Nightmare on the 13th Floor - Revision history

Occultwiki: /* Reception */

2025-06-17T06:19:04Z

Reception

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:19, 17 June 2025
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	Reviewers criticised the film's hackneyed premise, with Steve McKerrow of the ''Baltimore Sun'' asking: "How could four respectable actors -- Michele Greene, James Brolin, Louise Fletcher, and John Karlen -- be involved in such a mess?"		Reviewers criticised the film's hackneyed premise, with Steve McKerrow of the ''Baltimore Sun'' asking: "How could four respectable actors -- Michele Greene, James Brolin, Louise Fletcher, and John Karlen -- be involved in such a mess?"

	Other critics were similarly harsh in their reviews with commentary ~~such as~~ "deadly dull," "slick, stupid and not scary," "hokey and talky and jerky," and "pathetically unspooky."		Other critics were similarly harsh in their reviews with commentary calling the film: "deadly dull," "slick, stupid and not scary," "hokey and talky and jerky," and "pathetically unspooky."

	In later interviews, everyone associated with ''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' admitted that the production process was forgettable and they had not watched the movie again since it originally aired on television.		In later interviews, everyone associated with ''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' admitted that the production process was forgettable and they had not watched the movie again since it originally aired on television.

Occultwiki: /* Plot */

2024-12-06T18:58:23Z

Plot

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:58, 6 December 2024
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	During breakfast with Dr. Lanier, he suggests that Elaine check the hotel's furnace to see if the clothes were stolen from the garbage. While there, she witnesses Letti Gordon invite Peddler into the hotel for a meal, but despite running into the kitchen behind them, Peddler disappears, having been taken up to the 13th floor by Letti, who used a secret knob to cause the elevator to stop at the otherwise hidden floor. Peddler is murdered after Letti shoves him out of the elevator onto the floor.		During breakfast with Dr. Lanier, he suggests that Elaine check the hotel's furnace to see if the clothes were stolen from the garbage. While there, she witnesses Letti Gordon invite Peddler into the hotel for a meal, but despite running into the kitchen behind them, Peddler disappears, having been taken up to the 13th floor by Letti, who used a secret knob to cause the elevator to stop at the otherwise hidden floor. Peddler is murdered after Letti shoves him out of the elevator onto the floor.

	Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult, took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality through the use of [[ritual magic]] by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.		Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] [[cult]], took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality through the use of [[ritual magic]] by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.

	After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other [[cult]] members, including Letti.		After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other [[cult]] members, including Letti.
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	She is finally captured and taken to the 13th floor where the cult intends to make her the final victim who will grant their leader immortality. The cult leader is revealed to be Dr. Alan Lanier, who was inspired to recreate the Avery Block murders out of a desire to live forever. There is a struggle, during which Elaine finds Madden's gun and begins firing aimlessly into the room. She hits one of the gas lines, but is able to escape into the elevator before the entire floor explodes in a massive blast.		She is finally captured and taken to the 13th floor where the cult intends to make her the final victim who will grant their leader immortality. The cult leader is revealed to be Dr. Alan Lanier, who was inspired to recreate the Avery Block murders out of a desire to live forever. There is a struggle, during which Elaine finds Madden's gun and begins firing aimlessly into the room. She hits one of the gas lines, but is able to escape into the elevator before the entire floor explodes in a massive blast.

	Although it is presumed that all the cult members died, an epilogue scene shows concierge Judith Teller at a hotel in Seattle, Washington, cheerfully checking in a guest, leading to speculation that the cult successfully achieved immortality before the explosion and has moved on to another hotel.		Although it is presumed that all the [[cult]] members died, an epilogue scene shows concierge Judith Teller at a hotel in Seattle, Washington, cheerfully checking in a guest, leading to speculation that the cult successfully achieved immortality before the explosion and has moved on to another hotel.

	==Cast==		==Cast==

Occultwiki: /* Cult members */

2024-12-06T18:57:45Z

Cult members

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 6 December 2024
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	===Cult members===		===Cult members===
	* James Brolin as Dr. Alan Lanier, the hotel doctor and leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult.		* James Brolin as Dr. Alan Lanier, the hotel doctor and leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] [[cult]].
	* Louise Fletcher as Letti Gordon, director of the service department of the Wessex Hotel.		* Louise Fletcher as Letti Gordon, director of the service department of the Wessex Hotel.
	* Alan Fudge as Jake Rogas, manager of the Wessex Hotel.		* Alan Fudge as Jake Rogas, manager of the Wessex Hotel.

Occultwiki: /* The 13th floor */

2024-12-06T18:54:01Z

The 13th floor

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:54, 6 December 2024
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	===The 13th floor===		===The 13th floor===
	The interior scenes which take place on the 13th floor were all shot on a specially designed set.		The interior scenes which take place on the 13th floor were all shot on a specially-designed Victorian set.

	Renee Prince was responsible for the red Victorian wallpapering as well as inlaying the [[beryl]] and marble for the fireplaces. Prince carefully aged everything on the set to make it appear as though it was from the 1890s.		Renee Prince was responsible for the red Victorian wallpapering as well as inlaying the [[beryl]] and marble for the fireplaces. Prince carefully aged everything on the set to make it appear as though it was from the 1890s.

