Penelope Sudrow Movies

In this horror/suspense anthology picture, a group of co-ed college students meet at their demented psychology professor's house for some extracurricular pointers. The professor gets his kicks in class from scaring his students half to death. Each co-ed has to tell a story which is frightening or upsetting to her. Meanwhile, someone whom the professor really ticked off is out to get him. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

The best of the Elm Street sequels, this creepy, surreal fantasy features terrific effects, a fine young cast, and an air of grim fatalism that sets it apart from its giggly successors. Patricia Arquette stars as Kristen, whose nightmare leads to a slashed wrist which looks suspiciously like a suicide attempt. She is placed in a hospital psychiatric ward with a group of six other troubled teens who all dream about the same horribly burned man (Robert Englund) trying to kill them. Perhaps the most unusual thing about this picture, however, is the unexpected depth of sadness running through it. There are some achingly sweet moments in this otherwise frightening film which, though not disruptive, are impossible to analyze. The first and most bizarre of these is Heather Langenkamp's entrance, which inexplicably causes most viewers to get misty-eyed, and there are several similar scenes throughout the film. One answer can be found in the sensitive direction of Chuck Russell, who emphasizes the tragedy and utter hopelessness in these kids' lives and manages to wring some unexpectedly perceptive turns from his cast. This is a film in which a great deal of care was obviously lavished on individual scenes (the sets are outstanding) and performances. The results are well worth repeated viewings, and prove that sequels don't necessarily have to be inferior films. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

The Cosby Show's Malcolm-Jamal Warner stretches his acting muscles in this powerful ABC Afterschool Special. Warner is cast as Charlie Curtis, a teenager who on surface seems to have everything -- loving parents, supportive teachers, and many friends. Why then, does Charlie find life so bleak that he ends up committing suicide? Charlie's best friend, Jed (Rob Stone), spends the bulk of the story trying to solve the puzzle -- and to come to terms with the tragedy. A Desperate Exit is based on Eve Bunting's novel Face at the Edge of the World, which is also the title of the 30-minute VHS version of this film. ~ Rovi