Across the Hall (2009) User Reviews

Suspenseful .. predictable ..

[JarfGartz · 7/10 · 24 August 2009]

An interesting story, though a little predictable.

The suspense was upheld throughout the movie, and there was real tension in many scenes, accomplished through a nerve-wracking score and drawn-out scenes that got my teeth grinding.

I immensely enjoyed the cinematography and effects .. it created a dark and brooding atmosphere that had me mourning the conclusion before it came about.

The acting was fairly good, no real complaints. I especially enjoyed the hotel concierge character, who added an old-school feel to the film.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed the movie, although I found the story to be almost too simple for its length; it felt like a short story stretched to fit a feature length film.

Tense, Dramatic but Could Be Shorter

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 5 April 2010]

The unbalanced Terry (Danny Pino) calls his best friend Julian (Mike Vogel) that is having a bath telling that his beloved fiancée June (Brittany Murphy) is cheating him. Terry has followed her to the decadent Riverview Hotel, where she checked in to meet her lover in room 507. Terry explains to Julian that he brought a revolver to shoot her lover and is waiting for him in room 508, but his friend asks him to be calm that he will meet Terry in the hotel. Surprisingly Julian leaves the bathroom and explains the situation to June in the room in the beginning of a tense and dramatic night.

"Across the Hall" is a dark slow paced thriller in the style of film- noir developed through a non-linear screenplay with many flashbacks. My only remark is the 88 minutes running time that could be a little shorter; anyway the pace magnifies the dramatic situation of the characters. I have really felt sad seeing the last work of the talented and gorgeous Brittany Murphy, who died so young. The music score is another plus in this good film that is neither a masterpiece nor an awful flick as indicated in some reviews but a decent low-budget movie. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Correndo Contra o Tempo" ("Running Against Time")

Brittany Murphy's last film made before her tragic death.

[jaybob · 6/10 · 10 February 2010]

This is not a terrible or overly boring film. It is a typical 'b-movie' made by Universal at Universal Studios, using a rebuilt portion of the vast 'Phantom of the Opera' set. This is a mystery-suspense type film that Universal used to be famous for.

This particular film was directed by newcomer Alex Merkin, this is a full length version of a short film he made in 2005. The director has talent & I will be looking for other films from him. The cast comprises actor who are not yet to be widely known to audiences.

The 2 male leads are done by Mike Vogel & Danny Pino, They & the rest of cast is quite talented. Brad Greenquist portrays the somewhat creepy porter effectively.

This also happened to be the last film Brittany Murphy made before her tragic death in late 2009. 'Tis a pity as she was more than just a pretty face, she could act.

For a low budget film the production values are OK. I would have liked it better if the script was more coherent.

It could & should have been about 75 minutes long & not 93. This type film should never be longer than 75 minutes.Non-the-less the rating would never have been too much higher, its just not that type film, For what it is its an OK film.

Ratings:**1/2 (out of 4) 67 points (out of 100) IMDb 6 (out of 10)

A bit more style than substance, but better than you might think.....

[quickiesonthedinnertable · 7/10 · 16 November 2011]

First thing I have to say is that this movie has been needlessly brutalised by too many IMDb reviewers. If this is a B-grade movie, it's certainly the best one I have ever seen. It's not brilliant or groundbreaking, but it's a very respectable homage to the film noir genre and a nice little nod to Hitchcock.

The feel of the movie is fantastic - dark, seedy, brooding, almost agonisingly suspenseful (some reviewers mistook this as too "slooooooooooow" pacing)and menacing enough to make me so tense while watching that at the movie's end, my shoulders actually loosened in relief!!! There are no huge surprises or plot twists, as virtually everything is laid out on the table for the viewer almost from the start, and even the non-linear unfolding of the events is not a challenge to follow. We just wait with bated breath, as the suspense is built up excruciatingly slowly, like ever tightening guitar strings on the point of breaking, wondering when it is that the fiancé cottons on to what is actually going on. The viewer is amply rewarded when it is finally revealed that the fiancé was not as clueless as first thought.

The art deco look of the hotel and the porter/bellhop is delightful and made me long again for the Hercule Poirot movies I lapped up as a teenager.

