Penumbra is categorized as horror but in actuality, it is more than that. It is a combination of thriller, comedy, surrealism and mystery, more than a classic horror. The mislabeling of the film as a horror movie could turn off some viewers who are waiting for creepy "ghost-horror," but only get occasional and cheap jump scares. Nevertheless, if you're just like me with no expectations in mind, this movie is a massive treat.
The best strength of this film is its unpredictability. No one could easily predict how the movie will end, what are the motives of the guests, what is Marga's true state of mind (is she crazy?), etc. The answers will just pop up with or without any premonitions.
Another aspect of the film I like is its color-grading. The color-grade looks like vintage and it suits the location of the old rickety apartment building. It also adds to the lore of the mysterious film. On the other hand, Penumbra did not shy away for comedy. Some comedic scenes really made me laugh, as executed nicely adds another element to the film which in the surface looks one-sided.
Meanwhile, the plot twists in the end are very good at first glance. It offers shock value that could haunt the viewers and leave them puzzled as some of the questions have not been solved. Unfortunately, those plot twists and unpredictability lacks foreshadowing, which in turn decreases its overall impact in the plot itself, appearing that some early scenes in the film is just a waste of time.
The movie's unpredictability is also a double edge sword that could become a liability as there are no significant storyline that the plot will go through except for the main one (about the renting of the apartment). Another problem is, the pacing of the movie is too slow, leaving the main storyline to be forsaken at the tedious middle section of the film if the viewers dozed off.
The slow pacing could be salvaged by good characterization but this film offers nothing about this aspect as well. The only interesting character with true traits is Marga and the beggar, all the other ones seem to just be put there to fulfill the plot twist in the end. Lastly, I'm not a fan of some character's acting especially Marga. It looks sloppy to me and her actions and manners are over-emphasized in some scenes. But I will not list these acting as a negative as it could be viewers' preference.
So, all in all, Penumbra is an amateurish film littered with observable flaws from characterization to pacing. The unpredictable plot is somewhat of a saving grace but its lack of foreshadowing is letting down the full potential of the story to be unleashed perfectly. Despite of this, the film could still look magnificent and entertaining at surface level, if and only if you weather the storm of its slow progression. I thought at first that Penumbra is a garbage horror movie, but once I remove the lens of being a critic, I've got nothing more to feel but enjoyment.
