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Pacific Heights
1990 102 min United States of America R 18+
★6.2
Thriller, Drama, Mystery
Director: John Schlesinger
Trailers
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EN
Description
A couple works hard to renovate their dream house and become landlords to pay for it. Unfortunately one of their tenants has plans of his own.
Budget:
$18M
US Gross:
$29.38M
Worldwide:
$55M
Starring
Melanie Griffith
Actor
Matthew Modine
Actor
Michael Keaton
Actor
Key opinion
Pacific Heights is widely regarded as a solid, if flawed, psychological thriller defined by a standout antagonist performance. While the film effectively builds tension through its premise of legal manipulation, viewers are divided on whether the plot remains grounded or devolves into implausible, dull storytelling by its conclusion.
| Acting | Michael Keaton delivers a charismatic and chilling performance that serves as the film's primary anchor. | |
| Acting | Matthew Modine and Melanie Griffith are viewed as uninspired or weak leads who fail to provide a compelling counterpart to the villain. | |
| Direction | The film effectively generates psychological dread through John Schlesinger’s precise use of naturalistic detail, sharp sound, and sustained suspense. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative trajectory is debated; some find the exploration of legal loopholes and social tension compelling, while others criticize the plot for becoming monotonous and relying on the protagonists' irrational choices. | |
| Ending | The film's final act is widely considered a weakness, with opinions divided between those who find the climax a disappointing end to the suspense and those who find the shift toward a traditional thriller resolution jarring. |