Occultwiki at 16:49, 15 November 2024

2024-11-15T16:49:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:49, 15 November 2024
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	'''''Nightmare on the 13th Floor''''' is a 1990 [[occult]] horror film directed by Walter Grauman. It was made-for-television and aired on the USA Network as a movie of the week on [[Halloween\|Halloween Day]].		'''''Nightmare on the 13th Floor''''' is a 1990 [[occult]] horror film directed by Walter Grauman. It was made-for-television and aired on the USA Network as a movie of the week on [[Halloween\|Halloween Day]].

	The plot revolves around a Los Angeles hotel with a hidden 13th floor inhabited by a cult trying to murder 16 people in order to gain eternal life. The film stars Michele Greene as travel writer Elaine Kalisher, James Brolin as Dr. Alan Lanier, and Louise Fletcher as Letti Gordon.		The plot revolves around a Los Angeles hotel with a hidden 13th floor inhabited by a [[cult]] trying to murder 16 people in order to gain eternal life. The film stars Michele Greene as travel writer Elaine Kalisher, James Brolin as Dr. Alan Lanier, and Louise Fletcher as Letti Gordon.

	==Plot==		==Plot==
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	Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult, took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality through the use of [[ritual magic]] by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.		Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult, took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality through the use of [[ritual magic]] by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.

	After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other cult members, including Letti.		After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other [[cult]] members, including Letti.

	She is finally captured and taken to the 13th floor where the cult intends to make her the final victim who will grant their leader immortality. The cult leader is revealed to be Dr. Alan Lanier, who was inspired to recreate the Avery Block murders out of a desire to live forever. There is a struggle, during which Elaine finds Madden's gun and begins firing aimlessly into the room. She hits one of the gas lines, but is able to escape into the elevator before the entire floor explodes in a massive blast.		She is finally captured and taken to the 13th floor where the cult intends to make her the final victim who will grant their leader immortality. The cult leader is revealed to be Dr. Alan Lanier, who was inspired to recreate the Avery Block murders out of a desire to live forever. There is a struggle, during which Elaine finds Madden's gun and begins firing aimlessly into the room. She hits one of the gas lines, but is able to escape into the elevator before the entire floor explodes in a massive blast.

Occultwiki at 08:43, 14 November 2024

2024-11-14T08:43:38Z

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	[[Category:Occult Movies]]		[[Category:Occult Movies]]
	[[Category:Featured Articles]]		[[Category:Featured Articles]]
			[[Category:Awesome Articles]]

Occultwiki at 15:42, 13 November 2024

2024-11-13T15:42:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 13 November 2024
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	==Plot==		==Plot==
	Travel writer Elaine Kalisher (Michele Greene) arrives at the Wessex Hotel in Los Angeles, California to write a story about the hotel for her travel magazine. She is warmly welcomed by the entire staff, except service department head Letti Gordon (Louise Fletcher), who is put off by her presence at the hotel and treats her coldly.		Travel writer Elaine Kalisher (Michele Greene) arrives at the Wessex Hotel in Los Angeles, California to write a story about the hotel for her travel magazine, the ''Traveler's Review''. She is warmly welcomed by the entire staff, except service department head Letti Gordon (Louise Fletcher), who is put off by her presence at the hotel and treats her coldly.

	During a trip in the service elevator, Elaine gets stuck between floors and witnesses a man being murdered on a floor with gaslights and Victorian furnishings; however, she hits her head and is knocked unconscious. When she awakens, the hotel staff are surrounding her and she is being cared for by the hotel doctor, Dr. Alan Lanier (James Brolin). None of them believe her story about a man being killed, but they eventually agree to call the police to investigate after Elaine sees a homeless man known as Peddler wearing the victim's unique cowboy boots.		During a trip in the service elevator, Elaine gets stuck between floors and witnesses a man being murdered on a floor with gaslights and Victorian furnishings; however, she hits her head and is knocked unconscious. When she awakens, the hotel staff are surrounding her and she is being cared for by the hotel doctor, Dr. Alan Lanier (James Brolin). None of them believe her story about a man being killed, but they eventually agree to call the police to investigate after Elaine sees a homeless man known as Peddler wearing the victim's unique cowboy boots.

	In the meantime, hotel guest Moselle Beecher, an ~~old~~ woman in town for a crystal convention, awakens in a bedroom on the mystery floor and is murdered by an unseen person with an axe while ragtime music plays on a record.		In the meantime, hotel guest Moselle Beecher, an elderly woman in town for a [[crystal]] convention, awakens in a bedroom on the mystery floor and is murdered by an unseen person with an axe while ragtime music plays on an old record player.

