After Netflix cancelled ‘The Punisher‘ after two seasons, it left fans disappointed. The series is back with a standalone special, which is currently airing on Disney+. It is filled with gore, carnage, and some disturbing action scenes.
To say the least, it is R-rated and most certainly isn’t for the weak-hearted. The VFX scene, in particular, is something that stirred the pot online. Many speculations led fans to wonder whether it’s real or AI. Well, it seems we have our answer, especially with how the series used in-camera risks.
The Punisher’s Thrilling Yet Risky VFX Stunt
Let’s be real! Stunts are one of the most difficult and high-risk elements in the action genre. Many a time, risky stunts left the specialists with long-term injuries and damage. For ‘One Last Kill,’ it was a close call. This is true for how the stunt was conceptualized and how it panned out.
The scene in question is the one where The Punisher falls off the building. As he finishes off a thug, he lands on a metal crate. The landing itself is impactful, and he is seen kicking his legs in the air. He lands on his back, and it clearly is a loud thud, but here’s where things get controversial. Many fans believed it to be an AI slop, and others mocked it entirely. Some wondered how this scene made it to the final cut.
Reel Or Real?
With the advent of AI in today’s day and age, it is easy and rather convenient to deem anything as unreal. The same goes for fans who were of the opinion that the entire scene is AI. However, it was recently reported by The Hollywood Reporter that it is real. A source who is actively involved in the show’s production refuted the AI claims. The staff used a real stuntman for this high-risk, in-camera stunt. It was after that that the team positioned Jon Bernthal’s face digitally on the stuntman’s face. This is probably why the entire scene looks erratic.
The fall was heavily trolled and mocked. Some fans even deemed the character an upside-down tortoise fighting for his life. Others noted how it looked like a straight-up ripoff of a video game cutscene. That was not the end of it all, as some went so far as to make memes. It reminded most fans of the PS3 vibes, and it does make sense.
Aside from memes and mockery, some netizens questioned the use of AI. There were most of them were unwilling to believe that it was a real, in-camera stunt. The reason is that most netizens believe it was poorly done, while others are completely indifferent. Regardless of it being authentic, the consensus is that the stunt is lackadaisical.
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