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For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
August Underground: Penance (2007)
A few years ago I remember checking out two films that I thought pushed boundaries further than anything I may have ever seen. Those films where called August Underground, and it's follow up August Underground: Mordum. Although the films display some of the most mean spirited sequences that I've ever seen, I wanted more of a narrative to go along with it. When I saw Toe Tag's third picture "The Redsin Tower" I was simply blown away because it had the narrative that I was looking for to go along with all of the gore. So when I heard that they had a third AU picture coming, I truly felt as if it was a step back for Fred Vogel and the rest of the Toe Tag Crew. After viewing Penance I couldn't tell you how wrong that assumption was.
In the third and final installment of the AU series, we have two of the killers returning with Christie Whiles and Fred Vogel returning to unleash more carnage. This time we see more of the same mean spirited killing but with much more to the story. Penance really gets into the relationship of the male and female killers and shows more of a human side to them than any of the previous films. You see them hanging out together, but see just how their violent sides can fuel each other. Now, the film doesn't have your typical storytelling narrative, but it does have enough of a story for me to say it's easily the best out of the AU films. Its honestly the movie that "Natural Born Killers" wished that it could grow up to be.
The filmmaking this time around is much better too as they've upped the technology this time. Instead of the killers using a "video camera" (actually it was digital video in the first two films doctored to be like that) they use today's more standard digital video. That not only makes it more realistic in my opinion, but it makes it much easier to sit and watch than the two prior films. Fred and Christie both are excellent in their roles and although Fred was really good in the other two, this time around there seems to be more intent behind the character. You really see some sickness on the screen this time around too as it features more of the same vile activity in this one as the other two, but for some reason it comes off much more effective here. Now that could be the upgrade in equipment or the fact that they did seem to use lighting in a couple of the scenes too, but I really can't put my finger on it. But for my money the reason why this is the best is because the chemistry between Fred and Christie on screen makes the film. It really brings you into what's happening as well as getting a better understanding that they are human beings as well as gratuitous killing machines. There is even some comic relief in the movie at one point where the two bully a homeless man sleeping under a bridge. Also they managed to get one of the coolest cameo's I've seen in a movie in a long time. During a concert sequence in the film where Christie gets it on with a bar patron in the bathroom, you have a band playing at the bar. Well if you look on stage you notice that one of the band members is the brother of Punk legend GG Allin, Merle Allin playing on stage. Now THAT is a cool fucking cameo if I've ever seen one and kudos to the Toe Tag crew for pulling that one off.
I also have to make a point to bring up the effects used in the film too. They are easily among some of the greatest I've ever seen, regardless of the context it's used in. They use real animal intestines which you get to see if you watch the making of feature on the disc. It's a really informative and candid look at the crew working on set. If you are a independent filmmaker you can learn a lot from the extras on Toe Tag's movies and this one is no exception.
Overall I would highly recommend this film, although incredibly brutal and iconoclastic it's still has something else to say. It's an excellent character study for the most jaded of horror/exploitation fans and is a really vital movie in our current society. This one is worth picking up for the marathon experience of watching it and there is no doubt in my mind that Penance is the greatest exploitation film made this decade.
Rating - ***1/2
-Ed Demko
