The 13th Floor (1988)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Chris Roache

Writers:

Louis Chavance (story)
Henri-Georges Clouzot (story)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

As a child, a girl witnesses her father electrocute a young boy. When she grows into an adult, the ghost of the murdered boy appears to her, and together they set out to expose the crimes of her father. |

Plot Keywords:

Electrocution | Child Murder | Electrocuted Child | Independent Film

Cast

Kylie Clare	...	Heather Thompson, aged 8
Tony Blackett	...	Robert Thompson
Allen Leong	...	Brian Chung
Matthew Nicholls	...	Tom Poulsen's Son
Nik Forster	...	Tom Poulsen (as Nicholas Forster)
Vic Rooney	...	Brenner
Georgie Parker	...	Maid
Lisa Hensley	...	Heather Thompson, aged 20
Miranda Otto	...	Rebecca
Jeff Truman	...	Bert
Paul Hunt	...	Nick
Tim McKenzie	...	John Burke
Adam Cook	...	Alistair
Cathren Michalak	...	Tea Lady
Michael Caton	...	Dr. Fletcher

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R | UK:18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Hyde Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

David Hannay Productions

Beware the unlucky 13th floor!

On the 13th floor of an office building, a terrible innocent occurred, involving that of child who was murdered. His uneasy soul now inhabits the electricity system of the 13th floor. The abandoned floor is now home for some runaway young adults. One of them just happened to see the murder of the boy when she was a little girl, because she's the daughter of the murderer. She plans to give out the information of her corrupt father, but he plans to get that information back. At any cost.

Gee, there's some malice towards this uneven, but slightly interesting little supernatural thriller from Australia. There's not doubt it can get quite laboured pace wise and a little lost in the story's direction. It seemed to concentrate more on the chase side of the plot with the supernatural element of the cursed floor being pushed aside and feeling quite half-baked to the overall picture. The ill-constructed story might be put together rather weakly, but there were some nice touches by director Chris Roache. He demonstrates moody set pieces in the office building with atmospheric lighting and the suspense is squeezed tight in a few small pockets. A eerily booming electronic score adds another spin to the bleak air and Roache makes efficient use of Sydney's surroundings. The performances are completely sound and Lisa Hensley really impresses as the lead. Miranda Otto is fine in an early performance. Some well-known Australian faces; Michael Caton and Georgie Parker also pop up in guest spots. Just wait around for the glowing dead boy who brings death. The make-up for the death scenes are decently pulled off, although the special effects that was tact on, can look rather pitiful and miss-placed. Now it's all talk, little action. Yeah the script is a muddle and it takes a while to make a real mark, but some fruity (and not-so) characters that you care for and its airy embodiment kept me more than compelled.

An okay little item, that's terribly slow, but manages a couple effective scenes.