Product Details

• Actors: Tony Todd, Lochlyn Munro, James Duval, Jason Connery, Marieh Delfino, Graham McTavish, Eve Mauro, Alice Amter, Tracy Coogan. Michael Rooker
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: IMDFILMS
• DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002M9FXNQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,476 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Penance" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

PENANCE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is more about the performances, interesting DVD compilation, December 5, 2009

By 

Steve Kuehl "SLV Video" (Boulder Creek, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Penance (DVD)

I ordered this for my customers who dig this kind of Hostel - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray]-like film depravity, and in this case coupled with the now-common first person video camera feel (ala [Rec], Quarantine and twenty others).

The story is all shown through "obtained" video camera footage found in an abandoned southern California institution. Footage purportedly from/by a victim's camera - one of many tortured ladies at the hands of a mutilation-prone physician (injuring both himself and many others). The premise of this is reportedly based upon the story/circumstances of the real Graeme Reeves, even inclusive of a text-ending stating how he has still escaped prosecution and has not been caught (in reality he is in prison awaiting trial overseas). Putting aside the film has really nothing to do with the guy, you get a well-acted low-budget take on this popular genre. Rooker is outstanding, though he only gets a few scenes. The torture scenes are tough, and if this were rated I am sure it would be in the NC-17 range. A musical score was added to further the impossibility of how certain scenes could be filmed or how this cut was edited, but if you skip the analysis of logistics and watch the performances you will get more out of it.

Supplements are lengthy and include:
* Three alternate endings. They average 1:20-1:30 each and vary in the level of information they text about the doctor, the level of genital mutilations upon women in the world, or a "twist" ending that furthered the "how could this be being filmed" notion.
* Five deleted scenes totaling 18:30 minutes. Glad they cut them, but a lot of Munro's stuff got cut (I remember most as the agent from White Chicks (Unrated and Uncut Edition)).
* How to Strip, 2:50 minutes of the two main gals learning to work their scenes.
* Cast interviews in character, 12:50 minutes. Obviously they were going for the authentic feel here in trying to convince us (and themselves) about how important character was.
* Behind the Scenes, 23:39 minutes. A somewhat thorough look into the making of and logistics.
* Anatomy of a Scene, 13:53. A dry retelling and rehearsal behind doing one of the single-take shots in the film - I would have actually preferred they do any of the other one-takes they did than the one they show here.
* Director Interview, 18:55 minutes. Have to give them props for actually using good backgrounds for the interviews (hate the boring backdrops or dull stages). He talked while outdoors (even sitting in a tree) - unique.
* Location Scout, 4:38 minutes. Camera follows the crew as they scope out the main building, dry.

Overall, there was obviously a great deal put into this with the budget they were allowed - so the end result succeeds in being disgusting and containing good performances - but the whole believability issue is gone. And as stated, go into this not expecting it to have any tangible connection to the real guy. 3 stars for the film, 1 star for the extra features.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, February 18, 2010

By 

Liam Donovan "BMR" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Penance (DVD)

Penance basically involves the story of a woman who becomes a stripper to raise money for her sick child. On the way, she is hired by an unusual customer and soon she finds herself trapped in a prison run by a man who seems to want to help her repent her sins through pain. The film is shot in first person, which I thought worked well for the movie. The story in my view was surprisingly interesting and well-done. It was rather unusual, as the main antagonist provided a glimpse into a different kind of killer, one who thinks what he is doing is for the benefit of his victims. A few disturbing scenes, yet it was not incredibly gory, at least from my point of view. Acting was well done for the most part, especially the antagonist, who did a wonderful job playing a psychopath. If you are the kind of person who enjoys movies that are disturbing and present a rather dark atmosphere, then I would recommend this movie. Overall it was a decent horror movie that presents a lasting impact, not only for its rather disquieting scenes but for its psychological implications as well.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good if this is what you are looking for, March 9, 2010

By 

David M. Smith "David Meier Smith" (Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Penance (DVD)

I'm just tired of the handheld found footage genre. It needs a rest. This starts off decent but delves into another genre that is getting tired: the torture genre. If you still aren't tired if these two genres, then you could do a lot worse. This film delivers what is expected with nudity and violence. I'm just ready for something different in the low budget horror world.