Jason KingDonkey Punch (2008)
June 7th 2008 00:49
Donkey Punch (2008) $12-
Minor Spoliers!
Well I finally got to kick off seeing my very first film of a Sydney film festival and was not disappointed. It has taken me about 10yrs to actually get off my ass from downtown Manly and travel over the big bad bridge to watch any film screening in the festival and am now on a roll to watch as many as I can.
I think it best to start out with explaining the title as I don't think it explains the film very well. A donkey punch has been described as a fictional sexual act, no doubt invented by some drunk frat boys. Basically, during the act of "back door" sex with your mate, right before climax a punch is hit into the back of the neck of the "on four" person who will involuntarily spasm all muscles thus creating a huge climactic pleasure for the behind person during release, so to speak.
Sex, drugs, and beautiful people on board a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean—not your typical setting for a horror film. But Donkey Punch isn't your typical horror film.
Three gorgeous ladies on holiday in a Mediterranean beach town are determined to let their hair down and leave their troubles behind. The festivities begin at a nightclub, where libations flow and libidos grow. As luck would have it, they encounter three charming lads who are more than eager to provide them with what they are looking for. Collectively they make their way to the yacht where the men crew. Caught up in the hedonistic wave created by the sexual tension, and spurred by the fact that the yacht’s owner is away, they throw caution to the wind and head out to sea. This is where the terror begins.
What's remarkable about Olly Blackburn’s debut feature is the way he builds suspense over the film’s first half. He takes his time in developing the characters, plot, and place, and it pays off. He is aided by an impressive cast of fresh faces who are at ease with each other and their situation.
Written by David Bloom and Olly Blackburn, DONKEY PUNCH is the debut feature from writer/director Olly Blackburn. Produced by Angus Lamont (Late Night Shopping, Stella Does Tricks), the film stars a stellar young cast which includes Jaime Winstone (Kidulthood and Bullet Boy), Tom Burke (I Want Candy, The Libertine), Nichola Burley (Love Hate), Julian Morris (Cry Wolf), and new comers Robert Boulter, Jay Taylor and Sian Breckin.
I was quite surprised by the film, I found it quite unique with the violence and horror aspect in that it doesn't rush right in for a gore fest. The boat is stunning as are the fabulous cast. The guys are total drool worthy and the ladies will keep the straight boys interested. The build up of character development and tension is handled exceptionally well. None of these people really knows, trusts, or likes one another. Oh sure, there are some allegiances here and there, but when selfish people are faced with an airtight murder charge, they'll resort to all sorts of nasty behavior to keep their well toned butts safe. And so Blackburn's stylish-but-fairly obvious Donkey Punch turns out to be a slick and diverting combination of Dead Calm, Very Bad Things, Shallow Grave and Saw.
I found the cinematography on a boat this magnificent shot really well, while on deck the boat has abundant room for moving cameras around but below decks can be quite cramped in certain areas and you can sometimes feel that cramping is supporting the feeling of isolation the girls face. But some locked off scenes in narrow areas work well.
Some of the gore fest scenes that you sick gore loving freaks will cheer at are done well and some border on the B grade, but that's what we love about gore isn't it? I think this is a great little film shot in a beautiful setting that is a subtly done horror that places it's "kills" in good positions as opposed to the non stop death in say a Saw film. I am also thinking I am turning into a sadist that falls for the bad guys - why is it that the two hottest guys on the boat turn out to be the two biggest nutters. There is some well placed comedic lines, just before one of the girls runs through a glass door and they are deciding who should do it one says "but you're heavier" - ok - you had to be there. Also the drug dealing DJ who you can only understand 50% of the times delivers some gold lines and some great noises when injured.
If you like the Friday night horror flick idea or get aroused watching a Saw film or a cast that looks like it's out of the OC (on a bad acid trip) then this is one for you. I think it will be releasing in July in the UK and following world wide. $12-
Minor Spoliers!
