Penny Dreadful
3/4
Starring: Rachel Miner, Mimi Rogers, Liz Rivers, Chad Todhunter, Mickey Jones, Michael Berryman, Tammy Filor
The version of the film being reviewed is unrated. For the record, the rated version (if one actually exists) is rated R for Violence/Terror, Some Sexuality and Language
The trailer for the After Dark horror film "Penny Dreadful" is without a doubt the best trailer I have ever seen (and I watch them all the time). Not only does it suggest the story without giving anything away, the trailer itself is flat out terrifying. While the film itself doesn't quite live up to its potential (it deviates somewhat from the trailer's premise), it's still pretty intense and scary.
After surviving a car crash that killed her parents, Penny Deerborn (Miner) is terrified of cars. She can't get in one without throwing up. Her therapist, Oriana Volkes (Rogers), believes that the only way she can get past it is to bring things full circle and drive to the place where her parents died. On the way, Oriana hits a hitchhiker, and in an act of penance, gives him a lift to the middle of nowhere. That's when the two of them realize that the tire has a hole in it and it isn't long before they're stuck in the middle of the woods. Much to Penny's horror, Oriana leaves her in the car to try to call for help. But the hitchhiker has special plans for her.
In a strange way, "Penny Dreadful" bears similarity to the horror films "Saw" and "The Descent." While Richard Brandes' film doesn't feature obscene amounts of torture and gore (in fact, it can be argued that the movie isn't really a "horror" movie at all, and is instead a psychological thriller), it does contain similar themes. Penny's ordeal of being trapped by a killer who thwarts her every attempt to escape recall's James Wan's 2005 hit and the use of an environment being as much of a threat as the killer brings to mind Neil Marshall's classic. There's not much blood or gruesome violence in this film; it's built on the sense of being trapped with no way out.
The only character that matters is Penny, and Rachel Miner (who was at one time married to Macaulay Culkin) does a solid job. We're with Penny every step of the way. Slightly less impressive is Mimi Rogers (who was also married to a movie star, only it was Tom Cruise), although it's partly due to the script. The problem with the casting is that Miner and Rogers don't "click" together. I never bought that they had a meaningful relationship, which limits the suspense.
Director Richard Brandes does a solid job of generating suspense and psychological tension. He isn't as masterful as Neil Marshall was with "The Descent," but it's good enough. He also has a tendency to show off at times, although these instances are minimal. Of greater concern is the editing. Horror movies are never long, and "Penny Dreadful" is no exception. But even at 92 minutes the movie is a hair too long. Shave a minute or two of Penny huddling in the car, and the film would be leaner and meaner.
That all being said, for those who like intense psychological thrillers, this is a solid pick.
Starring: Rachel Miner, Mimi Rogers, Liz Rivers, Chad Todhunter, Mickey Jones, Michael Berryman, Tammy Filor
The version of the film being reviewed is unrated. For the record, the rated version (if one actually exists) is rated R for Violence/Terror, Some Sexuality and Language
The trailer for the After Dark horror film "Penny Dreadful" is without a doubt the best trailer I have ever seen (and I watch them all the time). Not only does it suggest the story without giving anything away, the trailer itself is flat out terrifying. While the film itself doesn't quite live up to its potential (it deviates somewhat from the trailer's premise), it's still pretty intense and scary.
After surviving a car crash that killed her parents, Penny Deerborn (Miner) is terrified of cars. She can't get in one without throwing up. Her therapist, Oriana Volkes (Rogers), believes that the only way she can get past it is to bring things full circle and drive to the place where her parents died. On the way, Oriana hits a hitchhiker, and in an act of penance, gives him a lift to the middle of nowhere. That's when the two of them realize that the tire has a hole in it and it isn't long before they're stuck in the middle of the woods. Much to Penny's horror, Oriana leaves her in the car to try to call for help. But the hitchhiker has special plans for her.
In a strange way, "Penny Dreadful" bears similarity to the horror films "Saw" and "The Descent." While Richard Brandes' film doesn't feature obscene amounts of torture and gore (in fact, it can be argued that the movie isn't really a "horror" movie at all, and is instead a psychological thriller), it does contain similar themes. Penny's ordeal of being trapped by a killer who thwarts her every attempt to escape recall's James Wan's 2005 hit and the use of an environment being as much of a threat as the killer brings to mind Neil Marshall's classic. There's not much blood or gruesome violence in this film; it's built on the sense of being trapped with no way out.
The only character that matters is Penny, and Rachel Miner (who was at one time married to Macaulay Culkin) does a solid job. We're with Penny every step of the way. Slightly less impressive is Mimi Rogers (who was also married to a movie star, only it was Tom Cruise), although it's partly due to the script. The problem with the casting is that Miner and Rogers don't "click" together. I never bought that they had a meaningful relationship, which limits the suspense.
Director Richard Brandes does a solid job of generating suspense and psychological tension. He isn't as masterful as Neil Marshall was with "The Descent," but it's good enough. He also has a tendency to show off at times, although these instances are minimal. Of greater concern is the editing. Horror movies are never long, and "Penny Dreadful" is no exception. But even at 92 minutes the movie is a hair too long. Shave a minute or two of Penny huddling in the car, and the film would be leaner and meaner.
That all being said, for those who like intense psychological thrillers, this is a solid pick.
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