Penthouse North Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A blind photographer gets gaslit by Michael Keaton into thinking she knows where stolen diamonds are hidden in her apartment, but really the cat knows.

🍿 Penthouse North: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction: A Blind Woman’s Quiet Life

Sara, a former war photographer, lives a reclusive life in a New York City penthouse apartment after losing her sight in Afghanistan. On New Year’s Eve, her quiet existence is shattered when she returns home to find her boyfriend, Ryan, murdered.

The Home Invasion and Hunt for Diamonds

Sara soon realizes she is not alone; a ruthless criminal named Chad, along with his accomplice Hollander, are searching for a fortune in diamonds that Ryan had stolen. Trapped and vulnerable, Sara must use her wits and heightened senses to survive the ordeal.

Cat and Mouse in the Penthouse

A tense game of cat and mouse ensues as Sara is interrogated and terrorized by the criminals, who believe she knows the location of the diamonds. Flashbacks to her time in Afghanistan reveal her strength and resourcefulness, which she must now rely on to outsmart her captors.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sara (Michelle Monaghan): A blind former photojournalist who must fight for her life when criminals invade her penthouse apartment.
• Hollander (Michael Keaton): A sadistic criminal mastermind who seeks to recover stolen diamonds hidden within Sara’s penthouse.
• Chad (Barry Sloane): Hollander’s ruthless and violent partner, who assists in the search for the hidden diamonds.
• Ryan (Andrew W. Walker): Sara’s boyfriend, whose thievery puts her life in danger.
• Blake (Kaniehtiio Horn): Sara’s pregnant sister who visits Sara’s apartment.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Hollander: “Let’s play follow the cat.” – Hollander says this leading Sara to the edge of the balcony implying he will throw her off if she doesn’t cooperate.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10 million
• Domestic Gross: $0
• Worldwide Gross: $372,209

💥 Penthouse North Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to like this movie more than I did. Michelle Monaghan is great, but the script just doesn’t give her enough to work with. The premise is interesting, but it feels like it could have been so much more suspenseful. The ending felt a little rushed, I left wishing the plot was a little more creative overall, I’d say its worth one watch, but nothing memorable.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy home invasion stories”
  • “Those who like movies with strong female leads”
  • “Michael Keaton fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Threatening situations”
  • “Some disturbing content”
  • “Brief war flashbacks”
  • “Animal cruelty (cat thrown off a balcony)”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “While the premise of a blind woman getting her home invaded is pretty creepy, the plot falls flat. It lacks story and character development and has thousands of plot holes. The acting is basic and the characters are shallow. The villains’ motives are never explained, making the whole experience unsatisfying.
• IMDb: “This movie is a home invasion thriller that doesn’t thrill. The screenplay is terrible, the plot is predictable, and the dialogues are stupid. Despite starring reliable actors like Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan, the film is dull and uninspired. There’s no tension or suspense and the flashbacks are pointless.
• IMDb: “An OK movie that is generic & predictable but the reason to watch is to see Keaton as a psycho bad guy, he really saves this. It is a very basic thriller no good twists no thrilling story not much an actor can sink their teeth into.

Audience Reactions

Michael Keaton’s performance is praised for adding a menacing and entertaining element.: Many appreciate Keaton’s performance as the villain, saying he elevated the movie despite its flaws.

Some viewers found the film predictable and lacking originality.: Several reviews mention the movie’s resemblance to ‘Wait Until Dark’ and express disappointment with its generic plot.

Overall Consensus: Penthouse North is a decent but ultimately forgettable thriller, carried by Michael Keaton’s performance but dragged down by a predictable plot and a lack of originality.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was filmed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, allowing the production to take advantage of the city’s modern architecture for the penthouse setting.”
• “The alternative title of the movie on Netflix is ‘Blindsided’.”
• “Joseph Ruben, the director, is also known for directing ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’, a thriller with a similar theme of a woman in peril.”

🖥️ How to Watch Penthouse North?

As of October 2024, “Penthouse North” (also known as “Blindsided”) is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for current availability as streaming options may change.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Penthouse North, you might like these similar films:

• Wait Until Dark (1967): Features a blind woman terrorized in her apartment by criminals seeking something her husband unknowingly possessed, similar to the core plot of Penthouse North.
• Jennifer 8 (1992): A blind woman is the key witness in a serial killer case and is subsequently targeted, creating a suspenseful thriller with a vulnerable protagonist.
• Panic Room (2002): A mother and daughter are trapped in their home’s panic room by intruders, creating a claustrophobic and intense thriller.

🛒 Penthouse North Related Products

• Michael Keaton Collection [Blu-ray]: A curated collection of Michael Keaton’s best performances, including ‘Batman,’ ‘Beetlejuice,’ and more. A must-have for any Keaton fan.
• Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal: This is a Smart speaker that can play music, and control smart home devices, especially useful for persons with impaired or loss of sight.
• Wait Until Dark [Blu-ray]: The classic thriller starring Audrey Hepburn that inspired “Penthouse North”. Experience the original story of a blind woman terrorized by criminals.
• Tactile Alphabet Blocks: Set of braille embossed ABC blocks to aid in familiarization of the language for people with impaired sight.

🎧 Soundtrack

Penthouse North features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Bullsh*t” – performed by Umi NiiLampti

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Blind Girl’s Boyfriend Is Dead, But The Killer Is Standing Behind Her! short

This short clip breaks down a super intense scene from ‘Penthouse North’. Can you imagine being blind and having the killer right behind you? Check it out!

#shorts How a blind woman escaped from robbers when her husband was killed!

Okay, this is insane! Watch how this blind woman cleverly escapes robbers after her husband is killed in ‘Penthouse North’. Talk about survival skills – you won’t believe how she does it!

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