Donkey Punch (2008) July 21, 2008
Posted by gproject in : Cinema, Recently Viewed , trackbackDirected by: Oliver Blackburn
A recent Guardian article presented Donkey Punch as a film brought about by, and created for, the ‘Skins generation’ - a reference to the popular television programme that typifies a new wave of youth (sometimes phonetically truncated to ‘yoof’) programming. This set a number of expectations in my mind, not least a copious emphasis on sex and drugs as the prominent components of any teenage existence. It was little surprise then, to discover a story that based its teenage narrative dilemma around both sex and drugs, all while managing to squeeze in a side-order of bloody violence.
The plot centres on a group of three girls, who venture from their hometown of Leeds out to the rather more temperate climes of Spain, to enjoy a holiday filled with drinking, dancing and decapitation. Well, that last one isn’t strictly on the to-do list, but once the girls take the ill-advised decision to go aboard a luxury yacht with a group of similar fun-loving boys, it quickly becomes par for the course. After an evening of offshore drug taking, an impromptu sex romp turns nasty when one of the lads attempts the infamous titular technique (Urban Dictionary will elucidate the curious). With one dead girl on their hands, the group disseminates into a panicking mess, from which their murderous intentions appear.
Taking the unbelievable predictability of it all aside, there are still faults that undermine any intentions the film has as an original piece of horror fiction. For all intents and purposes, this is a slasher movie for a generation who has grown out of slasher movies, and are left wanting after something that reflects ‘real life’ for 21st century teens. Or at least the real life they wish they were living. The problem with all these youth culture infected endeavours (see also: Skins, Kidulthood and Adulthood) is that they are dramatisations of lives that don’t align with a majority of people. Not a big deal on paper, but it does serve to hinder any kind of attachment to characters whose reckless antics turn them into two-dimensional propaganda for an impressionable audience.
The range of actors taking those roles is hardly a draw either, mostly consisting of casual UK television performers alongside one surname you might recognise. Jamie Winstone is the daughter of British acting veteran Ray Winstone, yet of all the girls, it is Nichola Burley who takes lead and wears her ‘most compassionate’ character badge pretty well. Other obvious character labels present in the film include ‘party animal girl’ (Winstone), ‘reckless party slut’ (Sian Breckin), and ‘the lads’, who consist of a variety of standard personalities from innocent onlooker to bullish alpha-male.
The actors and actresses involved make a decent attempt at bringing life to the shouting and chasing around, but there’s probably not enough content here for anyone to particularly stand out. Maybe this is where writers David Bloom and Oliver Blackburn (who also directs) show their inexperience - neither yet holds an impressive credit list. 
Meanwhile, Blackburn’s direction favours the handheld style, which allows for plenty of camera movement and full-frame close-ups. When he’s not lingering on sun-soaked bodies in the first half hour, the cinematography does a good job of showing off the beautiful Mediterranean locales and confined intimacy of the yacht.
Where Donkey Punch does manage to provide entertainment is through its smart use of accentuated violence, which makes up the later half of the film. It is notably visceral and worthy of the squirm-inducing reaction it is likely to provoke. Unfortunately, this same violence-with-the-gloves-off attitude also pushes the film into an 18 certificate, which is going to limit availability to the youngest of its enthusiastic demographic.
It’s hard to recommend such a flimsy excuse to watch teenagers go wild and then knock each other off, but in the wake of a slew of similar movies, this one is probably no better or worse. In the middle of all the summer blockbusters it’s going to have limited appeal, but I can see it finding an audience on DVD in a few months time, and it will no doubt entertain those who choose to actively seek it out. If you’re not into the new youth media revolution though, stay well away - Donkey Punch offers little beyond its intentionally rebellious subject matter.
Donkey Punch is currently on UK general release.
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