Watch Penance Lane

"Penance Lane" is a 2020 horror film directed by Péter Engert that stars Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, John Schneider, and Daniel Roebuck. The film follows the story of Crimson Matthews (played by Tyler Mane), a former criminal who takes a job as a handyman at the Penance Lane apartments, a rundown complex known for its dark past.

Crimson is looking for a fresh start after serving time in prison, but he soon realizes that the job at Penance Lane may come with more trouble than he bargained for. As he works on fixing the old apartments, Crimson encounters a group of eccentric tenants, including a religious fanatic, a war veteran, and a sleazy landlord.

However, it is not just the strange characters that Crimson has to worry about. The building itself seems to have a malevolent force that is slowly driving the tenants insane. Crimson discovers that the building was once a home to a notorious cult that practiced dark rituals and sacrificed children in the name of a dark deity.

The more he learns about the building's history, the more Crimson realizes that the cult still has a presence in Penance Lane. As the cult's influence grows stronger, Crimson finds himself in a fight for his life against forces beyond his comprehension.

Tyler Mane delivers a solid performance as Crimson Matthews, a brooding and rugged character with a troubled past. Scout Taylor-Compton plays Lolli, a rebellious teenager who befriends Crimson and helps him uncover the secrets of Penance Lane.

John Schneider is also memorable as Harold, the mysterious landlord of the complex who seems to know more than he is letting on. Daniel Roebuck plays The Fist, a burly, tattooed tenant who is reluctant to let outsiders into his world.

The movie's strength lies in its atmosphere and tension, which build up slowly and steadily until the explosive finale. The setting of Penance Lane is claustrophobic and eerie, with dark hallways, flickering lights, and creepy crawl spaces that add to the feeling of dread.

The film also explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of belief. Crimson's journey from a criminal to a hero is compelling, and his interactions with the other tenants provide glimpses into their own struggles and motivations.

However, the film is not without its flaws. Some of the supporting characters feel one-dimensional and underdeveloped, and the pacing may feel slow at times. The dialogue can also be clunky and exposition-heavy, especially when characters are explaining the building's history and the cult's activities.

Despite these shortcomings, "Penance Lane" is an effective horror movie that delivers on its promise of thrills and chills. Fans of classic horror films such as "The Shining" and "Rosemary's Baby" will find much to enjoy in this atmospheric and unnerving tale of a man struggling to escape his past in a haunted building with a dark secret.

Penance Lane is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.3.