If you like anthology movies, or enjoy quality horror and original ideas, this movie is for you.
There are 3 segments, held together by the over-arching Penny story, which was directed by Leigh. I'll start with her. Eliza Swenson NAILS it as Penny. From the moment she graces the screen, I want to see this character more. She is dreadfully underused (and that's saying a lot, considering that she got a fair amount of screen time).
Her "sidekicks", a zombie and werewolf, also help deliver some wonderfully macabre humor, throughout. All three of her guests do their roles justice. The more cliché "jock" who seems a bit too old to still be wearing his letterman's jacket. My favorite has to go to John Wells, though. As he delivers a fantastically awkward performance, where his nerves wont allow him to stop talking. Very reminiscent of many high school memories. Kind of depressingly reminiscent, actually. But in a very entertaining way. The end also ties back into the first segment, which...
Was a short directed by Everheart, "Slash in the Box." A fun little short, that I believe I've seen before, though I can't place exactly where. Either way, I like it. And it delivers both laughs and chills in a very short amount of time.
Next was a segment directed by Swenson, that I found enjoyable enough. Swenson delivered as a Director, for certain, as did the cast and concept. I simply couldn't get into the 60s vibe of it all. Maybe it's because I was born in the late 80s; perhaps because I'm just not a fan of the time period, but here you can tell that the cast and crew ARE. And for a lot of horror fans, this time period is one that deserves a great amount of respect -- and it gets it.
The final segment within the movie itself is "Slaughter House" -- Directed by the ever-controversial (at least on IMDb, it seems) Leigh Scott. This one is much more my pace, we're talking sex, blood, psychos and psychological trauma traced back to PTSD and the Vietnam War. This segment also includes the always entertaining (and extremely friendly) Sid Haig. Many people will remember Al Snow from his pro-wrestling days, as I do, but he's truly growing on me as an actor, and I've yet to see him in a performance that I didn't like. This one has laughs, but they're the kind you feel dirty for taking part in. The best kind. This segment will draw a LOT of comparison to certain movies, particularly Texas Chainsaw. And it should. Because it's on that level of quality. Plus, puts a unique spin on it, that it never feels quite like a re-hash of things we've seen for 4 decades now.
There is a bonus segment on the DVD, "The Scout" by Everheart. And you absolutely have to check it out. While "Slaughter House" was my favorite, I related much more to Scout (again, 90s kid), and the jokes and references it contained. All the young actors delivered, and deserve props for such a professional and quality job, done.
Toss in a fantastic score (Swenson pulling duties on that as well) -- solid writing, fantastic acting, and great film work, and I place Penny Dreadful right up there with, and likely even above, Trick 'R Treat.
This one will likely make my final Top 10 of the year list. And that doesn't happen often with Indies. At $10 a pop, picking this movie up is a steal. What? -- You're not at the store, yet?
There are 3 segments, held together by the over-arching Penny story, which was directed by Leigh. I'll start with her. Eliza Swenson NAILS it as Penny. From the moment she graces the screen, I want to see this character more. She is dreadfully underused (and that's saying a lot, considering that she got a fair amount of screen time).
Her "sidekicks", a zombie and werewolf, also help deliver some wonderfully macabre humor, throughout. All three of her guests do their roles justice. The more cliché "jock" who seems a bit too old to still be wearing his letterman's jacket. My favorite has to go to John Wells, though. As he delivers a fantastically awkward performance, where his nerves wont allow him to stop talking. Very reminiscent of many high school memories. Kind of depressingly reminiscent, actually. But in a very entertaining way. The end also ties back into the first segment, which...
Was a short directed by Everheart, "Slash in the Box." A fun little short, that I believe I've seen before, though I can't place exactly where. Either way, I like it. And it delivers both laughs and chills in a very short amount of time.
Next was a segment directed by Swenson, that I found enjoyable enough. Swenson delivered as a Director, for certain, as did the cast and concept. I simply couldn't get into the 60s vibe of it all. Maybe it's because I was born in the late 80s; perhaps because I'm just not a fan of the time period, but here you can tell that the cast and crew ARE. And for a lot of horror fans, this time period is one that deserves a great amount of respect -- and it gets it.
The final segment within the movie itself is "Slaughter House" -- Directed by the ever-controversial (at least on IMDb, it seems) Leigh Scott. This one is much more my pace, we're talking sex, blood, psychos and psychological trauma traced back to PTSD and the Vietnam War. This segment also includes the always entertaining (and extremely friendly) Sid Haig. Many people will remember Al Snow from his pro-wrestling days, as I do, but he's truly growing on me as an actor, and I've yet to see him in a performance that I didn't like. This one has laughs, but they're the kind you feel dirty for taking part in. The best kind. This segment will draw a LOT of comparison to certain movies, particularly Texas Chainsaw. And it should. Because it's on that level of quality. Plus, puts a unique spin on it, that it never feels quite like a re-hash of things we've seen for 4 decades now.
There is a bonus segment on the DVD, "The Scout" by Everheart. And you absolutely have to check it out. While "Slaughter House" was my favorite, I related much more to Scout (again, 90s kid), and the jokes and references it contained. All the young actors delivered, and deserve props for such a professional and quality job, done.
Toss in a fantastic score (Swenson pulling duties on that as well) -- solid writing, fantastic acting, and great film work, and I place Penny Dreadful right up there with, and likely even above, Trick 'R Treat.
This one will likely make my final Top 10 of the year list. And that doesn't happen often with Indies. At $10 a pop, picking this movie up is a steal. What? -- You're not at the store, yet?