Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: PENANCE [Fantastic Fest 2025 - Austin, Texas]

Making a film on a micro-budget takes skill but also time. Director Nik Pelekai has worked as a stunt performer on many big name Marvel and DC movies out of Atlanta. It seems though he always had a hankering to direct. "Penance" is part of the Burnt Ends program at Fantastic Fest highlighting films that aren't quite finished but in need of course a bump from a festival berth like this. The film starts off with a rampaging proof of concept which is what got the producer interested. However in reality that is the most dynamic part of the film. But this was also true of "Deadpool". The question becomes one of story. When it finally susses itself out, "Penance" is a fairly good concept but in a way (and more obvious than not), it seems rushed. But the nature of the work and of all the stunt players who were involved necessitated a certain compromise. The main lead character Travis Gomez plays is the key here and he fares the best while having to play a mute. In terms of its final reference point it is a neat play (but it is not fully realized) There is one scene coming out of a fight when he is walking towards the camera that feels almost like "Heat" even without color correction. "Penance" does have those moments with this one being the most relevant. The dramatic exposition parts though are weaker but that is to be expected when it is very DIY. The producer said during the Q&A that it was more a treatment if that when he saw the proof of concept...and he asked that the script was written quickly. Of course it is hard to write a film if it is simply concept.

The pace in the middle does have its problems and the action sequences are spaced out quite a bit so the middle of the movie has a definite lull until it builds it way back up to the end. This is not a fault considering the production is boasted as being made for $7000. It is a labor of love and of course people pay more attention to features compared to if Pelekai had just made it is a short. And the thought here is that most stunt performers are usually doubling for well known actors so their faces never get shown (through no fault of their own). Again the dramatic tech elements are a bit weak (though the fight ones are great including one where a house is nearly destroyed from the inside). Also the final few moments also play very well. It seems that Pelekai perhaps got more control over what he was doing as he went forward (though it is not clear if he shot in sequence). But with a Fantastic Fest berth he probably rushed the cut quicker since he was editing on his laptop. There is of course very little ADR at this point, dialogue is muted or over saturated and the color correction and contrast are simply not there. But with a little bit of finish it could be cleaned up a bit. It sounds like from the Q&A there is already something bigger that he is working on with a little more budget. It just took the dexterity to get it moving and show people that he is willing to go the mile. That said there is also a pedigree here. But there is definitely an improvement point needed. Watching "The Furious" a couple weeks ago at TIFF for Midnight Madness, a budget and a little more time helps. But the script needs to be infinitely tighter and clearer. And this sounded like it really didn't have one, just ideas. And as far as that is concerned it is an admirable job but it is by no means a great film. It is what is but shows the power of independent film, especially when it is done by those who have had a taste of playing with the big boys. C

By Tim Wassberg