Donkey Punch

source: Donkey Punch

source: Donkey Punch

There's nothing too wrong with Donkey Punch but it does suffer from an awful feeling of deja vu. We have the story of some girls away in Spain for a weekend who get talking to some boys and decide to go to their yacht (or at least the yacht they're working on). As they walk up to the yacht one of the girls hears that they are falling for the boys "plan" and at this point you have to apply your suspension of disbelief goggles as there are a number of other times they'll have to be used. The girls seem too streetwise to be so stupid as to allow the boat to be driven out to sea and the film takes an age to get to the "thriller" that I was expecting to see. Once it does get to that point (something you know that's going to happen and the title of the film) it keeps a reasonable speed and tension and becomes quite gory. But the goggles keep having to come on time and time again to allow you to justify their actions. Some nice scenes include the killing of someone with a flare (which was well handled and quite dramatic) and the point where the female lead breaks through the glass door but as the film moves on its own internal logic becomes more questionable. Music and Camera work is what you would expect and nothing too special apart from one well handled underwater scene. Other than that I could take or leave the film.

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. The Leeds lasses on a jolly girls excursion made it seem quite parochial, to the extent that the Yanks will probably need subtitles, and there is a central moral vacuousness (in the deeds) which is nonetheless appropriately dealt with in terms of who gets what and how. Very often this kind of film leaves you frustrated in terms of dénouement, but I thought that comeuppance was most appropriately dealt out and the ending doesn't let you down, inasmuch as you can figure on how things might develop post-movie (imagine this going to court!). I thought the acting was really good, there was a good dose of (black) humour and the film could be read on many levels (as much as a class conflict as anything else). Great little film, hard to spot the low budget.

OK, there are few if any films I have stopped watching half way through because they were just so bad it was unbearable to go any further. I even watched all of evil bong. BUT, Donkey Punch is without a doubt the most insulting thing to a persons intelligence ever. Remember the sub title or hype talks about an "accident", and I suspected it was to do with a punch, which is not an accident. Hard to punch someone in back of head by accident, anyway. Well that is it, the guy punches girl in the back of the head and goes from there. But where I stopped was right after it was obvious that it was going to be all about this punch on the back of the head, and by the way the build up is an out of the blue comment, "oh do you know what a donkey punch is" just for those dumb enough in the audience to a) watch the film and b) not know what it is and also c) dumb enough to watch the whole film anyway it is beaming sun light, they go below, punch in head, oh my god oh my god, go up top and BAM, middle of the night. WHAT??? where did a few hours go???? And since when does a boat come to a complete stop when you turn the engine off, surely it floats forward a little??? Timeline is all over the place unless they went out and started drinking at 5am in the morning. Anyway I bowed out at this stage. OH yeah one guy video's it and its clear other young brother guy did it but for some unknown reason the another guy who doesn't even like the guy who did it is worried he might get in trouble. EH, you didn't do anything and there is video to prove it???? PLUS, yes there is more, one of them just happens to be going to law school, and it so happens he is the one who did nothing. Some lawyer he will make if he can't even defend himself. I have spent more time writing this comment then the film deserves. I wonder if I can sue for trauma or slander for thinking I am such a moron to miss the holes in this movie. It is a lotto money granted job so as a protest I am never buying a lotto ticket again. Thats how bad this film is. Watch it you will love it hahahahaha

Probably one of the dead hippest films of 2008 Oliver Blackburn's Donkey Punch from the UK is a treat. I saw it at MIFF in Melbourne. Its about three 20 year old girls hooking up with four likely lads on their luxurious boat and heading out to sea after the Spainish coast to smoke Russian Ice and take pills. At the height of the merriment discussing kinky sex, the subject of a Donkey Punch comes up. DP is a misogynist sex technique where you punch a women in the back of the head, as you are about to achieve release in the doggy style position, to give her involuntary spasms in a certain part of the female anatomy. Its mostly urban myth, the reality of this sex technique... though I'm sure some idiot has tried it. Anyway, during a preceding orgy the loner geek of the group is egged on to do a Donkey Punch and kills, naturally, the blonde. Chaos ensues as the youngsters bump each other off - either trying to cover up said death or trying to get away from the cover up to tell the Police. Great film. Blackburms direction is assured and the script suitably on the edge. Young, well shot, dead hip, drug fuelled, dangerous, controversial. Strong performance by a young cast round the film out well, especially that of the heroine Jaime Winstone (I assume thats Ray's daughter?). From Warp films. A lethal hip treat.

