Der Punisher (1989)

When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as the Punisher.

Director:

Mark Goldblatt

Writer:

Boaz Yakin

Stars:

Dolph Lundgren, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeroen Krabbé

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dolph Lundgren	...	Frank Castle
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Jake Berkowitz
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Gianni Franco (as Jeroen Krabbe)
Kim Miyori	...	Lady Tanaka
Bryan Marshall	...	Dino Moretti
Nancy Everhard	...	Sam Leary
Barry Otto	...	Shake
Brian Rooney	...	Tommy Franco
Zoshka Mizak	...	Tanaka's Daughter
Kenji Yamaki	...	Sato
Hirofumi Kanayama	...	Tomio
Larry McCormick	...	TV Newsreader
Todd Boyce	...	Terrone
Lani John Tupu	...	Laccone (as Larney Tupu)
Gianfranco Negroponte	...	Musso (as John Negroponte)

Storyline

Based on the Marvel Comic, Dolph Lundgren is Frank Castle an ex-cop who lives in the sewers and acts as judge, jury, and executioner to the city's criminals in retaliation for the unpunished murders of his wife and kids. Frank's ex-partner Jake (Louis Gossett Jr.) finally catches up with the vigilante as he tries to stop the Japanese mob, which is trying to take over the city's mafia operation.

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Plot Keywords:

woman tortures man | rack torture | torture | vigilante | ex cop | 

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Taglines:

If society won't punish the guilty, he will.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 1989 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Der Punisher

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures (Australia), New World Pictures, New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 76 min (heavily cut) (1990) (1995)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite an unfunded rumor that Marvel didn't grant the filmmakers the use of the skull logo, the comic book company actually supported the production of the film and was involved (figures such as Stan Lee, Carl Potts and Tom DeFalco served as consultants), but not as much as they would since the 2000s. At the time, Marvel was actually owned by the production company, New World Pictures, who had bought the comic company and their characters a couple years prior.

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Goofs

After the lights go off, some goons shoot at where two characters are standing, only to find them gone when the emergency lights come on. Not a single bullet hole is visible in the Japanese paper screen they were standing before, however.

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Quotes

The Punisher: You're a good boy, Tommy. Grow up to be a good man. Because if you don't... I'll be waiting.

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Connections

Referenced in ABCD Nuls: Pleurnisher (1989)

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Soundtracks

Planet of Love
Performed by Simon Stokes
Written by Simon Stokes & Harry Garfield

User Reviews

A good adaptation

I really liked this film, it´s true to the comic, and in some parts is better. For example in the comic Frank Castel has a truck full of weapons (most of them hi tech weapons) but were he gets the cash to pays for them. It´s a better adaptation than most flicks from those years (captain America for example) and it´s full with a lot of action and blood, its like a predecesor for Kill Bill. I give the movie a 7 out of 10.