PENNY LANE IS DEAD (2025)

New streaming on Shudder from Buffalo Median and Sanctuary Pictures!
Directed/Written by Mia Kate Russell.
Check out the
trailer here! !

It’s the late eighties in Australia and Penny Lane (Bailey Spalding) and her two best Shiela’s, Toni (Tahlee Fereday) and Amy (Alexandra Jensen) plan on having a girls’ weekend at Penny’s beach house before Penny moves off to college. A week prior, Penny shared a kiss with Toni and since it tasted better than a “bloomin’ onion,” the two are kinda-sorta interested in seeing where that evolution of their relationship could go from there. But unbeknownst to the group, Penny’s jealous cousin Kat (Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn) plans to crash the party. And after Kat spike’s Penny’s cupcake with drugs, Penny passes out and the rest of the gals kick Kat out of the beach house. But Kat calls her new boyfriend Angus (BLOODY HELL’s Ben O’Toole) and his two degenerate mates to pick her up. Instead of taking Kat someplace else, the blokes decide to crash the party themselves. And faster than you can say, “digeridoo,” things quickly go all the way to hell.

Yes, all the Australian I know is from the Outback Steakhouse.

PENNY LANE IS DEAD is one of those films that starts a little slow but after the first twenty or so minutes of gettin’-to-know-you time. But once it gets going, it rolls like a freight train without a conductor all the way until the end. Filmmaker Mia Kate Russell juggles quite a few unique characters as they bump, bounce, slam, and smash into one another. Once Kat’s boyfriend Angus and his friends show up, things get brutal and violent. The blood speweth everywhere and no character is left unscathed. This is a pitch dark film about love, friendship, and jealousy and how a potent mix of those three elements means disaster to all involved. I loved the wanton carnage this film tosses around.

PENNY LANE IS DEAD is worth recommending specifically for two or three extremely strong performances. The whole cast is strong, but Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn has a devilishly fun time being the unhinged Kat and almost steals the entire show as Penny’s jealous cousin. The way you see Kat build fragile confidence only to have it crumble around her is an amazing arc for this character. She wants to be accepted into Penny’s group but lacks the social skills to actually be cordial with them. Her response to her awkwardness is to lash out with harsh words, sabotage good things, and ultimately go full postal on anyone around her. Seeing her reactions to everything that unfolds is quite a fascinating character study of a truly dangerous, anti-social outcast who just wants to be loved.

But Kat’s character is outshined by the ultra-charismatic Angus played by the ultra-charismatic Ben O’Toole. If you’ve seen BLOODY HELL, you know how O’Toole commands every scene he is in. Here he doesn’t play a hapless hero, but a raging psychopath itching to prove how bad he is at every turn. It’s wonderful to see this actor’s range between this and BLOODY HELL as Angus really is a monster. As Angus, he is perpetually cocking his chin down and eyes up, a look perfected by DeNiro and Colin Farrell, that conveys a dangerous, conniving tone of a serpent just about to strike. Still, O’Toole plays much of his role for laughs and false bravado. I loved every minute he was on screen.

The rest of the cast is strong. I loved Steve Le Marquand as the gruff older crook Merrick. Seeing him whack Angus down a couple of notches is great fun. Alexandra Jensen is also very good as the innocent Amy who is completely out of sorts with the horrible things going on around her. Tahlee Fereday is the only chink in this film’s armor. She is supposed to be the lead Toni, but for some reason, besides looking tough covered in blood, her performance feels somewhat uncomfortable at times. Finally, there’s Penny Lane herself, a charming beauty played by Bailey Spalding. She’s good but as the title suggests, she’s dead for most of the movie.

The ultra-violence and performances by Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn and Ben O’Toole are the main reasons to check out this modern Ozzie nightmare. There are some very disturbing scenes of violence but then again, there are some hilarious scenes peppered throughout. PENNY LANE IS DEAD is a devilish little number that is hard to forget. Recommended.