Well I finally got to kick off seeing my very first film of a Sydney film festival and was not disappointed. It has taken me about 10yrs to actually get off my ass from downtown Manly and travel over the big bad bridge to watch any film screening in the festival and am now on a roll to watch as many as I can.
I think it best to start out with explaining the title as I don't think it explains the film very well. A donkey punch has been described as a fictional sexual act, no doubt invented by some drunk frat boys. Basically, during the act of "back door" sex with your mate, right before climax a punch is hit into the back of the neck of the "on four" person who will involuntarily spasm all muscles thus creating a huge climactic pleasure for the behind person during release, so to speak.
Sex, drugs, and beautiful people on board a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean—not your typical setting for a horror film. But Donkey Punch isn't your typical horror film.
Three gorgeous ladies on holiday in a Mediterranean beach town are determined to let their hair down and leave their troubles behind. The festivities begin at a nightclub, where libations flow and libidos grow. As luck would have it, they encounter three charming lads who are more than eager to provide them with what they are looking for. Collectively they make their way to the yacht where the men crew. Caught up in the hedonistic wave created by the sexual tension, and spurred by the fact that the yacht’s owner is away, they throw caution to the wind and head out to sea. This is where the terror begins.
Written by David Bloom and Olly Blackburn, DONKEY PUNCH is the debut feature from writer/director Olly Blackburn. Produced by Angus Lamont (Late Night Shopping, Stella Does Tricks), the film stars a stellar young cast which includes Jaime Winstone (Kidulthood and Bullet Boy), Tom Burke (I Want Candy, The Libertine), Nichola Burley (Love Hate), Julian Morris (Cry Wolf), and new comers Robert Boulter, Jay Taylor and Sian Breckin.
I was quite surprised by the film, I found it quite unique with the violence and horror aspect in that it doesn't rush right in for a gore fest. The boat is stunning as are the fabulous cast. The guys are total drool worthy and the ladies will keep the straight boys interested. The build up of character development and tension is handled exceptionally well. None of these people really knows, trusts, or likes one another. Oh sure, there are some allegiances here and there, but when selfish people are faced with an airtight murder charge, they'll resort to all sorts of nasty behavior to keep their well toned butts safe. And so Blackburn's stylish-but-fairly obvious Donkey Punch turns out to be a slick and diverting combination of Dead Calm, Very Bad Things, Shallow Grave and Saw.
I found the cinematography on a boat this magnificent shot really well, while on deck the boat has abundant room for moving cameras around but below decks can be quite cramped in certain areas and you can sometimes feel that cramping is supporting the feeling of isolation the girls face. But some locked off scenes in narrow areas work well.
Some of the gore fest scenes that you sick gore loving freaks will cheer at are done well and some border on the B grade, but that's what we love about gore isn't it? I think this is a great little film shot in a beautiful setting that is a subtly done horror that places it's "kills" in good positions as opposed to the non stop death in say a Saw film. I am also thinking I am turning into a sadist that falls for the bad guys - why is it that the two hottest guys on the boat turn out to be the two biggest nutters. There is some well placed comedic lines, just before one of the girls runs through a glass door and they are deciding who should do it one says "but you're heavier" - ok - you had to be there. Also the drug dealing DJ who you can only understand 50% of the times delivers some gold lines and some great noises when injured.
If you like the Friday night horror flick idea or get aroused watching a Saw film or a cast that looks like it's out of the OC (on a bad acid trip) then this is one for you. I think it will be releasing in July in the UK and following world wide. $12-
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
my god that is the worst thing ive ever heard!
did that term come out of the football rapists handbook?
sickening . . .
the expression on my face is similar to the time someone explained a "dirty sanchez" to me . . . my GOD people, too much porn!
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
guess being a projectionist has advantages, even over a film critic ...
i didn't read your review, i'm afraid, i wanna see the flick "cold" so to speak ...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
If you're interested you can read my review here
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
intriguing ... Typical Americans.