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Review by James Lindorf
Marvel’s One Shot format gave fans brief but meaningful glimpses into corners of the MCU that the films didn’t have time to explore. They weren’t must-watch events so much as welcome additions for the devoted, and that is exactly the spirit in which “The Punisher: One Last Kill” on Disney+ now.
When we last saw Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), he was breaking out of one of Kingpin’s cages in “Daredevil: Born Again.” Have no fear, you do not need to see that series to enjoy this special event. Fueled by vengeance and rage, Frank’s spiral into the depths is almost complete. Co-written by Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, “One Last Kill” picks up in that dark space and sets about baptizing Frank in a river of blood on his way to something new. The supporting cast includes Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, Frank’s closest friend and a former Navy SARC turned therapy group leader, Deborah Ann Woll returning as Karen Page, and Judith Light making her MCU debut as Ma Gnucci, matriarch of the Gnucci Crime Family.
At just 44 minutes of actual storytime, wall-to-wall action from the 25-minute mark to the end, and no mid or post-credit scenes, “One Last Kill” wastes very little time. The first half does the character work efficiently by deploying Karen and Curtis as two sides of the same coin. Karen reaches Frank at a deeper emotional level, touching the man beneath the skull. At the same time, Curtis speaks to his sense of duty and his obligation to uphold his oath as a Marine. It is a smart division of labor that covers a lot of ground quickly and with minimal involvement from Frank.
Judith Light gets limited screen time but makes the most of her best moment, a face-to-face confrontation with Frank, stating her case that this will be the last day of Frank’s life. However, the flashback establishing their history is less successful, hampered by some cheesy dialogue and flat staging. Whether Ma Gnucci factors into Frank’s future remains to be seen, but she may not be done with him yet, and I would welcome more of her.
This is not Bernthal’s most nuanced work with the character, that belongs to the first season of the Netflix series. That may sound like a complaint, but that was never what this special was meant to be. Initially, Frank communicates largely in grunts, groans, and screams, and Bernthal commits fully to a man not yet capable of much else. What “One Last Kill” is doing is setting the stage for what could be the next great chapter of Frank Castle’s story, with the upcoming Spider-Man film likely to show us who he becomes on the other side of this transition.
The story is linear by design, which means the largest determining factor for your enjoyment of ‘One Last Kill’ is how you feel about the action. Said action is well choreographed and varied enough to sustain its runtime, delivering what has to be the highest body count in a Marvel property that didn’t involve a snap or World War II. Realists may not agree because it leans towards the absurd at times. The supporting CGI is distractingly bad in spots, a recurring issue in this corner of the MCU. Still, it never derails the momentum Green builds.
Green is a talented director with an inconsistent filmography, and “One Last Kill” reflects that. He and Bernthal came up with good material and executed it well without elevating it, which is perfectly acceptable for a transitional piece like this. Green keeps Frank’s world grounded, the pacing tight, and the action exciting for 44 minutes, which is more than enough.
“The Punisher: One Last Kill” is a must-watch for fans of Frank Castle who have been waiting to see where Marvel takes him next. For everyone else, it can go either way. You will know more if you tune in tonight, but if you miss it, Frank will still be there waiting on Disney+ the next time you need to catch up before his next appearance. Either way, this compact and bloody little special earns a 4 out of 5.
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 2026
Runtime: 48m
Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Screenwriter: Jon Bernthal, Reinaldo Marcus Green
Distributor: Disney+
Production Co: Marvel Studios
