Nightmare on the 13th Floor (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers (WGA):

J.D. Feigelson (written by) &
Dan DiStefano (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A different kind of Horror Storey!

Plot:

A reporter investigates the disappearances of guests at a hotel which she is writing a report about. Along the way, she will find an unmarked 13th floor where a murderer is on the loose.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Reporter | Murder | Elevator | Homelessness

Cast

Michele Greene	...	Elaine Kalisher
John Karlen	...	Sgt Madden
Louise Fletcher	...	Letti Gordon
Alan Fudge	...	Mr. Rogas
James Brolin	...	Dr. Alan Lanier
Terri Treas	...	Judith
Alan Haufrect	...	Hotel Clerk
Juliana Donald	...	Hotel Waitress (as Juli Donald)
Kerry Noonan	...	Gail Myers
Steve Eastin	...	Hotel Doorman
Norma MacMillan	...	Mrs. Beecher
Jeff Marcus	...	Hotel Porter
Harvey Vernon	...	Thomas Bergen
Molly Morgan	...	Wendy
Michael Melvin	...	Peddler

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

G.C. Group

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Round of applause for the man who designed the video case

Which had a photo of the killer wielding the axe, despite the viewer not actually finding this out until the end of the film. While I admit it didn't take Einstien to figure it out, try an avoid the cover if you want a little suspense.

For the first 60 of the 80 minutes I thought I was watching a different film to most others on here. I thought it was pretty good, moved at a great pace & kept the viewers (who avoided looking at the case) in suspense for several reasons. The film was let down by some farsical end scenes but I still think an average rating of 4 is terribly harsh.

Granted the whole scene with the Policeman on floor 13 was terrible & most of the chase afterwards, with the entire hotel staff seemingly unable to have mastered the art of putting one foot in front of the other quickly, ie running. Only Elaine ever thought to run.

Yes where were the other hotel guests? Why didn't the Police bring any back up? What were the benefits for the other hotel staff to be involved in it? Why was the tramp killed? And other loose ends weren't tied up.

As I said, somewhere in amongst the mess is a making for a cracking little chilling film. With a good director, slightly better acting, a touching up of the first 60 minutes of the plot & an overhaul of the last 20, a removal of the many now cliches, one or two hotel staff not being in on the act & possibly a different reason for the killings this really could work well. Given the amount of crap that is remade / rewritten nowadays, someone could do a lot worse than take this potential big hit & re do it properly.

A low 7/10.