I have to admit that the director has perhaps put style above substance, given the incredible attention to detail in the set styling and the obvious effort in evoking a certain era (down to the whisky glasses and bathroom hardware) juxtaposed against what is essentially a very simple story, stretched to fit an almost 90 minute frame. There is no background, no build up to the situation, and once it's over, the protagonist (perpetrator?) walks off into the night; no speculation, no follow up. This is obviously a small budget movie, as everything takes place in or around the hotel.

I am not complaining though, given the artful, deliberate and decisive direction, the more than competent acting from the entire cast (the bellhop though, is a standout and a joy to watch) and the fact that style oozes out of every pore of this movie. It would probably help if you are a fan of film noir, Hitchcock, art deco design or Agatha Christie.

Think of it as a study in effective film making on a shoe string budget, or a gorgeous, huge slice of chocolate layer cake, so artfully constructed, so delightfully delicious, that it completely satisfies, even in lieu of the main course! Bearing that in mind, and ignoring the ridiculous IMDb rating, you will probably appreciate this stylistic gem of a movie, that much more.....

Good Old Fashioned Film Noir

[isantistao · 7/10 · 29 December 2021]

This movie may not have gotten very high marks, but if you love film noir you will probably like it. It's actually a good movie, I think you just have to really appreciate the cinematography and the dark ambiance of film noir, as well as the sort of slow pacing as well. But the film is well done, it creates intensity through its slow build up, as well as the scoring, acting, and the way it was edited and produced. It also stars brittany murphy in one of her last roles who is plays the role very well. I like how the film is really about the subtle nuances of how the characters deliver lines and interact and little mannerisms and such. It also has a sort of old timey look because of being filmed in an old hotel so that contributes to the ambiance quite well. While it may be a small independent low budget film and not a big production I think that all of the artistic integrity is there and that it was a very enjoyable watch. I think that a lot of people don't appreciate that old style and are looking for something more fast paced. But if you are looking for something a bit more laid back and appreciate the finer art of film making I think you should give it a try.

Surprisingly good post-noir flick... but empty somehow

[micz81 · 4/10 · 27 May 2010]

It's like a crossword - you can watch it to puzzle a little with the plot. But nothing more. No meaning, no deeper thoughts. Just simple mind-exercise. Very good acting though (Brittany Myrphy especially earns respect here. She adds complexity to her character, and deepens emotional dimension of this rather cold movie), witty directing and editing (it's a debut - bravo!), dark melodic music, and quite smart story, makes this movie... a good crossword.

Cinematography is rather poor though, contrary to what others here claim. Work of cinematographer is not based on choosing the angles and positions for the camera (that's director's part), but rather on choosing lighting for a scene. And this part sucks here - shitty lighting reveals cardboard origin of the sets, and reminds (oh Lord) "Saw" (2004). You can't focus on the actors, because you're constantly afraid of some wall being accidentally pushed to fall over. It COULD be bad work of the lighting team, or insufficient funds, but cinematographer is the one who gets the blame anyway in such occasion.

A nice touch is The Porter character, very nicely (yet a bit theatrically) played by Jamie Benge.

So summing up - very very very good B-movie and not so bad A-movie. Better to see it than not.

A modern Hitchcock throwback

[p-stepien · 7/10 · 6 October 2011]

One of those films, where the least said about the plot the better, so in an attempt to refrain from giving any spoilers I boil it down to one sentence. Julian (Mike Vogel) attempts to stop his best friend Terry (Danny Pino) from any making any rash choices after he follows his fiancée June (Brittany Murphy) rent a room at the River View hotel.

Given the low IMDb ratings I didn't really expect much from this below-the-radar thriller. The movie itself is heavily influenced by two great directors. One of them is Alfred Hitchcock. The attempt at replicating the style of 50s and 60s thrillers is visibly apparent not only in the cinematographic style ripe with noir overhead shots, neons, stylisations and a need to push the suspense and tension ahead of action and cheap thrills. The whole movie itself if an old-fashioned hotel with a outdated bell-boy playing a key part in the build-up and story. Overflowing with a retro feel it becomes a stylish homage aimed at those who miss the good old days.

On the other hand you can see the strong impact that Christopher Nolan has in updating the thriller genre and fully using the superior technical capabilities of modern film art to increase the mystery, growing tension and keep tabs on the plot. The whole story is expertly told in a non-linear fashion, where scenes from the past and present intermingle forcing you to logically put the pieces together (in a well-done mix-up of Innaritu storytelling and "Memento" type editing). Directed with swagger debutant Alex Merkin shows a lot of confidence and immense promise with the use of tools at his disposal.

