Punch

No pun intended - actually this has quite a few of those. It is not called punch for nothing .. though I reckon you could bat your life on something else too ... did I spell something wrong? I think not ... another pun might be something you just witnessed.

But enough of my weirdness, let's get into the weirdness of the movie. That plays with its location - a friend of mine was raised in a small town like the one we see here. And I reckon there could be more movies like this one - even from the same director. And maybe some of the cast - as in sequels, prequels and all that (not sure about going to space, which was suggested during the Q&A at the Frightfest screening I attended) ... or Ibiza .. though I imagine it would be fun to shoot there and would be quite the different take (again no pun intended).

The actors were nice - well I think good would be a more apt word/description. There is a darkness here and it is not so much the time of day (night) it was shot. Can you dig what the movies does? And where it ends up? That actually may be the biggest issue with the movie ... or its biggest draw ... depending on how you feel about it .. it won't leave you cold (another pun?) that's for sure ...

Good evening, everyone! I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we'll be diving into the film Punch. I had the opportunity to watch the movie on Paramount. This movie originally premiered on August 24, 2023, and has a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It is rated for viewers aged 18 and older. Notably, parts of the film were filmed in East Sussex, England, UK. As someone on the autism spectrum, I found subtitles to be incredibly helpful, greatly enhancing my ability to follow the dialogue throughout the film. The film was both directed and written by Andy Edwards.

Summary: Frankie returns to her seaside hometown for a last night out with friends before heading to university, but their celebration is disrupted by Mr Punch, a menacing figure from local folklore, wielding a baseball bat.

Review: -The movie's opening was engaging; although the prologue was perplexing at first, its significance became clearer by the end of the film. The film effectively conveys a powerful commentary on the decline of seaside towns, the challenges faced by contemporary British society, and a scathing critique of authority, delving into the complex themes of domestic abuse and patriarchy, thus providing a thought-provoking narrative. Initial pacing felt somewhat sluggish, yet the narrative gained momentum as it unfolded. While the film presented some captivating sequences, it ultimately succumbed to a degree of repetitiveness and predictability towards its conclusion. The overall experience, though containing moments of genuine engagement, fell short of its full potential. The comedic aspects of the film felt somewhat contrived and lacking in humour, which was a missed opportunity for greater comedic impact. The movie does employ its humour through Mr. Punch's witty oneliners. The performances were a mixed bag, with Kierston delivering a compelling portrayal, fully embodying her character with remarkable authenticity and emotional depth. Alina also provided a strong performance, effectively conveying both terror and resilience. However, the supporting cast's performances were less impactful, which I found detracting somewhat from the overall experience. The dialogue presented a mixed experience; while occasionally engaging, it veered into the realm of the exaggerated and absurd, creating a noticeable disconnect between realistic conversation and the lines delivered. The narrative suffered from an overabundance of exposition, where information was explicitly stated rather than subtly revealed through action or context. Despite these shortcomings, the campy nature of the writing did offer a certain charm. The film's emotional resonance was significantly amplified by its score, which masterfully enhanced both the suspense and the overall tone; simultaneously, the sound design enriched the film's immersive qualities, establishing a palpable sense of place and atmosphere.

-The "Mr Punch" mask, while achieving a stark and unsettling visual, possessed a simplicity that, while effective, could have been amplified to heighten its unsettling nature. I found that the film's depiction of gore was somewhat realistic. I feel that by incorporating point-of-view shots from Mr. Punch's perspective, showcasing what he sees through the eye gaps in his mask, would heighten the tension and create a more immersive experience, making his presence feel more ominous and intense as he closes in on his targets. The cinematography played a pivotal role, with a diverse range of shots enhancing the storytelling and immersing the viewer. The film masterfully utilized its seaside location, leveraging the environment to cultivate a palpable sense of unease and amplify the narrative's impact. The gentle lighting established a nuanced atmosphere that I found appealing; however, while all the essential elements in each frame were distinctly visible, some parts could have benefited from additional brightness. Personally, I often adjust my screen's brightness for a better viewing experience, which proved particularly helpful during this film. The film's editing presents a generally positive experience, yet certain sequences could benefit from refinement, as some transitions feel somewhat abrupt. The impact of the party scenes could have been enhanced by a more judicious application of slow-motion techniques, which occasionally felt overused.

-I found the ending quite compelling and would welcome the opportunity to see it developed into a franchise, as I would certainly watch any future instalments.

I rate each film I watch out of 10 and for this one, I give it a 6.4 Remember this was what I thought about the movie personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

I would rather be punched than have to sit through this again. The sound guy for this must have lied in his resume or maybe it was just something that went wrong. Whatever the cause the sound was muffled and it made it difficult for me to make out most of the dialogue. The location and the location shots were good. The lead actress seemed capable the actress that played the mother was chewing through the scenery ( a bit over the top ) . We have seen this story before and done better. If only the sound was better but it wasn't. Less than 90 minutes but felt like 2:30 . The one thing I liked was the ending . The ending was a nice twist but not enough to redeem the film.

The visuals in the movie are actually good, but the rest is so bad it doesn't matter by the end. Killer is hard to understand at times with the electro-voice box, characters don't react as they should to events in front of them, and the kills are all boring except for the one with the redhead on the dock. Ending was puzzling and an attempt at a twist I guess. The twist was it didn't make sense or work at all. End credits say 'Mr. Punch will be back' so the makers seemed pretty confident they made a franchise starter. Um, no. It's nice that the friends of the crew gave the movie 8s out of 10, but watch it and you'll want to have a little talk with them afterwards. In the end, I watched this on Tubi, so free streaming. I still want my money back.

Punch is a low budget British slasher horror set in a down-at-heal seaside town.

It's a nice try, but it wears its influences on its sleeve and suffers from an identity crisis as a result. Is this a social commentary on teenage life and subculture? Is this an 80s-style slasher flick with quips and gags and an amusing killer? Or is it a throwback to the more spiritual horror of the original Wicker Man?

The result is tonally incoherent; one minute deadly serious, the next seeking laughs. Characters act in odd ways with unclear motivations, designed to lead to a particularly obvious conclusion.

A main issue is the serious, family sub-plot that utilises suicide in an attempt to raise emotional stakes, but the jarring tonal shifts undermine this at every opportunity. But do we ever really care about Punch's victims? Not really. Attempting to crowbar in the morality rules of stalk-and-slash into a serious narrative just does not work.

The acting performances are fine for the most part, though the older cast often let the side down. And I'm not so sure the peculiarly British character of Punch will travel well; a horror involving a murderous morris dancer troupe, shin-kicking to the death, or cheese-rolling cult might be just as relatable.

Punch would have been a far better movie had it chosen a lane and then stuck to it.