Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful

Year: 2006

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Brandes

HorrorThrillerHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionGory gruesome and slasher horror

Penny, a young woman plagued by a severe fear of cars, joins a therapeutic retreat with her psychologist hoping to conquer her phobia. However, the getaway turns nightmarish when a series of unsettling events force her to confront the very terror she seeks to overcome, pushing her survival instincts to the limit.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Penny Dreadful (2006)

Trace every key event in Penny Dreadful (2006) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Therapy road trip begins

Penny, traumatized by a childhood auto accident that killed her parents, joins her therapist Orianna on a road trip to a mountain community to confront her fear of driving. The decision marks the start of their therapeutic journey on the open road. They travel along a rural highway, discussing Penny's goals and the plan for overcoming her anxiety.

Beginning of the trip Highway to the mountain community
2

Hitchhiker picked up after hitching

On the road, Orianna hits the hitchhiker with the car but does not seriously injure him. She then offers him a ride, and the hitchhiker remains silent except to point to his destination. The trio continues on, the tension palpable in the confined space of the car.

During the ride In the car
3

Tire puncture after dropping off hitchhiker

After dropping off the hitchhiker, they discover that one of the tires has been punctured. The sudden setback heightens Penny's anxiety and makes the journey feel more precarious. The car becomes a fragile sanctuary as danger seems to follow them.

Shortly after dropping off Roadside
4

Orianna seeks signal; Penny left alone

Orianna sets off to get reception for her cell phone but fails to return. Penny remains in the car, unsure of what happened to her mentor and increasingly isolated on the remote road.

Moments after tire puncture Along the road; near the car
5

Penny injures ankle while searching for Orianna

Penny goes to locate Orianna but trips and injures her ankle. The injury compounds the danger and reduces her ability to escape or move quickly. She becomes more vulnerable as the situation tightens around her.

Shortly after Roadside
6

Penny wakes in the car; Orianna dead on video; hitchhiker looms

Penny wakes up in the car wedged between two trees, disoriented and alone. Orianna's death has been recorded on a video camera, and the hitchhiker is nearby, signaling the start of the torment to come. The illusion of safety evaporates as the threat becomes personal.

Immediately after waking Inside the crashed car
7

Hitchhiker tortures Penny; bystanders killed attempting to help

The hitchhiker intensifies the torture, subjecting Penny to hours of fear and pain. Whenever someone from nearby communities tries to come to her aid or disrupt the perpetrator, they are killed by the hitchhiker. The surrounding area becomes a deadly trap with Penny as the sole focus of his cruelty.

Hours after crash Roadside and car area
8

Toe severed during escape attempt

Penny makes a desperate attempt to crawl out of the car through a window, but the hitchhiker grabs her right foot and cuts off one of her toes. The brutal act shatters any remaining sense of safety and seals her resolve to escape. The physical toll deepens the horror she endures.

During torture Inside the car
9

Hitchhiker in Orianna's clothes reveals herself

While Penny is trapped, the hitchhiker sits in the back wearing Orianna's clothes. When the hood is pulled off, Penny discovers the wearer is a demented female patient, a chilling reveal that reframes the entire kidnapping as a personal betrayal. The psychological horror intensifies as Penny confronts the impostor.

Revelation moment Inside the car
10

Penny fights back; stabs hitchhiker in the eye; escapes

Penny musters the strength to fight back and stabs the hitchhiker in the eye with a pencil. She seizes the chance to flee the car, breaking free from the immediate threat. The escape is fraught with pain and urgency as she searches for safety.

Escape moment Inside car
11

Penny escapes but injures foot

Having escaped the car, Penny still reels from her injuries and stumbles due to her damaged foot. She must navigate the treacherous terrain while still fearing the hitchhiker's return. The relief of survival is tempered by ongoing vulnerability.

Immediate aftermath of escape Car crash site
12

Pickup truck hits hitchhiker

A passing pickup truck drives by and unexpectedly collides with the hitchhiker, knocking her down. The driver exits in a panic, hoping to assess the situation and salvage something from the chaos. The encounter briefly promises safety, but the danger is far from over.

After the hit Roadside; highway
13

Driver helps hitchhiker; Penny reassured, danger lingers

The truck driver tells Penny to wait inside the vehicle while he attends to the hitchhiker. Penny experiences a flicker of relief as he seems to stabilize the situation, yet the fear remains that the hitchhiker could still be alive. The moment underscores how close she came to a false resolution.

Right after the hit Near the pickup truck
14

Hitchhiker alive after truck encounter

The hitchhiker appears to be dead at first, but Penny realizes she is still moving, and the terrifying possibility that the killer is not defeated returns. The final twist leaves Penny in a state of ongoing terror rather than true safety. The scene ends with unresolved dread as danger lingers.

End Near the pickup truck

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:07

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Penny Dreadful

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