Director E.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Josh Flowers’s “A Handful of Pennies” is a very entertaining and morbid crime short that demonstrates the classic concept behind the gangster picture. Someone did something wrong, they’ve been caught, and they’re paying for their crimes. In this instance, gangster Lyle has his prey in his hands and is not going to be satisfied until he garners information from the poor bastard named Arnold, who is strapped to a chair.
There’s a lot of very good exposition and subtle imagery that hints at a larger story at hand, with Lyle approaching Arnold with bruised fists, while Arnold is bloodied and battered. Lyle is not about to make Arnold’s punishment swift and abrupt, and takes great pleasure in offering him a severe bit of torture. Director Trujillo and Flowers creates interesting tension by setting the limited indie production in a room that becomes its own dread filled presence. Both performers give very good turns as these characters, especially Michael Peake who seems to have a good time playing this vicious gangster who gets off on leading up to his painful punishment.
However, the hook to the script is that gangster Lyle’s speech about Mr. Pibb and pennies ultimately leads up to something very sinister, and in the end, it’s a sick and demented reveal that works wonders as a wicked pay off. I was never sure what to think of the narrative at first, but thankfully writer Peake, Trujillo and Flowers offer a very interesting story that ends on a note that will leave many viewers reeling in disgust and disbelief. “A Handful of Pennies” is an expertly crafted short film that works well for fans who appreciate a good gangster picture, and I highly suggest it.