Review: Jon Bernthal Shines In ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’

Marvel Television’s latest Special Presentation, The Punisher: One Last Kill, serves as a gritty, 45 minute re-introduction to Frank Castle. Picking up after his escape in Daredevil: Born Again, the story follows a weary Frank living off the grid in the New York district of Little Sicily. Haunted by hallucinations of his past, he is forced back into the fray when the Gnucci crime family places a bounty on his head. While it functions as a standalone character study, it is clearly positioned as a precursor to his upcoming inclusion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Jon Bernthal is, as always, terrific in the role. You can truly feel his pain through the screen as he portrays a man enveloped in hopelessness and struggling with severe PTSD. His performance remains the anchor of the character, bringing a visceral, psychological complexity that few other MCU portrayals reach.

The special does not shy away from mature action. It is incredibly gruesome and hectic, especially during the main fight sequence in the apartment complex. The choreography is bloody and relentless, leaning into the R-rated carnage fans have come to expect from the character. However, the production isn’t flawless. There is one particularly questionable CGI part that looks quite poor and takes you out of the moment.

Ultimately, this special does not really show the viewer anything new. Everything showcased, from Frank’s grief to his ‘one-man army’ tactics, has been touched on before during his own two seasons and his appearances in Daredevil. Because the episode does not clear up all loose ends, it feels less like a definitive ending and more like a pilot for a future season of The Punisher, which most fans would certainly welcome.

It is a great Special Presentation that leaves us itching for more of Frank Castle. Thankfully, with his role in the next Spider-Man film just around the corner, we do not need to wait too long to see him back in action.