Why you can trust GamesRadar+
This is Hollywood’s third attempt to adapt the bleak, ultra-violent Marvel comics character to the big screen.
Wisely stepping away from the universes established by the cartoony Dolph Lundgren version (1989) and the conflicted Thomas Jane model (2004), Punisher: War Zone has more in common with 2007’s vengeance driven Death Sentence, as Ray Stevenson’s tank of a vigilante and
some rogue cops hack through an army of street-gang psychos led by an insane mobster named Jigsaw (The Wire’s Dominic West).
It’s an orgy of gore and ill will that takes place in a kingdom of rain and perpetual human misery. A posturing toughness pervades every frame – even the director, Lexi Alexander (Green Street), is a former kickboxing champion.
Don’t expect nuance or happy endings, but do bring a raincoat for all the showers of blood. If you didn’t find The Dark Knight dark enough, then wade right in.
Ken McIntyre
The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.
Lego C-3PO (75398) review: "If you're content to see ol' threepy stand proudly on a shelf and not much else, this will serve you superbly"
Where to pre-order the Helldivers 2 Limited Edition DualSense controller tomorrow
After 17 JRPGs across 30 years, Bandai Namco is gearing up to release more Tales of remasters "fairly consistently" and "as much as possible"