Donkey Punch Underdelivers

After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults decide to continue partying aboard a luxury yacht in the middle of the ocean. But when one of them dies in a freak accident, the others argue about what to do, which leads to a ruthless fight for survival (Internet).

Rating: Rated R for a scene of strong sexual content involving an aberrant violent act, graphic nudity, violence, language and drug use.

Release Date: January 23, 2009.

Starring: Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, and Jaime Winstone.

Director: Oliver Blackburn.

Writers: Oliver Blackburn, and David Bloom.

Composer: François-Eudes Chanfrault.


**Work in progress, editing etc.**

"Donkey Punch," is a film from the United Kingdom that follows seven travellers who are out for a good time, but instead find themselves in the middle of a murder. The plot line within "Donkey Punch," is overly linear with the group of twenty-somethings moving from club, to beach, to boat, and then straight to sex with little character or story development. Most of the conversations revolve around drugs and sexual positions early in the film and turn to survival and reputation later. There is very little substance to the picture as the characters act in a bizarre fashion and the whole time it is difficult to empathize with anyone in the film. Each character is simply out for themselves once the murder takes place and the film's story seems to go downhill from there.

The whole picture takes place within twenty-four hour period while the bright lighting early in the film highlights the party, happy atmosphere and the dark the horror. The simplistic use of a shaky camera is meant as an attempt to make the viewer feel as if they are part of the party and the technique works, but few people would want to associate with these mostly stupid characters or actors. The darkness later in the film does keep the horror tone going while the characters fight over the outcome of their dead friend. However, the shallowness of the two-dimensional characters cannot be given any help from the lighting or poor directing effects.

The music within "Donkey Punch," is light and stays with the party atmosphere of the travellers. The picture uses several different dance songs to keep the energy up until the middle of the film, after some plot developments where the music is completely absent. The songs actually stay in tone with the development of the story and while varying in intensity the use of music throughout the picture could have given this film a boost.

The directing style of _____ is average as most of the shots do not stray very far from close ups or straight scene cuts only a few long distance shots of the yacht add anything interesting. There are no breaks in the scene changes as the director moves from shot to shot and character to character without warning. Overtime the dizzying scene changes blur the vision and break up the story of the film. More fade in and outs to black could have made the picture more watchable or focusing in and out instaed the constant edits seem to attack the senses.

"Donkey Punch," does not give the actors much substance to work with and the lack of a well written script means the believability of the characters is missing. Would girls really get on a boat with some guys they have met for an hour? Would a man really punch a girl during sex? And would people actually try to cover up a murder rather than contacting authorities? No, no, and no and the incomprehensible behaviour of the characters within "Donkey Punch," is very distracting and makes this reviewer pray that the ending is coming sooner rather than later. Only the relationship between two brothers comes off as believable in several scenes.

Overall, "Donkey Punch," is a very disappointing film and a difficult watch. Despite a couple of creative death sequences this film is not rewatchable and only slightly deserving of a first time watch, if free. Save yourself time, money, and a boring time and rent or download other more original horror flicks as this piece is completely forgettable.

4 Laughing Skulls out of 10.

A trailer for this underachieving horror film:




Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988849/