The 3rd Floor Illustrates
the "Independent Horror Adage"
The 3rd
Floor demonstrates the Independent Horror Rule that
as long as the story is strong many sins can be overlooked.
Written by The Horror Czar
(BHM Editor Don
Sumner) November 14, 2007
Release:
August 18,
2007 (Fright Night Film Festival) Directed by: Tom Dolan, Adam Gilliam and Steve
Hudgins Written by: Steve Hudgins
Starring:
Tom Dolan as Howard Steve Hudgins as Buck Victoria Parrish as Sandy Marsha Cash as Mrs. Fish Philip Counts as Father Malone
Every so often a low budget Independent Horror offering comes
around, out of nowhere, which is so incredibly good that it can take
the film industry by storm. I’m talking, of course, about The
Blair Witch Project. The Third Floor,
on the other hand, is not likely to be the source of a tempest, but
perhaps will command a mild gale.
One morning at 4:00 AM the troubled and alcoholic Buck (Steve Hudgins)
wakes his brother Howard (Tom Dolan) and his wife Sandy (Victoria
Parrish) from a sound sleep with some important news: An apartment has
come available in his complex. The timing of the call aside, Howard and
Sandy are indeed looking for a new domicile and decide to inspect the
place the next morning…at a reasonable hour.
The apartment is perfect, but there is something strange about the
building itself. All of the windows to the 3td floor are covered in
cardboard, the “3” in the elevator has tape over
it, and all access to the floor is locked. The building manager, the
eccentric Mrs. Fish (Marsha Cash) explains that the 3rd floor is unused
because of “tradition”, and offers no further
explanation. Howard and Sandy accept the apartment on the 4th floor.
Not long after the happy couple move in to their new apartment strange
things start happening. Bumps and scratching noises seem to be coming
from below the apartment – but that can’t be
– there are no tenants in the floor below. When Howard
decides to investigate he is treated to eerie whispers coming from the
reportedly abandoned area.
Howard decides to get to the bottom of his strange experiences, and
thus begins the strange trek into the unknown origins of The
3rd Floor….
I do
believe that this entire movie was created, beginning to end, for about
a buck fifty. With that in mind it is actually pretty amazing that the
production quality is as sharp as it is. There are a few unforgivable
annoyances such as action shots obviously filmed by the actor carrying
a camera themselves and pointing it toward their faces while they go
about their business and others where it is clear that the Sony Digicam
is sitting on a small tripod on the coffee table – but
I’m not here to nit-pick. The “Independent
Horror Death Wish” elements of bad and inconsistent sound
quality along with stupid sets and ridiculous lighting are NOT
committed by the filmmakers of The 3rd Floor. For this I applaud them.
There is a bit of a problem with the multi-director scenario as well as
the “I’m the Director and I am also the
Star” complex that the film demonstrates. Steve Hudgins as
Buck, for example, seemed well cast and well suited to the role and the
film, but the performance would have benefited from some direction that
he wasn’t able to over ride because he himself was also a
director and the writer. It’s pretty tough to say to that guy
“dude, you’re doing it all
wrong…”
There are two
primary stand-outs in this film. The first is the story. Well crafted,
intriguing and original, the story has the power to draw the viewer in
and not let go. I could have done without the (seemingly) five hour
monologue by Father Malone to tie everything together, but this is a
freshman effort after all. The second is the diamond in the rough
Marsha Cash as Mrs. Fish. Cash gave a performance that absolutely
carried the film. Her character was crazy, eerie and believable. I am
certain that Ms. Cash can use footage from this film to secure
character roles in as many horror movies as she cares to act in. There
is always a place for an effective wacko creepy eccentric
woman…always.
It
is hard to say whether we will have the opportunity to see The
3rd Floor anywhere outside the festival circuit. Even if we
don’t, if Hudgins keeps writing eventually he’ll
score a winner – of that we can be certain. Questions
or comments about The 3rd Floor? Contact us!
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The apartment is perfect, but there is something strange about the
building itself. All of the windows to the 3td floor are covered in
cardboard, the “3” in the elevator has tape over
it, and all access to the floor is locked. The building manager, the
eccentric Mrs. Fish (Marsha Cash) explains that the 3rd floor is unused
because of “tradition”, and offers no further
explanation. Howard and Sandy accept the apartment on the 4th floor.
Howard decides to get to the bottom of his strange experiences, and
thus begins the strange trek into the unknown origins of The
3rd Floor….
There is a bit of a problem with the multi-director scenario as well as
the “I’m the Director and I am also the
Star” complex that the film demonstrates. Steve Hudgins as
Buck, for example, seemed well cast and well suited to the role and the
film, but the performance would have benefited from some direction that
he wasn’t able to over ride because he himself was also a
director and the writer. It’s pretty tough to say to that guy
“dude, you’re doing it all
wrong…”
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y!
MyWeb