The 4th Floor (1999)

Director:

Josh Klausner

Writer:

Josh Klausner (writer)

Release Date:

10 August 2000 (Germany)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

People are dying to live in this building.

Plot:

A woman inherits a rent-controlled apartment and is terrorized by a neighbor.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | Apartment | Voyeur | Fall From Height | Exterminator

Cast

Juliette Lewis	...	Jane Emelin
William Hurt	...	Greg Harrison
Shelley Duvall	...	Martha Stewart
Austin Pendleton	...	Albert Collins
Tobin Bell	...	The Locksmith
Robert Costanzo	...	The Exterminator
Sabrina Grdevich	...	Cheryl
Artie Lange	...	Jerry
Lorna Millican	...	Mrs. Bryant
Todd Green	...	Drag Queen Neighbor
George Pottle	...	Mr. Bryant
Paul Oullette	...	Tango Man
Ardon Bess	...	Hardware Owner
Heidi Jo Markel	...	Ashley
Mark A. Owen	...	TV Delivery Man

MPAA:

Rated R for terror/violence and language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (Certificate #36410) | France:U | Germany:16 | UK:15 | Norway:15 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

New Brunswick, Canada

Company:

Millennium Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jane goes pounding on the door on the 4th floor, we see her through the peephole. The first two shots show her standing in an empty hallway, then when she's done pounding and starts to turn away, there are suddenly several bags of garbage around her.

Quotes:

The Exterminator: You don't have a mouse problem lady, you got a neighbour problem.

Movie Connections:

References Rear Window (1954)

Soundtrack:

Belle in love

Chilling, mainly during the second half

Greg is a weatherman for 'Rise and Shine New York' who has gotten a national job. Jane is his girlfriend who doesn't want to move in with him, instead taking over her Aunt Cecile's fifth-floor apartment.

It was Martha Stewart (no, not the famous one) who found Aunt Cecile dead at the bottom of the stairs. And she's only one of the quirky neighbors. Some are in Jane's building (such as the super, who is the landlord's mentally unstable nephew Larry), and others can be seen from Jane's window--including

a cross-dresser, and the man who may have killed his wife.

Alice apparently lives in the apartment below Jane's, and she has real problems. Though never seen, she leaves numerous trash bags in the hall, and sends Jane nasty notes about her behavior, even though Jane is relatively quiet. Later, Jane gets more than notes.

I don't care much for scary movies, but this one was just chilling enough to be entertaining, especially toward the end. Those who can't stand 'Fear Factor' might not want to see this movie.

Shelley Duvall made quite an eerie character, and I genuinely despised her. Mr. Collins was nervous but nice, and he reminded me in some ways of Fred Rogers. I won't say just why I thought Austin Pendleton did a very good job.

The movie left us not knowing what really happened. We think we know--OR DO WE????