Punch Digital Review

3 stars of brutal small town terror.

Punch is a 2024 British horror film, written and directed by Andy Edwards (Midnight Peepshow, Ibiza Undead).

It is available to stream on UK Digital Platforms from 22nd January 2024 courtesy of Miracle Media.

“What’s got into you today? I mean, even by your standards you look like someone’s p*ssed on your chips.”

Frankie (Alina Allison) is a university student from a small English seaside town. She has been forced to return home to help her mother Julia (Kierston Wareing – Grey Matter, Fish Tank), who had a medical emergency. She seems fine now and as Frankie points out, she has new boyfriend Elton (Jamie Lomas – Hollyoaks, Next Door) to look out for her. She announces her intention to return to University tomorrow morning, but Julia doesn’t want her to go and doesn’t understand her desire to better herself.

Following an argument, she heads out to see best friend Holly (Faye Campbell), who is initially annoyed at her for leaving without saying goodbye, but soon forgives her. After a creepy run in with a local ice-cream man (Mark Sears – Shades of Desire, Ganapath) as well as a ranting old man (Daniel Fathers – Very Valentine), they decide to have a last night out together before she goes back to complete her term.

They meet up with Frankie’s boyfriend Daryl (Macaulay Cooper – A Light Through Coloured Glass) and head off to a party, chatting about local folklore, which tells of a shadowy figure known as Mr. Punch, who hangs around the pier waiting to prey on teenagers who misbehave. A story told to frighten children, but on this night, Mr. Punch is abroad and he has his sights set on Frankie and her friends.

“You girls heard of Mr. Punch, right? You heard what he does to girls like you.”

Punch is a pretty nasty film, fitting very nicely into the slasher genre. It’s a very British film, as mean spirited and narrow minded as the seaside town in which it’s set and something of a sad reflection on the current state of society.

There’s something very primal about the seaside which takes the concept of the slasher to a whole new level and makes this seem all too plausible. It’s very gory and brutal and doesn’t pull any punches (see what I did there?). It’s perhaps a shame that Mr. Punch wasn’t allowed a bit more variety in his killing methods, but I suppose traditionally all he had was his truncheon, which he uses here to great effect.

It’s not for the faint hearted, but it’s worth a watch if you like your horror brutal and uncompromising. That’s the way to do it!

“Get out while you can. Now, the pair of you. You know what this is? It’s an omen. A f***ing portent!”

Punch is available to stream now on UK Digital Platforms.