Penny Dreadful (2006)

Foregoing the true nature of the title, the film centers around Penny Deerborn (Rachel Miner), a fragile soul consumed by amaxophobia (the fear of riding in a car). While on a retreat to face her fear, her therapist (Mimi Rogers) picks up the wrong hitchhiker. Penny Dreadful is absolutely dripping with horror movie cliches, but instead of adding any kind of nostalgic flair, they instead hinder the film. Every time a character inexplicably trips and falls or a car engine stalls, you can feel the boiling ire from within. There really aren't any standout performances here. Miner is satisfactory as the 'final girl' who eventually fights back in the final few scenes, and the hitchhiker is as run-of-the-mill as it gets. The minimalist cast is balanced out by cannon fodder character actors who simply add to the body count. The concept of an amaxophobic fighting for her life within the very object she fears is sound, but in the long run it added almost no depth to the experience. 

1½ suicide attempts out of 5

The Black Dahlia (2006)

Like The Untouchables (1987), Black Dahlia has a few exceptionally good scenes strategically placed within a historically interesting background that nevertheless feels overwhelmingly empty and lifeless.
Josh Hartnett is okay in the lead role, but a De Palma film needs a protagonist more than just 'okay' if he or she is to hold their own and not be swallowed up by the director's self-interests. The only two characters that manage to do just that are the murdered Dahlia (Mia Kirshner – amazing!) and the actual murderer (whom I can't praise directly because it would be spoiler).
It was reportedly three hours long cut down to a more palatable two, but while the pacing may have been improved if the additional footage was put back it's unlikely the overall feeling of boredom would've changed much.

2½ veneers out of 5

The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations (2009)

In a huge break from logic, the 'rules' of the first film don't apply. Sam the happy protagonist can go anywhere in time; he doesn't have to have lived that particular moment before. He has a morality that mostly springs from guilt, but it doesn't take him long to push it aside when personal feelings interfere; he’s only human after all. His desire to find out how and why a tragic event in his past occurred has consequences for the present/future.
Each time I was tempted to hit stop something interesting happened to keep me there for the duration. I'm glad, because the ending delivered some unexpected twists that I hadn't cared enough to predict on my own.

2½ shifted pieces out of 5

Love & Distrust (2010)

Five shorts by one director, each exploring different sides of love and distrust. Well, that was the claim but it's hard to tell while watching, as they've almost nothing in common. Each one is different visually, and while some are just plain awful, the first one especially, some are heartfelt and almost entertaining. I kind of liked the Aussie one. I wouldn't want to watch it twice, but it passed the time until I was ready to go to sleep.

1½ moves to the give-away pile out of 5