Shudder Acquires ‘Penny Lane Is Dead,’ Mia-Kate Russell’s 1980s Ozploitation Slasher Debut

Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn stars in Mia-Kate Russell’s blood-soaked ’80s slasher Penny Lane Is Dead, streaming on Shudder Aug. 28.

Shudder Acquires Mia-Kate Russell’s Blood-Soaked ‘Penny Lane Is Dead,’ Streaming This August

Shudder continues expanding its 2026 horror slate with the acquisition of Penny Lane Is Dead, the feature directorial debut from Australian filmmaker Mia-Kate Russell. The coming-of-age slasher, steeped in 1980s Ozploitation influences, will make its exclusive streaming debut on Aug. 28 following its North American premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20.

The acquisition includes distribution rights across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean Basin, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Set during a sweltering Australian summer in 1986, Penny Lane Is Dead follows 17-year-old Penny Lane as she celebrates her acceptance into college with her closest friends. The night takes a deadly turn after a jealous and emotionally unstable cousin orchestrates a cruel prank involving drug-laced cupcakes. What begins as reckless teenage mischief quickly spirals into a brutal night of betrayal, revenge, and escalating bloodshed.

The film stars Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn (Wizards!, Year Of), Tahlee Fereday (Erotic Stories), Alexandra Jensen (Talk to Me), Bailey Spalding (Scrublands, Domina), Steve Le Marquand (Vertical Limit), Fletcher Humphrys (Wolf Creek), and Ben O’Toole (Hacksaw Ridge).

Russell’s debut has already generated early festival attention after premiering at the Adelaide Film Festival and now heads to Fantasia, one of North America’s premier showcases for genre cinema. With its blend of slasher violence, dark comedy, and distinctly Australian flavor, Penny Lane Is Dead looks poised to introduce Russell as another emerging voice in modern horror.

The film also represents the first feature produced under Sanctuary Pictures, the newly launched production label from Umbrella Entertainment. Production duties were shared with Buffalo Media in association with Cyan Films, while producers Julie Ryan (Late Night with the Devil), Ari Harrison (Talk to Me), Andre Lima, and Carly Maple helped bring the project to the screen.

“It’s exhilarating that my feature directorial debut is being released by Shudder, one of the most fearless and bold distributors out there,” Russell said in a statement. “The Shudder team has such a keen understanding of genre films and are the perfect partners to unleash this powerful film with audiences.”

Emily Gotto, Senior Vice President of Shudder Acquisitions and Production, praised Russell’s debut, calling it “a fierce slasher immersed in the nostalgia of ’80s horror and laced with dark comedy and rage.”

The acquisition further strengthens Shudder’s reputation as one of horror’s premier streaming destinations, particularly when it comes to discovering international filmmakers and elevating festival standouts to wider audiences. Between recent acquisitions and an increasingly global slate, the platform continues investing heavily in original voices that blend classic genre influences with contemporary storytelling.

For fans of Australian horror, Penny Lane Is Dead also continues the country’s rich tradition of uncompromising genre filmmaking. Drawing inspiration from the gritty Ozploitation era while introducing a fresh creative perspective, Russell’s debut arrives with the kind of pedigree that has increasingly defined Shudder’s exclusive lineup.

Penny Lane Is Dead begins streaming exclusively on Shudder on Aug. 28 following its North American premiere at Fantasia.