Daffy undead gal Penny Dreadful (a delightfully zany and charming performance by lovely redhead Eliza Swenson), her smitten zombie pal Ned (a likable portrayal by Collin Galyean), and lycanthrope Wolfboy relate three tales of terror in an old rundown movie theater. First, most terse and to the point vignette, "Slash-in-the-Box" - A young couple find themselves being stalked by a lethal jack-in-the-box. Simple and straightforward, director Nick Everhart builds a good deal of tension and concludes this baby with a great gory punch line. Second, most stylish and intriguing anecdote, "The Morning After" - Mousy young lady Alice (sharply played by Samantha Soule) tries to figure out what exactly happened to her last night. Steeped deep in groovy 60's period atmosphere, director Swenson elicits top-rate smooth and predatory work from the enticing Ramona Mallory as seductive bloodsucker Jez, ably crafts a compelling aura of mystery, and delivers an intoxicating sexy vampire chic vibe that's comparable to "The Hunger." Third, best, and most chilling segment, "The Slaughter House" - A group of friends encounter an eccentric backwoods family after their van breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Director Leigh Scott offers an ingenious reversal on the standard conventions of the formula premise, vividly evokes a right-on funky 70's drive-in grindhouse cinema flavor, provides several startling moments of savage violence, and tops everything off with a wickedly amusing sense of pitch-black gallows humor. The always welcome presence of reliable veterans Sid Haig as an amiable storekeeper and Jeffrey Combs as a geeky gimp helps matters a whole lot. Kudos are also in order for Scott's sumptuous widescreen cinematography and Swenson's spirited shivery score. Recommended viewing for fright film fans.
Review of The Penny Dreadful Picture Show