That said the movie does seem a tad overlong and given this was based on Merkin's short film it seems he essentially should have met somewhere in between at around 60-70 minutes. The movie tends to drag on incredibly as the script is pulled out in order to somehow reach a proper running time. The suspension drastically drops, although manages to get back on track with the final resolute bang of an ending. Basically a poster movie for the need to be able to be a bit shorter than the standard 90-120 minutes of the Hollywood 'full length feature'.

Honestly the script itself is in the most part wildly predictable, as the movie is mostly pushed ahead thanks to its style, while not putting enough pressure on the story itself. The mismatch of the mediocre story and the overstretched plot almost derails the meticulous set-designed and claustrophobic noir feel to the movie.

Acting creds are generally fine with Brad Greenquist as the Porter giving the best performance of the lot. All in all worth a watch and I could see Merkin making a name for himself given a script with actually can fill-up the required runtime.

Crew of this film musically illiterate!

[charlytully · 7/10 · 13 May 2011]

I'm talking about you, especially, director Alex Merkin, because the "buck" stops at your desk. Certainly you know that Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata--one of the five most frequently used pieces of public domain soundtrack music in the million plus items making up IMDb's listings--is composed BY BEETHOVEN, and NOT by the late British pianist Sydney Dale, whom your movie's credits list as the composer of this tune, which makes up about half the soundtrack of ACROSS THE HALL. As director, it is your JOB to spot big goofs such as this, or insure that people are hired who can do so. No self-respecting film helmsman would allow the credits for his movie to say that Satan wrote the Bible, or list King George III as the first U.S. president. However, you allowed a goof tantamount to these to slip into your end credits. (Anyone with half an ear can tell Mr. Dale recorded this particular version of "Moonlight" during his Piccadilly Period, due to the rich corkiness in the bass notes.) Evidently, your pianist/soundtrack composer Bobby Tahouri just phoned in his efforts for ACROSS THE HALL, since either he was not closely associated enough or did not care enough to correct this monumental goof himself.

This movie COULD have rated a 9 or 10, but it's not over until the fat lady sings, as they say. You guys blew it with 12 seconds left in a movie running 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 11 seconds! Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! Giving just a two-point deduction to something no doubt setting BOTH Mr. Beethoven and Mr. Dale spinning in their respective graves probably is being overly generous!

STYLE AND DISJOINTED

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 16 December 2018]

The movie credits starts out as if you were watching a 1960's mystery. The 1920's style hotel and eerie bell hop/ desk clerk gives the movie a surreal Sin City feeling. I was all set up thinking I was going to watch a great movie. Then it happens...the flashbacks.

This movie shows you what has happened then uses flashbacks to eventually bring you up to that point, but in a way you didn't expect. Sometimes this works well in a film, sometimes not, especially in this one when you don't know if a scene is a flashback or not until later. This makes the movie confusing and disjointed.

Excellent!

[TheyKallMeDood · 10/10 · 27 August 2009]

I have read many complaints on how this is "boring" and the scenes are dragged out. I can see how many people are not used to intelligent movies (no offense intended) due to the constant action and cheap scares released in theaters these days. THIS is a movie that deserves a theater release. A very intelligent thriller, with a superb cast that tells a very dark story. The 3 main actors, especially Brittany Murphy, really did an excellent job. The story is told in a flashback/memento way and is executed perfectly. I felt all the flashbacks were correctly positioned and the conclusion might not blow you away- but it's pretty damn good. There are numerous twists and turns but the final twist is jaw-dropping. I want more thrillers like this! 10/10

Where is the Audience ?

[tomsawyer-01858 · 7/10 · 28 April 2017]

I can't believe this movie has such a low number of views and reviews.

I came to this movie, because of Brittany Murphy, in fact it was the only movie of her I didn't see. Shame on the medias, for not giving it the publicity it deserves.

As some wrote, this is an excellent Film Noir, it may have been better without color, but then the colors of an ancient hotel where nothing has been changed since its opening is just a very good choice. It gives a bit of Barton Fink feeling, though the plot is nowhere as crazy.

The plot unfolds before us, not in a straight line of time in the beginning, and for an enjoyable while, you ask yourself, who knows what you know? Very clever.

Some may critic a lack of action. But that's what makes this movie so great. There is a constant tension, and twist of minds, with very well depicted characters, who may or may not become an accomplice. Brilliant.

