Michael Keaton back as a villain in Penthouse North

Anyone who has seen PACIFIC HEIGHTS or DESPERATE MEASURES knows that Michael Keaton does a really great turn as the villain. The films themslves might not have been that great but he certainly elevated the material, showing that Batman and Mr. Frost could do some evil things if he was asked to… and have a lot of fun with it.

Which is why it’s so exciting to hear that he’ll be dabbling in his darker side once again in PENTHOUSE NORTH, playing a thug who’s trying to rob a blind woman.

The synopsis- Sara Taylor (Monaghan), a photojournalist blinded in Iraq, is forced to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with the sadistic criminal Hollander (Keaton) – a man who will stop at nothing to get a fortune of stolen diamonds hidden in Sara’s penthouse apartment.  Although Sara claims to not know where the diamonds are, Hollander utilizes psychological and physical torture in an effort to break Sara’s resistance.  But Sara fights back.   As the suspense builds to a shattering climax, Sara gains the advantage.  But will it be enough to save her?

To be honest it sounds a lot like a remake of the classic thriller WAIT UNTIL DARK, which stars Audrey Hepburn as a blind woman being menaced by Alan Arkin. It’s pretty much the exact same plot, without the Iraq bit. Check it out if you haven’t, it’s a great film with one of the all-time great jump scares.

PENTHOUSE NORTH was directed by Joseph Ruben (SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, THE FORGOTTEN) and it’s being produced by Jeff Sackman, Michael Baker, and the screenwriter David Loughery (LAKEVIEW TERRACE, OBSESSED).

The film will begin production in Ottawa, Canada on December 7th.

Source: Dimension Films

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