I stumbled upon this fantastic action film from 2018, and it totally reminded me of both Taken and The Punisher. It’s a really satisfying mix of those two vibes! You know how Taken unexpectedly turned Liam Neeson into an action hero? He was already 55 when that first movie came out. Apparently, he didn’t even think much of the project at the time and figured it would go straight to DVD – can you believe it?
The movie unexpectedly became a huge hit, largely thanks to Liam Neeson’s iconic line about having “a particular set of skills.” This line quickly became a popular meme and led to many more action roles for Neeson. The film’s tone and themes are very similar to those found in The Punisher, as both the movie’s protagonist and Frank Castle share a lot of common ground.
Both characters are dedicated family men and incredibly skilled in combat, both armed and unarmed, as well as interrogation techniques. They’re relentless when chasing those they’re after. Before the film Taken came out in 2008, there had already been three attempts to launch a movie franchise based on The Punisher, but none were successful. So it makes sense that Pierre Morel, the director of Taken, also tried directing his own version of The Punisher.
This wasn’t an official remake, though. Instead, director Morel released Peppermint in 2018, a film about a woman who becomes a relentless force of vengeance after her family is murdered by a drug lord.
Peppermint Is A Female Riff On The Punisher
While films featuring vigilantes like The Punisher, Death Wish, and John Wick usually star male leads, Peppermint stands out with Jennifer Garner as its central character. In fact, Garner is key to the film’s success. She brought action experience from her work on shows like Alias and movies such as The Kingdom, but she’s also a skilled actress.
This benefits the film Peppermint. Garner is incredibly believable in all the action scenes, whether it’s hand-to-hand combat or gunfights. Beyond those moments, she portrays Riley as a character you genuinely feel for. Unlike The Punisher, Riley didn’t have any prior military or fighting experience; she taught herself everything over five years.
The movie surrounding Garner is a well-made, classic B-movie that relies heavily on familiar tropes. It’s boosted by strong supporting performances from actors like John Gallagher Jr. and John Ortiz (known from Miami Vice). The action sequences are particularly well-done and surprisingly inventive, like when Riley uses a moving car to infiltrate the drug lord’s estate.
Peppermint Is Better Than Its 13% RT Score Suggests
While not a blockbuster, the movie Peppermint earned over twice its production budget, bringing in $53 million globally (according to Box Office Mojo). Despite this, plans for a sequel never materialized. The film initially received very negative reviews and currently has a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has since gained a dedicated fanbase.
The movie sparked controversy – and not on purpose, it seems – because it features a white protagonist defeating an exaggeratedly villainous Mexican gang. This aspect will likely bother some viewers, although the film doesn’t appear to be trying to make a political point. While still problematic, the portrayal of Mexicans in this film is actually more subtle than in movies like Rambo: Last Blood.
The recent issues surrounding the film definitely affected how people saw Peppermint, but ultimately, it’s a well-made action movie that benefits from Jennifer Garner’s strong performance. The story itself isn’t original – we’ve seen similar plots many times before – but director Pierre Morel brings enough flair and excitement to make it stand out.
It’s unfortunate that this film didn’t open up more opportunities for Garner to star in action movies, because she’s very well-suited to the genre. After her show Alias finished, she mostly stopped doing action roles, but it would have been great to see her occasionally return with fun, crowd-pleasing films like Peppermint.
2026-07-25 01:00