And the end shows a final slow motion scene, maybe just to make fun of all the people who can't enjoy and stay awake, unless they are shot with constant action scenes.

I was very tired late at night, when I started watching the movie, and I didn't think I could finish it.

But I knew right from the start, this movie would be a little jewel, because the intro is first class, with excellent music too.

And it even motivated me to write this review, straight after. That's the best compliment I can give.

A movie about cheating... the audience

[SebastianKiraly · 1/10 · 5 January 2010]

I saw it. I loved the cinematography and the acting was decent, too. Also, I didn't think it was unnecessarily slow. But the second half of the story, especially the ending ruins everything.

There is a twist in the story which is quite nice. Yes, there is only one twist, and it happens in the first half of the movie. The one at the end is not a twist at all, it's just an easy way for the writer to escape a situation while achieving an illusion of being clever. He is not. The story is not. It's just an insult to the intelligence to the audience. It's meant to hide the countless errors, inconsistence, plot holes and unnecessary scenes and subplots.

It is a shame that the horribly lousy screenplay ruins an otherwise beautifully shot and excellently played movie.

Art Deco Neo-Noir has more style than substance?

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 3 December 2018]

Across the Hall is directed by Alex Merkin and Merkin co-writes the screenplay with Jesse Mittelstadt and Julien Schwab. It is adapted from Merkin's short film of the same name that aired in 2005. It stars Mike Vogel, Brittany Murphy, Danny Pino, Natalie Smyka and Brad Greenquist. Music is by Bobby Tahouri and cinematography by Andrew Carranza.

The Riverview Hotel, and Terry (Pino) has rented the room opposite the room where he believes his fiancée June (Murphy) is cheating on him...

Alex Merkin clearly loves film noir and knows his noir onions, this is not in doubt due to the twisty story, characterisations and superb stylistics on offer here. And just in case anyone is in any doubt about this, the keen of noir eye will notice the film showing at the theatre next to the Riverview Hotel is Nightmare Alley, the brilliant Tyrone Power noir pic from 1947.

On the style front the production is top draw, Carranza's photography is both beautiful and ghostly, creating a brooding atmosphere befitting the plot machinations. The look is supplemented considerably by Tahouri's edgy pulse like musical score, while the Art Deco design of the Riverview is a splendid accompaniment to dark deeds unfolding.

As a story we are served up standard fare, the insertion of twisters and linear jumps not really lifting it out of its predictable trajectory. Which is a shame, because performances are solid and Merkin obviously has love for noir as a film making style. The resolution is expected but handled well enough to pay off the patient, but as a whole Across the Hall just about rises above average, but really this is more down to style than substance. 6/10

Who's ... who

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 25 January 2021]

And where are they? Something very important that has to be answered. Not to mention that you have to keep track .. of your phone sometimes and where you leave it. The movie is quite predictable though and I think while the main characters seem oblivious to a certain extent, the viewer isn't. There are also a lot of coincidences that have to take place for certain twists to work .. but this is not about you thinking too much on things.

One of the main characters doesn't do that, so why should you? Having said that there is still more than enough thrill to keep you entertained ... especially with Brittany Murphy attached to the project ... who unfortunately was taken way too soon from us ... but at least we have movies like this one to remember her by

Slow and predictable, but still better than many other low budget films.

[filipemanuelneto · 4/10 · 14 March 2017]

In this film, a young woman keeps an affair in a decadent hotel when her betrayed partner comes up unexpectedly, willing to catch and kill both. However, he doesn't know the lover is his own best friend, whom he's speaking through the cell phone. OK... nothing new here. We've seen similar plots in many films, be they major or minor plots. What this film does to make it look fresh is disarticulate the narrative, in the best Tarantino style. However, this feature isn't enough to do so, nor such a basic plot is enough to justify a film lasting more than an hour. The pace is slow as honey in the summer and worse, all story is highly predictable. In the other hand, it has a good soundtrack, an interesting cinematography, very misty and mysterious, and excellent sets. I really felt the decadence of that hotel and the neglect of most of the staff. The ending isn't necessarily surprising but it's served with elegance. Most of the cast are third-rate names ​​who don't make more than would be required. The highlight goes to Brittany Murphy, the most talented and capable actress here. Being a very low budget film, the final product is higher than my expectations, even though it's far from being a great movie.

