Fantastic Fest XX Review: In PENANCE, A Full Throttle Actioner That Pushes The Boundaries Of Punishment
My earliest mention of stunt professional Nikolas Pelekai on this website was back in 2016 in the earlier years of The Hit List column. Having built a career that began in 2012 with live stunt shows and Cirque-style performances before heading into film and TV, that on-set experience has since positioned him amply to take a stab at directing his first feature, Penance. Here’s the thing: Penance is an independently-produced action thriller made for less than what it looks. The first ten minutes alone invites you to a spectacle alone that’s worthy of big-budget bravado – chacteristic of a larger effort built on the kind of teamwork that working in stunts can cultivate, and we’re talking about a cast prominently comprised of stunt performers. The roster is led by Stephano Rodriguez and Travis Gomez in the respective roles of Steph and Trav, foster brothers who’ve procured themselves a notable skillset […]