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Michael Keaton, Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine, Mako, Dorian Harewood ... see more see more... , Nobu McCarthy , Laurie Metcalf , Carl Lumbly , Aida Anderson , Hy Anzell , Linda Lee Austin , Alice Barden , Rober Bearde , Guy Boyd , J.P. Bumstead , Beverly D'Angelo , Maggy Myers Davidson , Frank di Elsi , John Diaz , Noel Evangelisti , Takayo Fischer , Matthew Flint , Scott Freeman , Dabbs Greer , Ray Hanis , Jerry Hardin , Dan Hedaya , Tippi Hedren , Ed Hodson , Seth Isler , O-Lan Jones , Danny Kovacs , Hal Landon Jr. , Daniel MacDonald , Miriam Margolyes , Frank Maruoka , Tohoru Masamune , Sheila McCarthy , D.W. Moffett , Tom Nolan , Luis Oropeza , F. William Parker , William Paterson , Nicholas Pryor , Tim Pulice , Tony Simotes , James Staley , Florence Sundstrom , Wat Takeshita , Tracey Walter , David Lloyd Wilson , Danny Wynands , Luca Bercovici , Michael Parker , John Schlesinger , Nicholas Rutherford , Bud Ekins , Barbara Bush

John Schlesinger directed this upscale horror film about a landlord with the ultimate problem tenant. Patty Palmer (Melanie Griffith) and Drake Goodman (Matthew Modine) are a middle class couple who l... read more read more...ie on their financial statement in order to buy an old Victorian house in San Francisco, planning to renovate it and rent it out. Unfortunately, they select as a tenant Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton), a psychotic real estate bargain hunter who plans to drive Patty and Drake into foreclosure proceedings and then buy the house cheap. Carter starts the ball rolling by refusing to pay his rent and driving out a couple who had rented the rear flat by hammering and sawing all night -- and then releasing a tidal wave of cockroaches. What follows is a psychological war between Carter and the Yuppie couple, with Carter succeeding not only in provoking Drake into more extreme means of eviction, but also causing a rift between Drake and Patty. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

50% liked it

8,443 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

23 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: John Schlesinger

Release Date: September 28, 1990

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (354)

  • MrMarakai
    April 25, 2011
    MrMarakai
    Having such good films under his belt like "Midnight Cowboy" and "Marathon Man", director John Schlesinger is no slouch when it comes to crafting a quality drama or suspense. However, with an irritatingly underpar cast, this is not one of his finer efforts.
    Young couple Patty (M... read moreelanie Griffith) and Drake (Matthew Modine) purchase a Victorian home in San Francisco. They fix it up and rent one of the apartments to fast-talking businessman Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton) unaware that he is in fact, a sociopathic swindler.
    When this film was released in 1990, I actually enjoyed it. I was 12 years old. Looking at it now, I have to admit that my critical faculties had not kicked in then. There's no denying that it's a well crafted suspense yarn but it's also ludicrously plotted. The fault doesn't lie with Schlesinger though, in fact, he does really well handling the tension and suspense. The fault lies with the unintelligible script. Would this stereotypically disturbed character really waste his time, being no more than an inconvenience by drilling holes in the walls? Do disturbed sociopaths really sit watching static interference on TV, in a darkened room, while flipping a razor blades over their fingers? Methinks it's all a little melodramatic. Keaton does his best sinister look with animated eyebrows, Modine needs his quiff trimmed and Griffith gives her usual one-note innocent, softly spoken, damsel in distress act. Three very limited actors with a very limited script. Schlesinger brings what he can to the table, but it's not enough to overcome ineptitude.
    Hitchcock would have had a field day with similiar material. Schlesinger tries his best to emulate the old master but he's ultimately fighting a losing battle with a very limited cast.
  • imrealgod
    March 14, 2011
    imrealgod
    A dull thriller with one of the lamest final fight sequence I've ever seen. Even otherwise, the movie sucked in the action department.
  • hobster1
    May 11, 2010
    hobster1
    Suspenseful thriller about an unmarried couple who sublet their Victorian home to a menacing tenant. Hitchcockian tale gradually exposes their vulnerability so we share in the frustration of the young couple. Script also raises some interesting questions about California tenant... read more laws. What makes this thriller so convincing is the unexpected path the story ultimately takes. Melanie Griffith shines as the more rational mind in the yuppie couple and Michael Keaton is effectively manipulative as Carter Hayes, a psychopathic con artist.
  • middleeasternfilms
    November 13, 2009
    middleeasternfilms
    This film has just the right amount of drama and suspense without making it seem like it's trying too hard to be a nightmare but at the same time definitely keeps from being boring. Michael Keaton's best roles have always been when he's some kind of psychopath - like Desperate Me... read moreasures - so this was a great role for him.
  • Deano78
    November 7, 2009
    Deano78
    A pretty decent thriller that is quite tense. The tenant from hell arrives causing chaos for a young couple struggling with there first house. Decent film with a good cast but a bit dated now.
  • thmtsang
    October 25, 2009
    thmtsang
    Freaky movie about a disturbing neighbour. Good cast.
  • jjnxn
    September 27, 2007
    jjnxn
    okay suspenser, griffith isn't too annoying for a change but instantly forgettable.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 12, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Michael Keaton plays a creepy and mysterious tenant in this thriller, which is quite interesting.
  • deano
    March 12, 2007
    deano
    The Tenant from Hell. Michael Keaton's weirdo character rents a room from the ideal yuppie couple and proceeds to turn their life into a nightmare. Although competently put together, it's just a little too silly in places to really scale the heights.
  • garyX
    February 24, 2007
    garyX
    A singularly forgettable cast in a feeble melodramatic "thriller" involving a house. "Thrilling".

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Critic Reviews

Jake Euker
March 10, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

Moderately entertaining suspense with an unusually foul villain at its core.

Alex Sandell
April 22, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Michael Keaton as a malicious tenant. Aren't you scared just thinking about it?

Rob Vaux
March 18, 2003
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

A ludricrous retread of the same old Fatal Attraction formula

Clint Morris
September 17, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Corny, but worthwhile thriller, with a stellar, slightly unexpected turn, from Michael Keaton

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
September 1, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Presents a telling portrait of white collar crime and the primal value of privacy in this information age. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 26, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Yet another thriller that gets laughs where it's supposed to get shivers

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Pacific Heights Trivia

  • Michael Keaton plays a psychotic tenant in this movie.  Answer »
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  • Michael Keaton is a psychopathic tenant and makes Matthew Modine's and Melanie Griffith's life a living hell in what 1990 movie?  Answer »
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