Review of Punisher: War Zone (2008) by Tristan V — 10 Jan 2010

The Punisher: War Zone is the best Punisher film thus far. That isn't exactly the greatest praise in the world, but this isn't exactly the greatest film in the world.

What this IS however is glouriouslly gory good fun. It's possibly the most mean spirited superhero film you'll ever see. It's also a surprisingly beautiful film at times, the set design and cinematography giving real visual flair to a film that feels like a throwback to the rather flat looking action films of the 80s.

It's also gifted with a central trio of performances which make the film work. Ray Stevenson appears to be in a completely different film to everyone else, but his stoic, humourless, vaguely sociopathic performance actually helps to keep things afloat in the opening thirty minutes. Dominic West and Doug Hutchinson as a pair of manic, mafia, brothers dominate the second half of the film and it's clear that both actors are having a ball as the villains of the piece. West in particular is just utterly charismatic even underneath the most repulsive makeup since Mason Verger.