Worth Every Cent

We all have our irrational fears. Some of us are afraid of the dark. Some of us are afraid of spiders. I myself am afraid of being raped by a gourmet chef (this goes back to 1994 when I was raped by a gourmet chef). Penny Dearborn is afraid of being trapped in a car. After a brutal car accident that claimed the life of her parents, Penny (played effectively by Rachel Miner) has a hard time staying in a car without losing her shit. Under the care of her psychologist, renowned author Orianna Volker (film veteran Mimi Rogers), Penny is taken on a road trip to help overcome her fears. But after they pick up an eerie hitchhiker (I guess Orianna was too busy tackling coulrophobia to watch ‘The Hitcher’) their little retreat hits the emergency brake and Penny finds herself trapped in her biggest fear—Orianna’s BMW.

‘Penny Dreadful’ works for two main reasons: an original plot, but more importantly—Rachel Miner’s performance. Penny spends most of the film trapped in a car and unable to escape. The killer finds surprisingly creative ways to add fear to a situation that could easily grow dull, such as smearing blood on all of the windows so Penny’s tomb becomes one foreboding red tint. Mimi Rogers, who has to play a’well’rather stiff role in this film does a fine job in evoking a few scares every once in a good while. But as I said, the film’s success is due to the acting of Miner. You honestly believe this girl is terrified of being in a car. She spends the entire movie screaming, crying, popping Xanax, talking to herself, and sleeping. It may not sound difficult but she pulls off without a doubt, the best lead character in the 8 Films to Die For set.

Along with a select few, ‘Penny Dreadful’ makes the Horrorfest set worth it. A clever concept, a wicked killer, and straight up talent on Miner’s part make for a surprisingly awesome movie. ‘Penny Dreadful’ is one ride that’s worth being trapped in.

The Hidden Message: I ended the last sentence with a preposition. It’s killing me.