Donkey Punch (2008)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Oliver Blackburn

Writers:

Oliver Blackburn (writer)
David Bloom (writer)

Release Date:

18 July 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

This party is going overboard

Plot:

Things go drastically wrong for a group of British holidaymakers in Spain.

Plot Keywords:

Partying | Yacht | Spain | Neck Breaking | Stabbed In The Chest

Cast

Robert Boulter	...	Sean
Sian Breckin	...	Lisa
Tom Burke	...	Bluey
Nichola Burley	...	Tammi
Julian Morris	...	Josh
Jay Taylor	...	Marcus
Jaime Winstone	...	Kim

Directed by
Oliver Blackburn		(as Olly Blackburn)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Oliver Blackburn		writer (as Olly Blackburn)
David Bloom		writer

Produced by
Mary Burke	....	development producer
Peter Carlton	....	executive producer
Will Clarke	....	executive producer
Caroline Cooper	....	development producer
Marlow De Mardt	....	line producer
Lizzie Francke	....	executive producer
Robin Gutch	....	producer
Hugo Heppell	....	executive producer
Mark Herbert	....	producer
Angus Lamont	....	producer

Original Music by
François Eudes		(as François-Eudes Chanfrault)

Cinematography by
Nanu Segal

Film Editing by
Kate Evans

Casting by
Des Hamilton

Production Design by
Delarey Wagenar		(as Delarey Wagener)

Art Direction by
Marinda Richter

Costume Design by
Sarah Ryan

Makeup Department
Candice Drury	....	assistant makeup artist
Sue Michael	....	key makeup artist
Dominique Nogje	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Kate Fewins	....	production manager: second unit
Barry Ryan	....	head of production
Katie Shahrokh	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lali Avis	....	second assistant director
Nic Cherry	....	third assistant director
Claire Norbury	....	second assistant director
Barry Wasserman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kore Antonsen	....	storyboard artist
Karl du Preez	....	props
Thabo Grobbelaar	....	props
Nick Lauer	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Ben Cross	....	sound designer
Ben Harvey	....	sound effects editor
Stevie Haywood	....	sound recordist: UK
Tom Hutchings	....	sound designer
Scott Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Arthur Kondouries	....	sound mixer (as Arthur Koundouris)
Greg Marshall	....	supervising sound editor
Josh McHugh	....	sound editor
Susan Pennington	....	dialogue editor
Jacques Pienaar	....	boom operator
Jamie Ritharom-Umbras	....	dialogue editor
Leyton Rooney	....	supervising foley editor
Roland Shaw	....	sound editor
Samantha Storer	....	boom operator: UK

Visual Effects by
Justin Lanchbury	....	DI film consultant
Lewis Saunders	....	compositor
Shanaullah Umerji	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Grant Hulley	....	stunt coordinator
Pyranah Tsunts	....	stunts
Morne van Tonder	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Neil Bailley	....	assistant camera
Judas Banda	....	best boy
David Bloomer	....	still photographer
Darryl Boyce	....	gaffer
Meike Chinnery	....	focus puller
Bressler Daus	....	grip
Tim Dean	....	lighting technician
Tim Dean	....	lighting technician
Grant Forbes	....	gaffer
Philip Francis	....	assistant camera
Naguib Fredericks	....	second assistant camera
Tarique Fredericks	....	vt ap
Neil Hermann	....	still photographer
Siphiso Jezile	....	grip
Norbert Kitshoff	....	lighting technician
Volker Kreinacke	....	camera operator
Given Mantwaba	....	sparks
Regan Mitchel	....	grip
Mphemelo Mlindazwe	....	sparks
Igshaan Mohammed	....	sparks
Bruno Shosha	....	generator operator
Bevan Simpson	....	lighting best boy
Steve Steenberg	....	key grip
Sven Vosloo	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Claire Catterson	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tracey Berg	....	wardrobe supervisor
Nadia Botha	....	wardrobe assistant
Nanuschka Hartig	....	wardrobe stand-by

