Penance Lane (2020) User Reviews

Grits n' Fixin's

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 16 May 2020]

In a small town outside of Grantville, Georgia five men hold up with three million in stolen cash. They are grabbed by things in the night. One makes it out without the cash. Years later Crimson Matthews (Tyler Mane) comes to town to accept a job to fix up the house. He was friends in prison with the one that got away and knows the story. He is a member of the Spartans, a Biker organization. Whatever was there a decade ago, is still there and Crimson must fight his way out for about the last 30 or so minutes of the film.

Slightly different plot. Decent characters. Dialogue not bad. The film was more action than horror except for the creepy music that played every time someone went down Penance Lane.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

Came for the horror...

[thersmith · 5/10 · 11 February 2022]

...stayed for Scout Taylor Compton. If Scout is in a movie then it's worth at least a 5.

Having said that, that's as far as I can go for this one. The plot is weak and most of the acting is bland. It was more action than it was horror and that would be okay if the action was put together well but it wasn't.

The ending manages to pick up and improve just a little bit but it never really manages to find its footing and that's unfortunate because there is something decent hidden in this mess.

I didn't feel like it was a complete waste of time, but it didn't leave me satisfied either.

Ultimately a way too generic and predictable horror movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 8 April 2021]

I must admit that I had initially expected the 2020 movie "Penance Lane" to be something quite different than what it turned out to be. I was expecting this to be more of a traditional horror movie, but instead I ended up watching something that felt like a mutated hybrid that proved to be rather mundane and bland.

The storyline told in "Penance Lane" just failed to properly entertain me. Sure, I managed to sit through the entire movie, but I can't claim to have been overly impressed or entertained by what I saw from writers Renae Geerlings, Matt Granger, Mikey Granger and Munier Sharrieff. And in fact, I must admit that it sort of astounds me that four writers can collectively manage to write something this trivial and generic.

While the storyline was bland, mediocre and predictable, the characters in the movie were just downright pointless. There was no attempts even made to flesh out the characters and give them any kind of personalities, traits, quirks or distinctive features. Every character could essentially easily have been replaced by the character before it, and it wouldn't have made a difference.

And the acting in the movie was as rigid and wooden as the storyline. So don't expect to be blown away by stellar performances that will rack up one award after another.

Director Péter Engert just failed to deliver a wholesome movie with this 2020 horror movie titled "Penance Lane". And I must admit that the movie's cover, title and synopsis severely oversold the movie, because it was made up to be something more than it was.

If you enjoy proper horror movies, you might as well skip out on "Penance Lane", as it just falls short of delivering anything worthwhile watching.

My rating of this 2020 horror movie settles on a three out of ten stars.

FAKE RATINGS

[kenman_dude · 3/10 · 25 April 2020]

No way in the world should this be any higher than a 3. The acting is NOT worthy of a 6. That's just ridiculous.

Garbage. Fake positive reviews once again.

[teekieteekybirdie · 1/10 · 24 April 2020]

Don't even bother. You can tell the positive reviews are absolute fakes because you look on the profiles of the people who MADE these positive reviews, this is the ONLY movie they reviewed, hmm! Suspicious much? Another lame low budget film. Skip this one.

worst horror movie ever

[Red_khalkhal · 1/10 · 16 May 2020]

This is by far one of the worst horror movies I have seen in years. The acting is so ridiculous, the camera work is a disaster. dialogue is mediocre. Absolutely nothing good about this movie to deserve a 2 or 3

Very disappointing.

[kjjames81 · 3/10 · 27 April 2020]

Oh my God, who thought up this tripe? First scene, gang breaks into house, it seems haunted. It starts off okay. Second scene a man comes into town to fix up the house, meets and helps a mum and daughter, the film's seems to be going okay. Strange things happen in the house, film seems to be getting slightly better. Another night in the house, you find out what caused the noise, film goes down hill at a hundred miles an hour. From there the story stays okay but the execution is dreadful, once the storyline comes into play, it was hard to watch because it was badly done. All in all, the film was cheaply made, usually that doesn't bother me but when it is acted by amateurs and it shows, it spoils the film. The only good thing were the mum and daughter were nice to look at.

