Picture

Penance (2009)

Horror/Thriller     Not Rated

Plot

Struggling to provide for her young child, single mom Amelia grudgingly decides to become a stripper to make ends meet. But her decision proves catastrophic when it lands her in the crosshairs of a self-righteous madman.

Acting

I liked Marieh Delfino in the Dorm Daze movies, and Jeppers Creppers II, but I thought she mas just average here. Graham McTavish and Michael Rooker where good playing the villains as they always are, and there is also a cameo by Tony Todd.

Gore

There is both a male and female genital mutilations (one which is self inflicted), there are gunshots to heads and testicles, and a scene where we see the aftermath of some whippings.

Sex

4 strippers are seen topless while performing (the strippers are characters, not random club strippers), Delfino is seen topless as she gets whipped (she is also one of the strippers), a topless woman is chased down the hallway, and Graham McTavish is seen fully nude getting out of the bath tub.

Final Thoughts

I read an article about this in Fangoria magazine, which was the main reason i went out and bought this. In the magazine it was billed as being very controversial and extreme, but i really didn't find it that way, other than one particular scene. There was also a lack of originality, as it was a very similar to all the Saw/Cube/Hostel knock-offs that have been popping up on an almost weekly basis the last few years. Although formulaic, the formula is one that typically works well, and it managed to stay interesting, while not great, throughout, and has a much more realistic tone to it then most.

Overall Rating

C+