Late at night, a businessman named Robert Thompson (Tony Blackett) conducts a private meeting at his construction site. He instructs his daughter, Heather (Kylie Clare), to stay in the car while he attends the meeting. However, instead of waiting for her father to return, Heather decides to get out of the car and see what he is doing. Unfortunately, she soon discovers that her father is not a nice man and is involved in a scenario where a man is being interrogated at gunpoint and a young boy is tragically murdered through electrocution.
Twelve years later, Heather (now played by Lisa Hensley) has stolen documents that serve as decisive evidence to finally expose her father’s wrongdoings. She is joined by her best friend, Rebecca (Miranda Otto), and together, they decide to become squatters on the abandoned 13th floor of the same office building where Heather witnessed her father’s crimes all those years ago. Meanwhile, Thompson hires a mysterious man named Brenner (Vic Rooney) to find Heather and retrieve the stolen documents.
As Heather and Rebecca keep a low profile, strange and unexplainable events begin to occur on the 13th floor. They hear odd noises and notice unusual lighting from one of the other offices. Soon, Heather learns that a friendly ghost is lurking around. Initially unknown to her, this ghost is the spirit of a boy who died from electrocution and has a score to settle with Thompson. Can Heather, her friends and her newfound ghostly ally bring down Thompson?
The 13th Floor is a horror film written and directed by Chris Roache. It is also classified as an Ozploitation film. This is Chris Roache’s only credit as director and writer. I enjoyed the concept of Heather’s dilemma in choosing whether to take down her father in her quest for justice. The leading performance by Lisa Hensley was impressive and enjoyable. The supporting performances by Miranda Otto as Rebecca and Tim McKenzie as John Burke were also pleasant to watch. However, Rebecca’s character is not particularly likable, and her outcomes are predictable. Other side characters are less compelling, including the highly ridiculous and childish security guard Bert (Jeff Truman), who tries to win Heather over with his looks and charm during several interactions.
I appreciated the horror elements presented on-screen in this Ozploitation flick. I found the portrayal of a ghostly presence intriguing and the boundaries the film pushes that are not typically seen in modern movies, such as the murder of a young boy in the opening scene. The film’s finale is also commendable, featuring several characters’ tragic and surprising outcomes, demonstrating that the film isn’t afraid to take risks.
While the ghostly elements were enjoyable, they took a while to emerge. The narrative is also bogged down by subplots, including Heather’s newfound romance with John. However, once the revenge-seeking ghost is introduced, the effects and interactions add a compelling touch to the story.
Overall, this is a good choice if you’re looking for a horror film with a minor ghost element. As an Ozploitation film, it presents extreme violence right from the opening scene, and as the film progresses, the violent kills are often surprising and unexpected. The performances by Kylie Clare and Tim McKenzie are enjoyable and engaging. However, if you’re specifically seeking a ghost story, that aspect takes time to develop, and other subplots are introduced that feel forced. Nonetheless, the film’s finale is quite satisfying and wraps up nicely, providing a fulfilling experience as a classic Australian film.
The 13th Floor (1988) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella Entertainment!
FILM SCORE: 5.2/10
Published: 13th December 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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