A so-so indie horror.

[Patient444 · 4/10 · 21 April 2020]

There are a few good things that happen in Penance Lane, a plot that develops, good cast, acting but the lack of budget will make a mark in the end.

This is definitely not something to recommend even for the average horror fan, because it is a step lower than your usual, not quite entertaining but does has a story to it, and it doesn't reveal itself from the very start. So, as the plot thickens you get to watch a movie, one that grows right in front of your eyes, but as expected, shortly after it becomes a clichee. Now, all in all I would say this is a fair effort, from the actors, to the execution, but only as an early production of such kind, because as I said before, it is not something I would tell others about.

I rated it a 4 because I strongly believe it is the best it could do regarding the budget, I do admire the way Penance Lane developed, but it is what it is. There are plenty of other better indie productions our there, so you decide what you going to watch next.

Cheers!

Either you like it or your just putting it on for background noise

[michaelhargrove-54711 · 6/10 · 2 June 2020]

Starts off pretty good kinda feel like a ghost or spirit........ then boom straight ppl who been turned into super strong zombie like morons a weird humping room and just straight disaster only watch cause of main actor

Please, skip this...

[syldt1 · 3/10 · 25 April 2020]

What starts as a good premise and makes you think you're in for a good ghost/haunted house with a twist, takes a wrong turn in the middle towards ridiculousness and cliché galore. The story makes absolutely no sense at all and the worst of it, is not even mildly entertaining. The good reviews must be fake or written by 12 year old kids.

Don't listen to bad reviews

[smason-71888 · 9/10 · 3 May 2020]

Do not pay attention to the bad reviews, it's by people who don't know what a decent horror movie is. I was impressed by the movie, it has twists and a good gory horror movie. Watch it!!

Better than most...

[jonasatmosfera · 6/10 · 2 March 2021]

...of the garbage Hollywood has been making lately.

OK, I agree that the acting was somewhat stilted, the budget was minimal, and that they could have used an abandoned hospital, factory, etc. instead of the puny little house where most of the action takes place. I do not know if it is a horror, adventure, thriller, etc.

But this is one example of when the whole was greater than the sum of small parts.

Not bad for a rainy afternoon.

Not really a horror horror.... certainly not "oldschool"

[MikeHunt1075 · 5/10 · 23 April 2020]

So, Triple-H plays an ex-con as usual.... no, wait. That's not Triple-H... hmmm... so this film with Booker T and DDP making cameos has a lead role played by someone playing Triple-H as an ex-con who on his release heads to a town where he has a motive to find some hidden money Booker Ts brother hid their a decade prior (Its not Stevie Ray, mustve been a third brother?) He gets hired by Bo Duke who has forgotten about racing The General Lee and become a preacher who happens to own the house and hires the fake Triple-H to fix it up. Only fake Triple-H discovers the house has some hidden occupants.

I'd say the script writer wanted to make a Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel, got rejected and re-wrote it to not be the characters of TCM, but figured making the Leather Face character a female would surely be a way to hide his original script plan to get this made.

Fake-H then makes friends with a girl who feels some unknown reason to stick to him like flies to ... dung... and when the dung hits the fan she ends up in it as deep as he is as they have to fight for survival.

I wouldn't really call this a horror. It takes a few elements of past horror looking characters and enters them in a small TCM style plot, but it soon becomes more of a typical action movie. The done to death scenario where some guy is just so brave and tough that he plans to just leave the trouble, but feels it's his duty to go back and protect the girl and kill the bad guys to save the day kinda thing.

It's no tribute to old-school horror, those reviews are obvious fakes that plague Imdb these days.

It's ok for one viewing, but it's a once seen, you'll never have an urge to see it ever again deal.

See it, don't see it, you decide, but you're not missing anything special.

