation of the Punisher we’ve seen yet. Even if he’s a little too animalistic for a stiff character, this condensed version of a damaged man trying to find a reason to live is some awesome stuff that Punisher and non-Punisher fans can enjoy.