Fancy-Less Film

[LeonLouisRicci · 4/10 · 13 October 2013]

Trying very hard to Look like a Film-Noir with some On-Screen References that are Blatant, like the Femme Fatale signing the Guest Register as Kathy Moffett (Out of the Past 1947), this Low-Budget Indie is an Exercise in Style that is not very Stylish.

It doesn't seem to go to any length to be Visually Interesting. Sure the Old Hotel is there but it is just that, there as Backdrop to the Proceedings that Unfold, here we go again, Non-Linear, in such a Drab and Deficient Method that is almost Comatose. The Dialog is delivered as though Everyone, and that means Everyone, is Halting, searching for Words, and in a Dazed Stupor.

The two Male Leads do some Amazing Overacting playing not too Bright Characters, but the rest of the Cast (Brittany Murphy's last role) is Adequate enough, with the Director Delivering a Slow-Burn and Fancy-less Film.

This is all Leading to a, not-what-you-thought Ending, and is a Semi-Clever Wrap that is sort of Ho-Hum and will most likely leave Viewers with more Relief than Satisfaction.

Across the Hall, down the stairs and out of the cinema......Now!

[markpajak · 1/10 · 8 September 2009]

This film is certainly the worst I have seen this year. Be prepared to try and slow your brain down to the pace of this film or risk trying to lick your own elbow to stop yourself thinking about what might't happen. To give the film some merit, the intro credits are fun, and its nice being in a spooky Hotel. Cue some post-teen transatlantic two dimensional Dawsons creek drop outs and we are off to a mediocre start. Oh wait there we don't really care about the characters, so if they die its all a bit of fun; Sorry to break this to you but hardly anyone dies. So we are left trying to figure out 'if that really happened then wouldn't it go a bit more like this...' until we realise that it would never ever happen and so why are we still watching when we have figured out the plot while the slow motion sequences fanny about to pretentiously ominous bass note "dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun." AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!!

Pretty Awesome

[mikenine453 · 10/10 · 26 August 2009]

I was completely caught off guard by this film. It has a great classic film/noir feel to it which is far too uncommon these days. That it was clearly accomplished on a smaller than Hollywood budget is all the more impressive. The pacing is steady and deliberate which may throw some viewers off, but there is so much texture and richness to each scene that you have the opportunity to really take it all in and feel/experience the mood and atmosphere, unlike most movies in this genre (think Mad Men, one of the best shows on TV, in this respect). The acting, cinematography, music, lighting and direction are across the board very impressive. I started watching thinking I would only sit through about 20 mins or so, but I was totally compelled to watch the entire thing (twice actually!) and found myself incredibly engaged.

In terms of story and twists, I quite enjoyed the way the structure of the film really didn't cheat or force these elements. Upon the second viewing I found really interesting clues that would have allowed me to figure things out the first time if I had noticed them then (pay attention to expressions, time of day and even the drink glasses in the film). The plot and story is very tightly woven together. Its easy to dismiss some of these things as cheap or devisive but thats a lazy criticism. They are clearly carefully crafted and not just thrown in there.

I hope to see this film hit theaters soon as I would love to experience it on the big screen. There are shades of Hitchcock and Kubrick that really excite me about a project like this. I don't know that its actually a 10, maybe an 8 or 9 (who knows?), but film efforts like this deserve major praise and hopefully this one will gain major momentum. Kudos to the creative team for bringing a smart, non effects-driven, character based thriller to creation. This is excellent work.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[zufre · 3/10 · 3 September 2009]

Really boring movie. The story is too slow and predictable. All that jumping back and forward made me think the director wanted to make the movie longer. And every scene seemed never to end.

They could maybe make a real movie with this story that lasted let's say 10 minutes.

The hotel is a terribly dull place to shot this yarn, every place is dark and red and looks just the same than the previous tedious space. They must have read somewhere that red excites people and you will probably need encouragement like that to get to the silly end of this movie. I fell asleep twice before reaching the end.

So, if you have 3 days to spare to watch a single movie or you cannot get asleep this might be the movie for you. Otherwise keep well clear of this piece of trash.

