Adventures on the High Waves – A Donkey Punch Review

So, here’s the thing about “Donkey Punch”—I’d never heard of such a term before this movie, and at first, I was quite shocked, I have to admit. It’s one of those movies that hits you like a Swedish vinter, stark and unforgiving. It’s directed by Oliver Blackburn and stars folks like Nichola Burley and Jamie Winstone. Not household names, I know, but they did their thing.

The whole plot spins around these young Brits heading out for a wild time on a yacht in the Mediterranean. I’ve taken a few boat trips myself, although more in the calm waters of Stockholms skärgård, certainly nothing as… adventurous as their journey. They get tangled up with this reckless abandon and, let me say, a huge “uh-oh” moment turns everything upside down.

I was reminded of a summer I spent on Gotland. Sitting on a sandy beach, watching the horizon, dreamily sipping on a lukewarm kaffe. That serene moment was the opposite of the chaos unfolding onscreen. If you love a good thriller, there’s something here, but I’m not sure the moral ambiguity sits well. It’s a head-scratcher.

The film’s pacing is quite chaotiskt, almost dizzying, like trying to follow the shifting stars on a clouded Swedish night. Maybe that adds to its atmosphere, but it often felt like it was trying too hard to shock the audience.

I have to admit, though, the tension they built was palpable, kinda like when you’re hoping for no rain during Midsummer celebrations. Could it have done more with its themes rather than just shock value? Ja, absolutely. But it’s definitely memorable, I’ll give it that.

Grab some surströmming, if that’s your thing, and dive into this strange little flick. It’s quite the trip, even if it sometimes leaves you seasick.

Check the trailer below