Cauchemar au 13ème étage

I watched this movie when I was about 8 for the first time...I believe on USA...I taped it, but the sound was really bad. I now really want to see it again, will probably purchase it eventually. I do have one question though. Does anyone know the song that is playing on the phonograph on the 13th floor. It's really a great creepy kinda tune, I know everyone can probably hear the tune while reading this. I tried to research it, but could not find anything. I also tried googleing it, and seeing if anyone else had said anything about it. But, alas, I have come up with nothing. Truly a unique movie, a weird sort of classic... If anyone can help at all, please e-mail me at cody701@gmail.com thanks so much

This rather obscure but enjoyable none the less horror is an interesting little creature.

It tells the story of a hotel with no 13th floor where people keep mysteriously vanishing. Well when our heroine is involved in an accident and believes she see's a man murdered she sets about investigating.

I liked the idea, it's original and quite fascinating. Is it utilized to it's potential? No, not so much but it's such a good idea it survives regardless.

This is one of the those movies which could do with being remade. Not because the original isn't enjoyable, but because the original is obscure and perhaps didn't get the break it deserves.

Flawed but enjoyable little tale.

The Good:

Very original

Some great ideas

The Bad:

Odd final scene

Doesn't flow all that well

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Most hotels don't have a 13th floor, even the ones that actually do

Ageing has a department

Counting floors while in the elevator is a skill only law professionals can manage

Nightmare on the 13th Floor is an entertaining movie - the plot is good and the story moves at just the right pace to keep the viewer absorbed. There are definitely some tense moments in this creepy and suprisingly intelligent film that make it as exciting as a horror movie should be, but with an added mysterious twist - and it's trying to work out the mystery that keeps you watching! Unfortunately, there are a few things about this movie that let it down - namely the pathetically low budget it must have been shot on. The 'special effects' are practically non-existent and the few there are look embarrassingly fake, making a joke out of some of the scariest moments in the film. That said, the set design is pretty good, especially on the 13th Floor, with its tatty gothic furnishings and maze of dimly lit corridors. The characters are interesting and varied, and the script never seriously falters. The acting is satisfactory and what you would expect from a made-for-TV movie, but no one really stands out. Overall, I'd say that if you see Nightmare on the 13th Floor in the TV listings and make an effort to watch it, you won't be disappointed - just don't expect a masterpiece in terms of cinematography!

This is a decent mystery about a hotel with a secret hidden floor. A travel journalist called Elaine discovers this floor when she is trapped in an elevator lift. She hears old-style ragtime music and sees that the area is gas-lit and candlelit as from an earlier era. She is convinced that she has witnessed a murder but has difficulty convincing anyone that it was for real. She recognises some boots with silver toes from the murder scene and fancies she has traced them to a derelict site near the hotel. There is a good sense of rich people living in close proximity to the down-and-outs dossing in alleyways. There is an abrupt jump in the telling of the story roundabout the 50 minute mark where it takes on a complete new twist. Elaine does seem to suddenly gather a lot of information from somewhere at this point. Also some of the reveals come a bit too early for my liking. So I think fans of the old-style mysteries will like this although they may get the feeling the story could have been told somewhat better. Pick of the characters is the sneering Letti of the hotel staff played by Louise Fletcher.

This is an intriguing TV thriller featuring a reporter who investigates mysterious events at a hotel after witnessing a murder in a secret 13th floor.

There is a built-up suspense from start to finish and the plot is well-paced, enough to keep the audience engaged and entertained. The acting was pretty good - I especially liked the sarcastic and devious performance of Louise Fletcher.

The eerie feel of the unseen and unmarked 13th floor gives off an exciting and thrilling feel, making you wonder what the place really holds. Just wished there could have been a slower suspense built-up when the floor was revealed.

Overall, an appealing little thriller.

Grade A-