It depends

[stefinlithuania · 1/10 · 23 August 2009]

If you want to really enjoy this film, don't forget to switch off your brain before viewing. From the beginning titles throughout the all film you will as well enjoy the atmosphere of the hotel, the smart photography, the music score and the decent performance of the actors. Alas, don't expect anyone of the characters do something intelligent, especially the guy who is completely innocent and then flees (just to get caught a few storeys below) like he had something to hide or be afraid of. If you are curious about how a script can be messy and how easy it is to have holes in a plot, you should check this flick out. (the vote 1 is to correct the misleading official IMDb rating)

Thriller fails to thrill

[djderka · 2/10 · 7 January 2011]

Opening the pre- title sequence of Across the Hall with close-ups had me intrigued. Then the movie, like the Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes' famous wooden airplane with 8 engines, failed to take off. Instead of suffering from too much weight, the script was too light weight... and contained totally boring characters.

If you like boring, whiskey sipping, Prius driving yuppies, you might like this movie. Otherwise forget it.

Lighting, cinema, sound, sound track all very good. Would like this crew for my film.

Director forgot two other ingredients: Character and story.

Want time shifting? Try Christopher Nolan,MOMENTO and Tom Tyker, RUN LOLA RUN. Want two room stories? Try Wachowski Brothers, BOUND. Want character: Try Marc Senter (as Joe Pye) in THE LOST.

Feel free to clean the kitchen, bathroom, and straighten up the living room while playing this movie on your HDTV. Notice I said playing, not watching. And being sloooooow is not the issue if you have good characters worth watching.

Who cares about two vacuous yuppies with 1 week beards. I mean really. If you find these characters in your hotel, don't move across the hall, get another hotel

Pretentious Drivel

[artpf · 2/10 · 3 March 2012]

Really dumb pretentious movie with male actors who simply are weak excuses for actors.

The score is just so inappropriate, it is beyond belief. It's one of those score that's supposed to make you think something exciting is about to happen, but when it never does, the music becomes an albatross.

And then there's Brittney Murphy. She was so hot in this totally CFM sort of way. Her eyes just exude sexual ripeness and the way her mouth twitches is just so hot. Too bad she's gone.

But her dirty sex appeal can't save this mega bomb.

Great Movie!!!

[virginia_437 · 10/10 · 24 September 2009]

Have to agree with several others that this is not a movie for the fast paced movie goer. This is a slow suspenseful film along the like of an Alfred Hitchcock film. There is a great plot twist that while somewhat obvious is still enjoyable. The characters are believable and the acting is well thought. Brittany Murphy...cute, but luckily doesn't really have enough lines to spoil the film. =) If you like simple films with a minimal amount of frills and just a simple storyline then you may really enjoy Across the hall. This is a great way to spend your time. No sex, no nudity, just a great film for those with the time to appreciate it.

Clearly not for the *simple* minded, Good Movie!

[ny_kv · 8/10 · 5 September 2009]

Okay being 100% truthful, I expected nothing of Brittany Murphy... I do not dislike her, in fact I rather enjoy her but her roles are often up in the air... NOT HERE. She was good where it mattered here and all characters were believable. Yes, clearly it was a film noir Type horror, some people missed that but seriously, if you wanted a cheesy comedy or perhaps some more unrealistic plot twist a cringe scenes or a fake horror movie with vibrant with colors, perhaps you should've went for Saw or Scary movie. Bottom line it was well made and very suspenseful. Less predictable then the usual horror film. I gave it an 8 in consideration to the category this falls under, A film Noir type Thriller. Tasteful in my opinion, it will seem slow if you are looking for action but if you want deep, suspenseful, well written horror and you have 1 hour and 30 min... Go for it... maybe not on a first date but still worth the watch.

Fun Fact(lol): In any case, well done and for those who missed it, this was a ReMake of a 2005 short film (for those who wanted a shorter version your wish came true). Then got funded and made a full length version (The original June came back as Anna).

kept me guessing !!!

[cekadah · 9/10 · 30 March 2013]

there's only one thing i can say about this movie - "WATCH IT"!!

what a great story and great acting. i noticed some of the other reviewers labeled this movie as predictable and boorish. i completely disagree. this movie has great style and personality and a consistency that never changes.

the setting is an old (but once very nice) inner city hotel going to seed and it lends to the story just the level of character needed to support the background of our characters - Julian, Terry, and June. none of these characters come from a desperate or needy background and are most likely normal middle class people that find themselves in a desperate, needy, and dangerous situation. and they are unprepared for the consequences of their actions - maybe!

one more delightful element in this movie is the use of color! a great job in lighting and photography!