| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this rough thriller is chock full of sex and violence and is definitely not for kids. The title itself refers to a violent sex act, and lots of sex is shown (as well as full-frontal nudity). There's also extensive drug use and extremely gory violence. While the movie does make the initial fun-in-the-vacation-sun scenes seem appealing (if excessive), its tone shifts dramatically as events spin out-of-control and get worse. At best, it could be seen as an extraordinary cautionary tale with a lesson about the
dangers of not talking about sex in a realistic, respectful manner.
In DONKEY PUNCH, three young Englishwomen on vacation in Spain (Nichola Burley, Sian Breckin, and Jaime Winstone) meet four handsome, dashing young men (Julian Morris, Robert Boulter, Jay Taylor, and Tom Bourke) crewing a yacht moored nearby. In the what-the-heck spirit of being on holiday, the women are invited back to the boat; since the yacht's owner has already flown home, the drinks and drugs come out, the gang heads out to sea, and there's some lighthearted discussion of sexual urban legends -- like the "donkey punch," in which a man strikes a woman during sex to provoke visceral muscular reactions. Some of the frolickers then pair up and head below decks to fool around -- where someone actually tries the titular technique, and someone winds up dead. In the effort to try to control the situation -- and keep the ramifications of what's happened contained -- the crew and their guests wind up pitted against each other, and soon their numbers start dwindling as things get more and more desperate.
With style, sun, fun, and drug-fuelled sex that ends in death, Donkey Punch works as an effective cautionary tale. Don't go boating with strange boys/overdo the booze and pills/believe the stories about mythical sexual techniques, or bad things will happen. So says the film, and as the characters squirm about trying to clean up the messes they've made -- with ever-worsening ramifications and a mounting body count -- we're more than willing to listen. As Donkey Punch's plot goes from hi-jinks to homicide, we wind up feeling curiously hopeful for (and, at the same time, judgmental of) all the characters; we've all had a party go a little wrong, and as the characters deal with one little fatal faux pas, we almost sympathize with their plight. Almost.
Although it's in no way meant for teens or kids, when you wipe the blood off of it, Donkey Punch is
actually a fairly good suspense thriller for adults; the characters actually
matter as characters -- who they are determines the plot, and not vice-versa. Director Oliver Blackburn also has a great eye for shots and
lighting: During a drug-fuelled orgy, a room is lit in hazy, glowing
soft light; after the room has become a crime scene, the room is seen in
bleak, bright glare. Donkey Punch isn't a knockout, but it does go the distance.
Families can talk about the real-life consequences of drinking and taking drugs. How are they different from what's depicted here?
Talk about the importance of discussing sex
honestly and realistically. What happens when rumors and myths about a
topic as big as that get out of control?
Discuss the appeal of violent, sex-filled thrillers like this one --
where does the line fall between cautionary tale and exploitation? Can
a film that points out the dangers of promiscuous sex and drugs still
glamorize them?
| Studio: | Magnolia Pictures |
| Director: | Oliver Blackburn |
| Cast: | Julian Morris, Nichola Burley, Robert Boulter |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 99 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 23, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | April 7, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | a scene of strong sexual content involving an aberrant violent act, graphic nudity, violence, language and drug use |