Wtf did I just watch lol

[geminiki · 3/10 · 11 September 2020]

Very low budget. Maybe if someone told me they made this "home movie" with no acting/filmmaking lessons I'd be impressed. Storyline was very basic and incomplete, like seriously wtf is going on. Horrible acting. It's just bad. Nice camera or whatever made it look -with a quick glance- like it should fit in with the high budget crowd.

If you're bad your Penance is watching this!

[seen1956-587-988920 · 1/10 · 15 May 2020]

I couldn't believe or connect with any of the actors or characters. Even in the coffee shop it just wasn't believable. It was more like a read through. Guess all the cast wanted a new swimming pool and agreed to do the film. Sorry not good.

I would say,do not waste your precious time

[teena_lee · 3/10 · 26 April 2020]

Not a horror,below average acting,terrible story line

It's one of those bad films with wrestles in it.

[CursedNaruto · 1/10 · 21 June 2020]

The acting director should be fired and blacklisted for how slow & blocky the acting is, it really says something when films 70 years ago have better acting.

WTF was THAT?

[simoncoram-06766 · 1/10 · 29 October 2020]

THE worst film of the year, maybe even the century. Disjointed, haphazard, nonsensical and a total waste of time.

Enjoyable

[paulharkins-30301 · 6/10 · 14 May 2020]

Nice easy fun watch. The story is unique and acting is very strong and believable, particularly enjoyed Father John (John Schneider- Dukes of Hazard), Sheriff Denny Wilson (Daniel Roebuck- Fugitive) and his son (Michael Leavy-Terrifier) I guess I have a soft spot for villains. Also nice change of pace for Tyler Mane (Halloween) not being behind a mask and seeing his chemistry shine with Scout Taylor Compton (Halloween). Action sequences were cool and intense but overall would've liked to see more gore, seemed rushed at points but that was covered up with some really good camera work. Definitely recommended for a nice crisp October night during the Scary Fall Season.

Amateur film and very predictable

[muscillopanella1622 · 2/10 · 25 April 2020]

Bad performances and non sense crap. I saw this film for the goods reviews, but now I don't know this people who give this crap good rates.

Old school horror

[kayk7015 · 8/10 · 22 April 2020]

Old school horror with a good story. Loved the ending. A must watch. Totally worth the wait for the end product. The cast did an awesome job with the roles

Not as bad as the bad reviews

[jmbwithcats · 6/10 · 8 December 2020]

There are many actors who have their day in the sun, that one show that puts them on the map, but then when that show is over, you never really see them again... but it doesn't mean they stopped acting, you just have to look for them...

Case in point: John Schneider from my childhood series, Dukes of Hazzard... watched him in a recent horror flick tonight called PENANCE LANE, a decent movie too about giving ex-cons another chance in the world and how they are exploited and forgotten by society.

Solid story and acting, without going over the top.

A lot of bad reviews saying it made no sense, I guess they weren't paying attention because it all made perfect sense.

Spoiler: John Schneider and the local sheriff run an organ trafficking ring, and the evil doctor mutilated and breaks the strong who fight back to protect the business.

Crowdfunded movie

[pediatricgrime · 5/10 · 21 April 2020]

Low, low budget. Not so good acting. But something kept my interest up.

A mysterious house having big money !

[saptesh786 · 5/10 · 6 May 2020]

This is a above average movie, but not so good. Any no so bad too. One time watchable. A prison free man finding the truth of billion dollars money hiding in a mysterious house, where he found then a den of human organs trafficking. Though actors and actresses horrible, some horror parts will stick you. It is not pure horror but rather a slasher movie touch of suspense. Whole story is predictable not so twist till end. One time watchable and can be skipped too!

Pooop Lane

[108YearsOld · 3/10 · 19 March 2021]

The movie is competently produced, but are we to believe, in the opening scene, bunch of criminals with automatic assault rifles and semi-auto shotgun knocked down like little toys by some unseen supernatural or demonic force in the house on Penance Lane, but turns out such an unseen force is nothing but just a couple of the-hills-have-eyes kind of degenerates?? WTF??