Punch

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.

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.

What starts out looking like a pretty standard slasher it soon becomes its own thing. Yes there are clear influences from classic horror movies but not just the Hollywood slashers you'd expect.

A very British movies, with some familiar faces from UK TV and horror movies. The cast are all great, especially the 3 newcomers who are the leads. So well shot, seaside towns can be as eerie as hell,the soundtrack adds to the atmosphere. Violent but not too over the top and when it's meant to be it is very funny.

I rarely say this nowadays, but I really hope it becomes a franchise. The ending left me begging for more.

Watched at Dead and SudBuried 2023.

Saw this today at the Bournemouth horror movie film festival "screams by the sea" Loved it. I wont spoil it other than to say it builds into a fantastic movie with some great twists along the way. I thought the cinematography was spot on, some great drone shot and performances by the actors. It showed a very bleak looking dying northern seaside town and the reality of living in a place like that. The killer was genuinely disturbing, my only negative, the way the audio was mixed (or maybe it was the speakers at the venue) you could only understand about 30% of what the protagonist was saying. Recommended.

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.