Coventry Review of The 4th Floor

The 4th Floor (1999)

Freaks and lunatics have taken over the apartment!

[6/10 · 25 February 2005]

Although rather insignificant and anonymous, "the 4th floor" is an entertaining and well-made thriller, capable of providing you with a few modest scares and maybe even a single "jump"-moment. The premise is far from original, though. It doesn't require a lot of experience in the horror genre to see where writer/director Josh Klausner found his inspiration. The 4th floor combines elements that made films like "The Tenant", "Rear Window" and even "The Shining" legendary. But still the tension is built up carefully and with respect for the genre so I really don't feel the urge of using the lack of originality against Klausner. The headstrong and self-confident Jane (Juliette Lewis) inherits a small apartment from her late aunt and, even though there were plans for her and her lover to move in a house on the countryside together, she prefers to live in it. Almost immediately after her arrival, it becomes clear that her neighbor down below holds a grudge against her. The supposedly elderly tenant from apartment 4 begins to terrorize Jane, with steps of increasing eeriness. Jane also soon finds out that she won't get help from her other neighbors, as they're a unique collection of eccentric beings….on the verge of social misfits, actually. The character drawing of this film is pretty good and the climax – although you see it coming – is overall satisfying. The acting is pretty weak. Especially William Hurt (who plays Jane older lover and national weather-man Greg) seems to openly wonder how on earth he could have ended up in a production like this. Lewis acts like she always does (almost impossible to determine whether she likes the script or not) and exaggeratedly shows her skinny body. The supportive cast is the most interesting, as it contains a freaky role by Shelley Duval (The Shining) and Robert Costanzo as the exterminator. The 4th Floor isn't essential viewing but you certainly won't regret having seen it, neither. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of brainless suspense and cheap thrills.