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Judy & Punch

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Judy & Punch Released Jun 5, 2020 1h 45m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 140 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.
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Judy & Punch

Judy & Punch

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Critics Consensus

Judy & Punch revisits classic characters from a fresh perspective, marking debuting writer-director Mirrah Foulkes as a filmmaking talent to watch.

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Critics Reviews

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Kristy Puchko Pajiba Rich with idiosyncratic style, macabre wit, riveting energy, and performances both playful and perturbing, Judy and Punch really packs a punch. I'm sorry, but it does. Jun 10, 2020 Full Review Mark Olsen Los Angeles Times The movie would like to see itself as a feminist allegory of abuse and systemic oppression, but it comes off as something far more scattered and unfocused. Jun 6, 2020 Full Review Barry Hertz Globe and Mail There's no puppet master here - just a pair of hands waving in the air, not quite sure what to do once we're paying attention. Rated: 2/4 Jun 6, 2020 Full Review Calum Cooper Source (Scotland) Mirrah Foulkes writes and directs the film with a sharp eye and mind. It’s a darkly funny film that basks in the bizarreness of its own world, in a clever duality of the puppet show that goes beyond merely switching the names. Rated: 3/5 Jul 14, 2024 Full Review Cris Kennedy The Canberra Times (Australia) The puppetry is gorgeous, as are the real-life performances. Rated: 4/5 Aug 12, 2022 Full Review Daisy Leigh-Phippard Screen Queens A feminist retelling, a dark comedy, and an adaptation of a puppet show, Judy & Punch takes the opportunity to give voice to the voiceless, like so many fairy tales do. Feb 21, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s This is understandably a quite dark and grim film, in terms of the themes. While it may be categorised as a comedy film, this is not an out and out humorous film as such - its definitely very much dark comedy, just to make that clear. It's very much a re-telling of a folk tale. I liked the costumes and I'd say its definitely got a sinister feel to it. Sinister and somewhat atmospheric, I suppose. I thought that, certainly with the first scene depicting a puppet show, that it reminded me a little of the puppet scenes from 'Being John Malkovich' - mainly as its also a dark film, both in terms of the lighting and settings mostly being in the evening or night and in terms of the not very light thematic elements. I did feel that Damon Herriman gave a decent performance as Punch. He is fairly animated (in his gestures etc., rather than it being at all an animated film, of course) and has somewhat of a presence on screen, I'd say. I wasn't familiar with the actor previously, so that stood out to me somewhat. I can't say I thought a great deal of what could be described as a Gladiator-esque moment though. There are one or two pretty decently choreographed moments/scenes as well. Its more of a dark drama than its an out and out period drama, although it is clearly set very much in the past. It centres on working class England, rather than well off families living in castles on high, certainly. This film felt like it was missing something but i'm not sure I can put my finger on what exactly. I suppose it may be that I know the story roughly and knew it'd be dark and fairly depressing and maybe I wanted to hope there would be more in the way of complicated context given but that isn't really the case. Its not a badly made film, not an especially great one but I'd say its worth a watch, if the story of Punch & Judy is one that interests you, particularly in terms of the social historical aspect of it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Definitely NOT Comedy .... well Shot , It passed the time but Comedy it was not .. Entertaining enough though if you're bored. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Awesome soundtrack, Great Characters, Very Easy Plot to Follow, Feel Good Ending. Whats not to love? Makes you feel like your back in the 1800's, but also has timeless elements of the beloved US justice system. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Clever reframing of Punch and Judy. Not for kids, but then I never thought the original Punch and Judy was appropriate for kids. This one is puts feminism and otherness in a 16th century setting which is rather fun, even introducing Tai Chi in the middle ages. Great cast, especially the Judy character and the outcast women. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Chris D Enjoyed the grim fairy-tale like feel and was quality enough to watch as part of a subscription. Would not necessarily rent. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/13/21 Full Review Audience Member What would have made one hell of a good 30 minute "Tales from the Crypt" episode gets stretched very thin in a 90 minute movie. Case in point, the third and fourth acts of the film could both have been cut as they are just a series of pointless montages that do more to confuse the timeline then advance the plot. The tone of horror and comedy never quit lands ...until the 5th act where it all comes together well. The music is hideous, it seems most of it was just placeholders that were just left in. The director also decide to set it in a fictional "time" more out of laziness then any plot reasons. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Judy & Punch

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Cast & Crew

Le brio 80% 76% Le brio Watchlist Rifkin's Festival 41% 43% Rifkin's Festival Watchlist TRAILER for Rifkin's Festival Why Don't You Just Die! 97% 84% Why Don't You Just Die! Watchlist Inspector Ike 100% % Inspector Ike Watchlist Spinster 84% 70% Spinster Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.
Director
Mirrah Foulkes
Producer
Michele Bennett, Nash Edgerton, Danny Gabai
Screenwriter
Mirrah Foulkes
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co
Seaside Productions, Soundfirm, Create NSW, Screen Australia, Pariah Productions, Film Victoria, Vice Media, Blue-Tongue Films, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 5, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 4, 2020
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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