3 girls meet a group of guys in a club whilst on holiday. The guys take them onto their yacht where a terrible accident during sex causes suspicion and tension amongst them. 28 Days Later and its sequel 28 weeks proved Britain can do horror with their sharp representation of zombies and fast styled thrilling action and devastating ratio of death in context of the country's population. Donkey Punch further promotes the dramatic concept of death by encoding 7 teens and stylizing the idea on what should be a fun filled experience. Opening with three young girls on holiday and looking to explore the local bars and such may be ordinary but the minimal dialogue and the focus on the settings helps differ from convention and achieves a high realism. Many films promote all the dialogue as essential but this 2008 picture gives all realism in account of the story's context, if occasionally predictable. Drugs, sex, drama, this isn't as Skins as it would hope. The blood thirsty side of the narrative places it more into horror, but then there is not nearly enough action to posses such a genre. This is a psychological drama filled with teens living their lives in a fun filled manner we have expected thanks to such films like Kidulthood and TV show Skins. But a drastic turn during sex has everyone's heads rolling and the film explores human emotions relating to death and how to approach the situation. The drastic turn of events is good, if not as tense and exciting as it had the potential to be. Oliver Blackburn's stylised direction works wonders and after viewing, I'm wondering how the direction would have benefited from a faster scripted narrative. The acting is far from brilliant but then this wasn't challenged to be an Oscar contender, more a drama promoting the concept of teen violence and lives. No, Donkey Punch gets by on a realistic script. Many critics and reviews I have read seem to dislike the script and the lack of action. Lack of action is more on many levels as it shows this isn't a run of the mill horror thriller concerned with dazzling special effects. Its purpose is to explore mindsets and entertain through its hard decisions and dramatic taste. The vivid sex scenes at the beginning give the film that erotic twist to add the dramatic consequences to the narrative, and well directed, looking extremely real and will have eyebrows raising. Whereas there is a lack of action, Donkey Punch is still a fast flowing thriller that does well exploring the mindset of teenagers, but doesn't have the punch to pip Skins

I can't understand why such an entertaining film is getting so many negative reviews. I found Donkey punch to be a good film on so many levels. It had an original story line. Strong parts for the female actors. A nice balanced build up to a crescendo of violence. Fab music and some nice photography. It doesn't have any big name actors or any obvious lead, but that only makes it more refreshing. I have watched this film twice and while it may not be to everyones taste it is a piece work to be proud of. All in all a great job by Oliver Blackburn and the team. I will be looking out for more of his work, for sure.

i am going to keep this brief... if you value the use of your time this is one to miss. the film actually had an interesting start -3 young woman on a girls holiday meets a group of lads on holiday in a rented boat, drinks, drugs, flirting and banter... at this point you are still awaiting the film to really kick in, however up until this point, the film is still more than just watchable, which i thought had potential to continue in its tracks... suddenly, the whole film changes direction, they 'lose the plot' so to speak.. after a perfectly filmed porno styled orgy scene where the infamous DONKEY PUNCH DEATH occurs and the the carnage begins... words cannot explain how unrealistic the rest of the film plays out.. completely idiotic unbelievable murderous acts coming at you like flock of seagulls until all but the 'good girl' is left.. it was laughable. sorry guys! plot-less and pointless - very disappointing.

I will admit that I rented this movie because of the title. I thought it would be a low budget horror movies that would just make you laugh. However, this movie was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Really, don't waste your money on this movie. It does not frighten you, it just is full of blood and gore. The acting is also atrocious, and if you have not been living in the UK for the past few years you will not understand there mumblings. Susannah says ring ring...hello. The reason why I gave this a 3 was because the plot does have to deal with the basic idea of human instinct in extreme situations which is an interesting theme.