When Frank Castle (Tom Jane) takes his final job as a top-shot undercover cop, he takes an oath to his wife and children that they will have a better life to come.

Unfortunately, his last case turns out to be the one he will never forget.

After the scene where gangland boss, Howard Saint (John Travolta) is killed, the order is made for Castle's entire family to be slaughtered.

Left for dead, Castle sets about a one-man mission to pay back the people that took his wife and family away - The Punisher is born.

At times the violence is extreme, but at no point is it gratuitous.

Every vicious act that takes place has its reasons but also its repercussions, which are made very apparent to the viewer.

The Punisher is by no means going to win an award but for an action thriller, it pulls no punches.

It delivers its promises - revenge galore and violence in bucket loads but it is the fantastic action which carries this film as far as it goes.

HC