Every so often, a horror film comes along that grips you from the start, builds up tension, and leaves you breathless with its shocking revelations. The Rules of Jenny Pen… is not that film. It wants to be, though. It creeps around corners, whispers eerie nothings in your ear, and makes you believe that something horrifying is coming. But much like waiting for a text back from someone who “swears” they’ll reply soon, nothing actually happens. This is a story about fear, downfall, and how quickly you can go from respected to ridiculous—but unfortunately, it’s also a story that forgets to tell you why.
The two leads are phenomenal, which is why it’s such a shame that their talents are wasted here. They’ve spent years proving why they belong at the top, and they do their best to inject life into this film, carrying the weight of the tension on their shoulders. Every furrowed brow, every nervous glance, every exasperated sigh—they give it their all. You can practically see the stress and wrinkles forming in real-time. These actors deserve a film worthy of their skills. This wasn’t it.
If nothing else, the technical side of The Rules of Jenny Pen deserves some credit. The sound design is chef’s kiss—creaking floors, unsettling noises in the night, the type of eerie ambience that makes you question if you locked your own doors before sitting down to watch. The camera work also does its job well, with zoom-ins that capture every ounce of distress on the characters’ faces. The atmosphere is all there, whispering, “Something’s coming… just wait…”
And then you wait. And wait. And…
Let’s get straight to it: this movie had potential. The slow-burn tension, the creeping unease, the unsettling feeling that something awful is lurking just around the corner. And then? Nothing. No big reveal. No explanation. No satisfying payoff.
We’re given glimpses of a story about power, downfall, and how easy it is to lose everything—but it never actually says anything. Who or what is Jenny Pen? No one knows. Why is all of this happening? No clue. The film asks you to sit patiently while it builds suspense, only to leave you stranded, staring at the credits, questioning your life choices.
At best, the creepy scenes do their job well. There are moments of genuine tension where you brace yourself for impact. But much like a rollercoaster that only goes up and never actually drops, it all just… fizzles out. No grand moment, no shocking twist, no reason to have sat through it in the first place.
And that’s the real horror here: how much time you wasted watching it.
This film is proof that no matter how high you climb, you can still be knocked right back down. And in the case of The Rules of Jenny Pen, it’s proof that even the most talented actors and best production techniques can’t save a story that refuses to go anywhere. Watching this is like waiting for a punchline that never comes, and I simply cannot recommend it.
Avoid. Run. Save yourself. Jenny Pen might not haunt you, but the regret of watching this will.