Editorial Department
Andrew Dearnley	....	digital film supervisor
Justin Eely	....	on-line editor
Andy Richards	....	senior digital intermediate technician
Ryan Seegers	....	assistant editor
Gareth Spensley	....	colorist
Kristian Whitlock	....	digital intermediate on-line editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Phil Canning	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Charles Adams	....	driver: cast
Giles Harris	....	transportation coordinator
Ni Paul	....	unit driver

Other crew
Jason Aereboe	....	production assistant
Mark Arendse	....	account assistant
Avlin Born	....	script supervisor
Leonard Crooks	....	head of New Cinema Fund: UK Film Council
Jason Martin	....	marine coordinator
Leighla Mcgregor	....	production secretary
Claire Moorsom	....	script editor
Claire Moorsom	....	story editor
Vincent Ndikumana	....	production assistant
Allison Palmer	....	production accountant
Capella Riley	....	production coordinator
Petra Rolinec	....	production secretary
Milton Schorr	....	production assistant
Niall Shamma	....	production accountant
Ed Suter	....	scout
Monica Tyalana	....	office attendant
Claire Warnes	....	senior business affairs executive
Jeanne-marie Webb	....	account assistant
Philiswa Xokozela	....	office attendant

Production Companies

• EM Media
• Film4 (funding)
• Madman Entertainment
• Screen Yorkshire
• UK Film Council
• Warp X

Distributors

• Optimum Releasing (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• European Film Partners (EFP) (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Magnet Releasing (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Magnolia Magnet (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Movie Bank (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (all media)

Other Companies

• Film4  funding
• Molinare Studio  post-production facilities
• PS-PostScript  post-production scripts
• Salon  avid editing equipment
• Spool Post Production  sound post-production
• UK Film Council  funding
• VSI Synchron  German dubbing

Also Known As:

The Punch (UK) (working title)
Donkey Punch (Sweden) [sv]
Donkey Punch (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Donkey Punch - Blutige See (Germany) [de]
Võmm kuklasse (Estonia) [et]

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Australia:R | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Germany:18 | Canada:18A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Company:

EM Media

Trivia:

Although the film is set in Majorca the sequence when the girls are in the cab on their way out is filmed on the Costa del Sol, as illustrated by the road sign for Belamadena and Torremuel.

Doesn't really pack any sort of 'Punch'

In the sparkling tradition of 'Very Bad Things,' 'A Simple Plan' and 'Open Water 2: Adrift,' comes a 'Donkey Punch' that's a dozen of hits inferior to the films it's mirroring. Sure it's more serious than 'Things' and 'Plan' but what made those fun to watch was that they didn't take themselves so seriously. This 'Donkey' movie was made by people that have never seen those three, or any other young adult 'Oh, I've never met you, so I guess it's safe to go with you to ___" (fill in destination) film. There's got to be countless ones out there. The twist, I suppose they were shooting for was the said title. What takes seconds to explain what it is doesn't make this much more original than 'Things' or 'Plan.' Three girl friends meet four guy friends while on holiday in Spain and opt for a sunset cruise on a yacht. After one dies by a (insert title here), the action, suspense and paranoia ensures. When the movie turns cat & mouse, everyone out for themselves, hurting each other, plotting, etc, it's not terrible, but horribly unoriginal, predictable and gives us zero characters/heroes in which to root for. Granted most of us haven't been involved in such circumstances, we can't honestly say what we would do. However, having seen at least 48 movies like this one, I think I'll have a pretty good idea of what NOT to do. I think if it really did happen to me, and they made it into a movie, chances are it would just a 5-minute You-tube clip. One other problem I had, and I'm probably in the minority, but though I speak English, I find myself using the English subtitles more with such thick English accents. Unfortunately, this DVD only had Spanish subtitles.

'Very Bad Things' and 'A Simple Plan' are highly recommended over this. Even the low-rated (but I actually enjoyed) 'Open Water 2: Adrift' is a better rental.