PLOT: Set during a scorching Australian summer in 1986, the film follows three teenage best friends whose celebratory night at a beach house spirals into a blood-soaked battle for survival after a prank takes a deadly turn.
REVIEW: Ozploitation exploded in Australia way back in the late 70s/early 80s with films like Mad Max and Long Weekend. They didn’t have a specific genre but would often bounce between horror, sexploitation, and action, while being very low-budget. Now, Penny Lane is Dead is trying to keep the tradition alive, giving us an 80s movie with those exact same Ozploitation vibes. Recently, the film made its premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival and made headlines due to an audience member fainting. For a horror movie, that is the ultimate compliment.
The story of Penny Lane follows a group of girlfriends celebrating at one of their beach houses, as they try to have fun before college or getting a real job. But when outsiders show up, the night takes a turn for the worse, and the girls must fight for survival. It’s a simple revenge story that makes for a very satisfying watch. I will always love bad guys getting their comeuppance, even if a few innocents are lost as collateral. Tahlee Fereday and Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn are at odds, each taking up interesting and unexpected places in the story. Anytime they’re facing off, whether verbally or physically, the movie is firing on all cylinders.
Ben O’Toole’s Angus is a great villain and feels like a true threat. He’s unhinged, and clearly, even his men are scared of what he’ll do. It also doesn’t hurt that he looks visually similar to David from The Lost Boys, which immediately made me like him. I really sympathized with Talk To Me‘s Alexandra Jensen, who doesn’t seem to have a bad bone in her body. So it should come as no surprise that one of the best scenes is Angus’ pursuit of her. It’s unnerving while still having a sick playfulness to it.
The violence is where Penny Lane is Dead really shines, as it’s filled with bloody practical effects and knows how to show them off. There’s impact with these kills and some pretty gnarly moments. Those worried about fainting can probably rest easy, however, as there’s nothing gore-wise that we haven’t seen time and time again. Even still, that gore is handled splendidly. Despite all the violence in the film, the moment that made my stomach turn was decidedly more innocent, with the girls eating whole cupcakes. The sound design is like a mukbang, and it is genuinely disgusting.
Mia Kate Russell makes her feature directorial debut here and clearly has a strong voice. She deals with basic themes like love, abuse, and jealousy, and uses them as a driving force for these characters. Each person has distinct motivations, which makes the journey more interesting, as they’re more than just set dressing; they’re active participants. If they’re not progressing the story forward with their actions, they’re giving us a memorable scene that helps color the film positively. Penny Lane looks fantastic, with cinematographer Liam Gilmour avoiding the common trappings of indie lighting. There’s proper depth and dimension to each shot, and it manages to make the film look more expensive than it no doubt is.
I absolutely loved my time with Penny Lane Is Dead, as it’s a proper revenge story that never gets bogged down by a convoluted plot. The performances are great, and gore is consistently stomach-churning and impressive. The only thing that was missing was a Beatles needle drop, though I assume those licensing rights are a bit too pricey, so I don’t hold that against it. You’ll have a blast with this one!
Penny Lane is Dead is currently playing at the Fantasia International Film Festival and streams on Shudder on August 28th, 2026.
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