The Punisher (2004)
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An undercover agent's identity is exposed after a botched operation, leading to a brutal quest for vengeance against a powerful crime boss.
The story
After an FBI bust in Tampa results in the death of a man believed to be an arms dealer, the truth is revealed: the man was actually undercover agent Frank Castle. Enraged by the loss of his son, crime boss Howard Saint begins a hunt to eliminate Castle. When Castle's family is murdered during a reunion in Puerto Rico, he is left for dead but survives. With the authorities unwilling to intervene due to Saint's influence, Castle takes refuge with a group of outcasts and begins a methodical, violent campaign to dismantle the Saint empire and exact justice for his lost family.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a botched FBI raid in Tampa, Frank Castle—an undercover agent posing as arms dealer Otto Krieg—is presumed dead. However, his survival is discovered by crime boss Howard Saint, who orders his men to eliminate him. During a family reunion in Puerto Rico, Saint's men murder Castle's entire family. Castle survives and, with the help of a local fisherman and a group of outcasts, begins a war against the Saint organization. He identifies and eliminates key figures, including the treacherous Quentin Glass and the ruthless Livia. After a series of deadly encounters, Castle confronts Howard Saint in a final showdown. He lures Saint into a trap, leading to the destruction of his club and the death of the crime boss. Having fulfilled his mission, Castle initially prepares to end his life but chooses to continue fighting crime as the 'Punisher' after a vision of his wife.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- Germany; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jonathan Hensleigh
- Writers
- Jonathan Hensleigh · writer; Michael France · writer
- Cast and characters
- Thomas Jane · Frank Castle; John Travolta · Howard Saint; Will Patton · Quentin Glass; Roy Scheider · Otto Krieg; Laura Harring · Livia; Ben Foster · John; Rebecca Romijn-Stamos · Candelaria
- Genres
- vigilante; action
- Themes
- revenge; justice
- Tone and mood
- grim; somber; brutal
- Premise and plot tags
- antihero; vigilante; crime drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- Marvel Comics
- Franchise connections
- Punisher
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics but was noted by some as a well-done throwback to 1970s action cinema.
- Awards and nominations
- Best Fire Stunt · Taurus World Stunt Awards · Win
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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