The Producers wish to thank
THE NEW SOUTH WALES FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE
and
THE KENDO CLUB OF WILLOUGHBY
For their assistance and co-operation
I love Tubi as a streaming service because it is a great repository for remastered versions of cult classics and older films, no doubt ported over from recent physical media releases from Arrow Video, Shout Factory, Vinegar Syndrome, etc. And then you’ll stumble across a title that’s been clearly ripped from an antiquated medium, desaturated colours and the tell-tale sign of a fuzzy VHS tape line popping up in a scene, which was the visual quality I found the Dolph Lundgren version of The Punisher, which was appropriate as I always remembered its R-rated video cassette cover from video stores in my youth.
I’m surprised it took me this long to see it, as I used to read Marvel comics when I was a kid and liked The Punisher back the because it was a comic-book version of an action movie with its Death Wish style hero. Released in the year that Tim Burton’s Batman would set the template for a new wave of comic-book movies, this first screen version of The Punisher was from the era when Marvel adaptations were whispered rumours, whether it was the lost Roger Corman produced version of The Fantastic Four, or the disappointing video release of Albert Pyun’s Captain America. The Dolph Lundgren version would disappoint fans as it never even had the character wear its iconic skull logo, as if to distance itself from the comic-book origins.
And yet, what a comic-book movie! There’s a clear sense of style from the insert shots of spinning stabbing implements thrown by ninjas attacking the mafia, to the low angle searching tracking shots through the sewers to where Frank Castle sits nude in his lair in front of a fire, to a climactic shoot-out bathed in red lighting when the power is knocked out. Obviously fuelled by its meshing of violent action movies and martial arts cinema, with a further level of interest for Australian audiences in being filmed in New South Wales (playing the part of an American city), as evidenced by recognisable Australian character actors in bit parts with American accents (Richard Carter from Mad Max: Fury Road as a cop) to the use of iconic Luna Park as a double for a Coney Island style theme park setting. It’s also a trip to see Lundgren being aided by a drunken thespian named “Shakes” played by great Australian actor Barry Otto in a very Barry Otto performance; Walter Brennan to Lundgren’s John Wayne.
Costuming-wise, Lundgren wears leather pants, all black, razor jack-boots and sports a five o’clock shadow that looks airbrushed on, which adds to his gaunt look as if he was a skull, and he’s great as the merciless avenging angel, spending a five year campaign of killing organised crime soldiers and bosses, seeking vengeance for the death of his family. Directed by Mark Goldblatt (Dead Heat), this has the vibe of Mad Max dropped into a Year of the Dragon style gangland picture. Great supporting cast including Louis Gossett Jr as Castle’s ex-partner on the case, Jerome Krabbe as the mafioso boss, and Kim Miyori as the head of the Yakuza.
Back when Marvel Studios hadn’t locked down their properties, and companies like New World International could aim for an edgy action flick. As a Lundgren fan, I enjoyed his take on the Frank Castle character and the pumped up trashy energy of the movie.
VHS Tracking 