Dirty Laundry: Thomas Jane Makes His Own Punisher Short Film

Posted by on July 17th, 2012   Filed under: Action, Books/Comics, Fandom

Thomas Jane seems to be the latest actor who, faced with a lack of decent roles being offered to him, has decided to turn to writing and directing instead. A couple of years back, he started up his own production company, RAW Studios, and directed a film called Dark Country. Now he is also reportedly working on a western called A Magnificent Death from a Shattered Hand, and at Comic-Con this past weekend he unveiled a new short film called Dirty Laundry. It’s not your ordinary short film, however: it finds him reprising the role of Frank Castle, better known as The Punisher.

While I’m generally not interested in fan films, I can appreciate that Thomas Jane did this just for fun and out of love for the character. It’s a shame that his turn as Frank Castle in the 2004 film The Punisher wasn’t particularly well-received, but fans really seem to embracing this. In terms of violence, it gives that Dredd 3D clip a run for its money. Ron Perlman has a small part in the short as well and it’s directed by Phil Joanou (Gridiron Gang); I just wish they didn’t set it to the score from The Dark Knight. Are you a fan of Dirty Laundry? Check out the short film after the jump.



  • 1138sw

    I like it! Saw this yesterday on youtube and it struck me as a solid rendition of the Punisher!

    Loved Perlman is his short but sweet role!

    Kudos for Jane who I think is a underrated actor putting his money to good use!

  • 1138sw

    I like it! Saw this yesterday on youtube and it struck me as a solid rendition of the Punisher!

    Loved Perlman this short but sweet role!

    Kudos for Jane who I think is a underrated actor putting his money to good use!

  • Tomoo

    That’s one hell of a Jack Daniels commercial.

  • dan day

    I liked the look of it and his performance but it’s a bit disturbing the way he lets a women get raped. I mean WTF? I know he’s taking a break from punishing for some unknown reason but it seemed weird and creepy.

  • Kasper

    #4 He doesn’t care much for justice, he’s all about the punishment!

  • Chris

    This short film was super rad. This was the vibe and intensity that could make a more grounded Punisher film possible. I liked P: Warzone for the other end of the spectrum – full on comic.

    @#4 – I feel that he looked at that as a person who had already gotten themselves into the door of revolving violence. The boy was completely innocent and defenseless. He wanted to stay out of the whole situation, but after his pep talk with Hellboy he decided to make his mark – literally.

  • Derek McFarland

    This shit is exactly what The Punisher 2004 was missing. The short was badass.

  • Chris A.

    #7. Agreed. Comic book movies have gotten better as they became darker. If the 04 Punisher had gone this route it would have been great. Not to mention, kept John Travolta out. No offense to Travolta, he’s a great actor I just don’t think he can pull off the bad guy rolls very well.

  • BTW, Phil Joanou seemed to me to be one of the best directors out there in the mid-Eighties, when I saw “Three O’Clock High.” That movie had such stylized flair, I would have put money down that Joanou was going to be up there with Burton and Spielberg. Instead, he directed several U2 movies, and fell into obscurity.

  • Trecal

    Good fun short, done well (as you’d expect from a qualified director Phil Joanou)
    I agree with the rape, although I thought she was getting a beat down (which is also bad) I wasn’t aware it was Punisher related and was pleasantly surprised by the end sign off. I’d watch a new ramped up Punisher from these guys.