
THE 4TH FLOOR - R-Rated
Spooky goings on in a dark New York City apartment house will give you
the creeps in this rather well done scarefest staring William Hurt and
Juliette Lewis.
Lewis plays Jane Emelin, an interior designer who inherits a low-rent apartment
from her dead Aunt. Beau Greg Harrison (William Hurt), a loopy local weatherman is
against the idea. He thought they were moving into a house together in the suburbs.
But she needs some space. Thank God we're spared any shenanigans between the two.
With the age difference between them I'm afraid I would have puked, but all is well -
a minor kiss and some hugs is all we have to put up with. And all is well.
Almost immediately, Jane is made to feel unwelcome. Dark hallways, suspicious looking
neighbors, this place is bizarre even for New York City. The old lady downstairs, who
no one ever sees, has it is for her from the first time Jane tries to move the
furniture. What's a poor hard working girl to do? She battles it out with the
mysterious old lady, escalating warfare as anyone who's ever lived in an apartment
house will surely recognize: the pounding on the floor/ceiling, the blasting music, etc.
Poor Jane, it gets worse and pretty soon her beautiful apartment is overrun with mice,
maggots; there are threatening letters and other mysterious developments, one in the
guise of kindly neighbor Mr. Collins (Austin Pendleton). No one does weird like
good old Austin.
Lotta says the mood is just right with "The Fourth Floor" - a little movie that packs
enough spooks and intelligent performances to make it worth your while. R-rated for language
and violence.
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