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The Penthouse
USA 2021
produced by Phillip B. Goldfine, David Schifter (executive), Jennifer Anderson (executive) for BD Films, Collective Film Group, High Point Pictures
directed by Massimiliano Cerchi
starring Michael Paré, David Schifter, Vanessa Ore, Krista Grotte Saxon, Nicholas Turturro, Robert Fortunato, Irene Santiago, Jeannie West, Holly Anderson Storey, Jeff Kidd, Robert Dane Goodwin, Reid Doyle, Nick Vernon, Jennifer Brown Andersen, Kent West, Dennis Curran, Jessica Farmer, Gary N. Paige, Perry Reid, Jimmy Lane, Tanya Fermin, Phil Wannamaker
written by David Schifter, music by Simone Cilio
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
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Peter (David Schifter) and Amanda (Vanessa Ore) think they've found
their perfect home, a seaside penthouse with not only a great view of the
sunrise but also of the marina. The view of the marina is so good in fact
that Peter and Amanda spend quite a bit of time watching the people on
their yachts, not so much as peeping toms, just neighbourly interest. And
they have an especially good view of the Scallywag, manned by a man past
his prime, Charles (Michael Paré), and his much younger, pretty
girlfriend, Tess (Krista Grotte Saxon). The two seem to keep largely to
themselves, so when Tess suddenly shows up in Amanda's seaside store,
Amanda can't help but seize the opportunity to inquire about anything and
everything - but Tess seems rather evasive, especially when it comes to
matters concerning Charles, and at another chance meeting, Amanda gets the
impression that she fears Charles ... and then suddenly she's gone. At a
local bar, Peter strikes up a conversation with Charles, but
unintentionally seems to touch a sensitive subject and the two get into an
argument ... but the very next day, Charles invites Peter onto his yacht
to iron things out - and then reports Peter to the police for breaking and
entering his boat, which is bogus of course, but Charles has video
evidence to fortify his claim. Now this is a small island community, so
news of the charge travels quickly and hits Peter's business almost
immediately. But things don't end there, as soon enough, Charles enters
Peter and Amanda's home when they're out, does some minor damage as a sort
of threat, and takes their dog - and when they report this to the police,
the investigating officer (Nicholas Turturro) is less than sure that they
don't just want to get back at Charles. So if they don't want to be
threatened by Charles for the rest of their lives, they have to take
things into their own hands - but that said, Charles has already proven
pretty ruthless, and might have killed his girlfriend, so they might be in
over their heads ... A pretty tense slowburn thriller that
works the premise of Hitchcock's Rear Window into a pittoresque
seaside setting, but puts its focus much more on the main characters'
cat-and-mouse game than the mystery, and really takes the concept into a
whole different direction. Now add to that strong character work, both on
the script and the acting side of things, and a directorial effort that
always supports the story and doesn't smother it with spectacle, and
you've got yourself a pretty cool piece of suspense cinema for sure.
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