The year is winding down quickly, and as we look back through the entertainment cornucopia of 2025, it was all pretty awesome. We had a slew of sensational experience in theaters, at home, and with creatives on multiple press junkets. And the best part about getting to interview people who make the things we love is when the conversation is as fun as the film.
So enter director/writer Nik Pelekai and co-writer Jacob Stauff who brought their film to Fantastic Fest in September – if you’re gonna share something wild and hard-hitting with the world, this is the place to do it. Penance starts off with a bang, and even this band of action aficionados weren’t ready for the genre delights and furious fights.
Pelekai is a veteran stunt professional who has spent more than a decade working on/in some of Hollywood’s biggest productions. Through years of experience and a vast network of collaborators, Nik pulled off the seemingly impossible: directing a high-stakes, cinematic action film for less than $10K (produced by James Cullen Bressack – pictured below with the hat). In fact, he made this dynamite effort for just $7,000…and it looks like $700,000. The stunts are plentiful, complex, and flawlessly executed. The action is relentless, stylish, and meticulously choreographed.
We got to talk to this dynamic duo (below middle right, and far right) about their experiences with fight choreography, their passion for punches, and overall knowledge of action films which, as you’d expect, is extensive. Enjoy our chat with Nik and Jacob on this episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience!
