Plot: What’s it about?
When Jane Emelin (Juliette Lewis) moves her late Aunt’s old apartment, it seems like her first time living alone isn’t going to be so bad after all. The apartment is spacious, has all the things she needs, even has a decent view, not bad for the same low price her Aunt used to pay for rent. But it seems that not everyone is as happy about her new place as she is, namely her longtime beau and national weatherman, Greg Harrison (William Hurt). The main problem Harrison has with the new move is that two had recently talked of moving in together, but now Jane needs more time and space before she decides. He isn’t happy about it, but he does his best to make due and not let it bother him. Soon, Jane meets some of her new neighbors, including the overly friendly Martha (Shelley Duvall), the strange handyman of the building (Artie Lange), and while she doesn’t meet him, she does hear a lot about another neighbor, Mr. Collins. She soon finds notes from Collins, an antisocial man who doesn’t like it when Jane moves furniture late at night. A fellow neighbor tries to warn her away from Collins, but after a few more notes, some with threatening tones, Jane confronts Collins, but he won’t answer the door. More noise and more notes follow, when strange things and noises begin to appear. Is Collins just antisocial, or is Jane in more danger than she expects?
It seems like thrillers are a dime a dozen these days, with very few rising above the masses, but every once and again, one movie makes it beyond the countless flotsam. This movie, The 4th Floor is one such film, one that makes it worth sifting through many bad thrillers if just to find this one. I’m not sure what in particular won me over with this film, but I know it’s a combination of the characters, writing, and visuals, all of which impressed me. The casting is terrific, and the performers work very well with their roles, even the smaller parts come across to perfection. When it comes to the other neighbors, it’s like there is a community feel to them all, it really seems like these folks have lived by each other a while. While the writing is not stellar, it is very good and creates some riveting suspense, which is kicked into an even higher gear by the visuals, which conjure up an eerie atmosphere, the night scenes in particular. If you’re a fan of the thriller genre, then you’ve got to give this disc a spin, it’s a real winner.
This film was written and directed by Josh Klausner, who does a bang up on both ends for his feature film debut. While he did serve as an assistant on Dumb & Dumber and assistant director on There’s Something About Mary, this is Klausner’s first time out as director and writer for a movie. Given his wonderful job here, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of him, and I say the sooner the better. The lead role in this movie is played by Juliette Lewis, and she does a great turn here. Her style and mannerisms are perfectly suited for this character, and Lewis (Natural Born Killers, The Other Sister) infuses her role with the right blend of toughness and vulnerability, which was vital for the film to work. Shelley Duvall (Popeye, Alone) and William Hurt (Dark City, The Big Brass Ring) also turn in solid major performances. Artie Lange, from Dirty Work and Lost & Found also gives a good against type turn in this film. The supporting cast also includes Tobin Bell (Brown’s Requiem, Overnight Delivery) and Austin Pendleton (Joe The King, Trial and Error).
Video: How does it look?
The 4th Floor is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions, with a full frame version also included on this dual layered disc. The colors look very vibrant, without bleeding or other troubles, and flesh tones are consistent and natural. This is a very dark movie, but the contrast is excellent and makes sure all the shadows and detail are taken care of. I noticed no compression artifacts at all, and the source print is in wonderful condition.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a Dolby Digital 5.0 track for audio, which provides an excellent audio experience. The surrounds get more than their fair share of use, between the music and effects, both of which do wonders for the atmosphere of the film. The bass is missed, but the overall track sounds great. The dialogue is crisp and clear, with no volume issues or layering problems.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains two trailers for this film, as well as bonus trailers for other Unapix/A*Pix releases. An alternate ending is also packed on the disc, but I don’t want to ruin either ending for you, so I’ll shut up now. The main supplement is a running commentary with director Klausner, editor Tricia Cooke, and production designer Timothy Galvin. This track is a good listen, filled with humorous anecdotes as well as production information, so it’s an easy one to enjoy.
