Summer beach trips are supposed to be fun, but for the characters in Penny Lane Is Dead, they become a blood-soaked nightmare. ShowtimeSpot has an exclusive first look at the poster for this upcoming horror film, which channels classic creature features like Creature from the Black Lagoon and Forbidden Planet. The poster shows a group of friends in various states of panic while a menacing figure carries an unconscious woman toward a beach house.
The film marks the feature directorial and screenwriting debut of Mia'Kate Russell, who has built a reputation with acclaimed short films. Penny Lane Is Dead will premiere at Fantasia Fest in Montreal, running from July 16 to August 2. It hits Australian theaters on July 23 via Umbrella Entertainment, with a North American and international release to follow.
What Is 'Penny Lane Is Dead' About?
Set in the summer of 1986, the story follows Penny Lane (Bailey Spalding), who is celebrating her university acceptance with friends Toni (Tahlee Fereday) and Amy (Alexandra Jensen). But her cousin Kat (Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn), daughter of actor Ben Mendelsohn, brings trouble. With a bad drug habit and a worse attitude, Kat arrives with drugged cupcakes, her psycho boyfriend Angus (Ben O'Toole), and a crew of weirdos. The fun quickly spirals into violence and depravity. The cast also includes Fletcher Humphrys, Steve Le Marquand, and Matthew O'Sullivan.
Australia has a rich horror tradition, from the Ozsploitation classics of the 1970s and 1980s to modern hits like The Babadook and Bring Her Back. Penny Lane Is Dead continues that legacy with a blackly comedic twist. For fans of retro horror, this is one to watch. If you're looking for more scares, check out our list of best vampire movies to rewatch or dive into horror cult classics ranked from weird to wild.
Will Penny Lane survive? You'll have to see the film to find out. Stay tuned for more updates on its release.
