How Far Is “Too Far?” ‘August Underground’s Penance’ (2007) Blu-ray Review

How far is too far? With August Underground’s Penance, Fred Vogel and his crew pushed the boundaries of cinema as far as anyone had taken them at that point and paved the way for a virtual army of imitators, wannabes, and bastard children of “extreme cinema” in the 16 years that followed.

Synopsis

Bonded by their sick love for perversion and brutal depravity, the psychopaths from hell, Peter and his equally vile girlfriend Crusty, are still on the hunt for fresh prey after the unspeakable events in August Underground’s Mordum (2003).

Fred Vogel co-wrote, directed, and stars in the film.

A fitting coda to the August Underground series, AU Penance picks up right where 2004’s Mordum left off. Back are Peter (Vogel) and Crusty (Cristie Whiles, who co-wrote with Vogel), the unholy duo still thirsting for violence, mayhem, and sexual deviance. This time however, it’s as if someone dared the Toetag folks to go further than they had with the previous two films, and the viewer is plunged into a world of vile depravity, heretofore unseen in indie cinema, or any cinema for that matter.

Again featuring the incredible effects work of Jerami Cruise, and shot by Shelby Vogel, the Toetag family are all present and accounted for in this, the culmination of the ultra-violent trilogy. And, as in the previous films, the scenes of gory excess are tempered by scenes of “normalcy”, although with the violent sociopathic leanings of the protagonists always lingering on the edges. With August Underground’s Penance, it seems like Vogel and company took the lessons learned from the first two, and pulled out all the stops, making the film they initially envisioned. Story-wise, it has a twisted redemption arc that, sort of, wraps the characters’ journey up nicely.

Featuring music from, who else, the infamous Murder Junkies (vehicle of the late GG Allin, and the surviving members all pop up!) and Rue, Penance feels a little more “produced” than its counterparts, but the “snuff film” feel and look is still present in every frame, without wallowing in its lo-fi aesthetic. The film translates surprisingly well to a hi-def Blu-ray transfer, and everything looks as in focus and level as you could hope in a film that was shot to intentionally look amateurish.

Special features abound in this limited collector’s edition from Unearthed Films, the dual disc (DVD and Blu) format contains every single item from previous releases, as well as all new content like 4 new commentary tracks, new interviews with everyone involved, fan experience pieces, and an all-new stereo mix. For a film that is exceedingly rough around the edges, this edition has all kinds of shine to it. Three different versions of the artwork are included with the packaging (with a slipcover because we collector nerds HAVE to have a slipcover goddamn it!), and of course, it’s in the typical clear box that makes it stand out on your shelf with your Arrow releases.

A dark, cringe-y, unflinching look into two depraved minds, and their descent into a miasma of sex, violence, mutilation, and generally reprehensible behavior, August Underground’s Penance is the type of film, like Lustig’s Maniac (x10), that stays with you long after you press “Stop”, and it masterfully toes that nearly invisible line between “Art” and “Exploitation”. Violent shit for the sake of violent shit? Buy a copy and you be the judge.

Here’s a rag and some Windex…go ahead and wash your eyeballs after.

Unearthed Films’ August Underground’s Penance Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is available now from fine retailers.