2008
UK Film Council
& Film4,
Director Olly
Blackburn
Producers:
Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Mark Herbert
Madman
Entertainment / Asylum
R4 DVD
This is another in the Asylum line from
Madman – carefully selected top quality international releases. Many did quite
well in their own countries, but have dropped out of sight since then.
Three British girls on holiday in Spain
set out for a good time in the nightclubs. They meet four British lads who have
been crewing on a luxury yacht, and the boys take them out to sea on the yacht
for a day’s fun. During drug-fuelled sex, Josh gives Lisa a “donkey punch”, a
solid hit on the back of the neck that is supposed to give an intense orgasm as
the girl’s vaginal muscles clench. In Australia it’s called a “Rabbit Killer”.
He breaks her neck and now the story turns darker as they must decide how to
cover it up. The boys decide the best way is to dump her body overboard, but
the other two girls are not impressed with this callous idea. Neither is Josh,
although he has the most to lose – one of the boys was filming him in action
and the tape would be enough to convict him of murder. Marcus, the oldest,
overrules any objections and steers the boat towards international waters. He
also threatens to release the tape of Josh onto the Internet if Josh steps out
of line.
The body is dumped overboard. The girls
attempt to radio for help but are overpowered. They may have to die as well,
because it will now look to the Spanish police like a case of drugs, rape and
murder.
Marcus decides he will have a little fun
with one of the girls, but is knifed in the chest. In the confusion the girls
escape in the life raft. One girl tries to light one of the lifeboat’s flares
to attract help, but it is seen by the boys and the girls are recaptured. She
fires another flare – it hits one boy in the chest and he falls overboard.
The girls are losing it, the two remaining
uninjured boys are also losing it. At this rate survival for any of them is
looking doubtful. The girls escape from their cabin and the slaughter starts
again.
This is Olly Blackburn’s debut feature
film, and he keeps the tension going right up to the end. The much-mentioned
sex scene is done with taste, the violence is severe but essential to the plot.
He keeps the twists and turns going until you are not sure where it will all
end up.
The actors are all perfect in their roles
– a good thing in this film, because there are many close-ups in the confines
of the yacht and they would show up poor acting quickly. The one disappointment
is the sound. I often had to adjust the level to hear the dialogue, and then
turn it down again for the next burst of music.
For some reason the sex scene is widely
mentioned. Frankly it’s pretty ordinary, but it is in the plot only to
introduce the Donkey Punch that starts all the trouble. Don’t let this put you
off. It’s a really good suspense / thriller.
Extras
Commentary with Director and Producer
Making of DONKEY PUNCH
Deleted Scenes
Interview with Director Olly Blackburn
Cast Interviews
Storyboard Comparison of Flare Sequence
Trailer & TV Spots
Stills
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.3
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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