	Detective Madden (John Karlen) arrives and they search the hotel floor by floor, but are unable to find the location where Elaine claims to have witnessed the murder, having been confident it was on a floor with gaslights. During this search, a policeman remarks that the elevator does not go to the 13th floor due to superstition regarding the number 13.		Detective Madden (John Karlen) arrives and they search the hotel floor by floor, but are unable to find the location where Elaine claims to have witnessed the murder, having been confident it was on a floor with gaslights. During this search, a policeman remarks that the elevator does not go to the 13th floor due to superstition regarding the number [[13 (number)\|13]].

	Afterward, Elaine tracks down Peddler at a homeless encampment in the Belmont Tunnel, but he refuses to explain where he got his boots and threatens to smash her head in with a metal pipe if she does not leave. With this evidence, she convinces Detective Madden to visit the tunnel to question Peddler. However, Madden only finds a box filled with burned clothing. He considers the case closed and urges Elaine to quit bothering him.		Afterward, Elaine tracks down Peddler at a homeless encampment in the Belmont Tunnel, but he refuses to explain where he got his boots and threatens to smash her head in with a metal pipe if she does not leave. With this evidence, she convinces Detective Madden to visit the tunnel to question Peddler. However, Madden only finds a box filled with burned clothing. He considers the case closed and urges Elaine to quit bothering him.
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	During breakfast with Dr. Lanier, he suggests that Elaine check the hotel's furnace to see if the clothes were stolen from the garbage. While there, she witnesses Letti Gordon invite Peddler into the hotel for a meal, but despite running into the kitchen behind them, Peddler disappears, having been taken up to the 13th floor by Letti, who used a secret knob to cause the elevator to stop at the otherwise hidden floor. Peddler is murdered after Letti shoves him out of the elevator onto the floor.		During breakfast with Dr. Lanier, he suggests that Elaine check the hotel's furnace to see if the clothes were stolen from the garbage. While there, she witnesses Letti Gordon invite Peddler into the hotel for a meal, but despite running into the kitchen behind them, Peddler disappears, having been taken up to the 13th floor by Letti, who used a secret knob to cause the elevator to stop at the otherwise hidden floor. Peddler is murdered after Letti shoves him out of the elevator onto the floor.

	Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult, took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.		Elaine begins looking into the history of the hotel and discovers that in 1900, Avery Block, the leader of a [[Satanism\|Satanic]] cult, took a fire axe from the wall and murdered 16 people seemingly at random. He believed he could achieve immortality through the use of [[ritual magic]] by killing 16 people on the 13th floor of the Wessex because the 13th floor was a gateway to [[Hell]]. Block was never captured and after the murders, the hotel owner sealed the floor, going so far as to conceal its existence by constructing a decorative concrete frieze to cover the exterior windows around the outside of the building.

	After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other cult members, including Letti.		After Gail Myers from the city engineer's office mysteriously disappears, Elaine partners with Detective Madden to successfully access the hidden 13th floor by stopping the elevator between floors and climbing through the hatch in the ceiling. Madden is quickly murdered and Elaine is forced to flee into the hotel as she is pursued by the other cult members, including Letti.
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	[[Category:Occult Movies]]		[[Category:Occult Movies]]
			[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Occultwiki: /* Reception */

2024-11-08T16:36:58Z

Reception

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 8 November 2024
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	==Reception==		==Reception==
	As part of the "apartment-horror" sub-genre, ''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' has been unfavorably compared to ''[[Rosemary's Baby]]'', ~~and~~ film which also had [[occult]] overtones.		As part of the "apartment-horror" sub-genre, ''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' has been unfavorably compared to ''[[Rosemary's Baby]]'', a film which also had [[occult]] overtones.

	Reviewers criticised the film's hackneyed premise, with Steve McKerrow of the ''Baltimore Sun'' asking: "How could four respectable actors -- Michele Greene, James Brolin, Louise Fletcher, and John Karlen -- be involved in such a mess?"		Reviewers criticised the film's hackneyed premise, with Steve McKerrow of the ''Baltimore Sun'' asking: "How could four respectable actors -- Michele Greene, James Brolin, Louise Fletcher, and John Karlen -- be involved in such a mess?"

Occultwiki: /* Home video */

2024-11-08T16:36:31Z

Home video

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 8 November 2024
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	===Home video===		===Home video===
	''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' was released on VHS by Paramount Home Video on October 17, 1991. When Paramount released the film in the United States, CIC Video handled international distribution of the VHS in almost every country it was originally televised in utilizing the dubbed or subtitled versions with minor differences from the original.		''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' was released on VHS by Paramount Home Video on October 17, 1991. When Paramount released the film in the United States, CIC Video handled international distribution of the VHS in almost every country where it was originally televised utilizing the dubbed or subtitled versions with minor differences from the original.

	There was also a Spanish-subtitled VHS marketed in the United States.		There was also a Spanish-subtitled VHS marketed in the United States.

Occultwiki: /* Release */

2024-11-08T16:35:09Z

Release

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 8 November 2024
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	''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' premiered on the USA Network on October 31, 1990.		''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' premiered on the USA Network on October 31, 1990.

	The film is especially notable for having been released in numerous countries around the world with either native-language dubbing or subtitles. This telecast premiere was one of the first of its kind for a movie of the week and was ~~an incredible~~ feat of ~~electrical~~ engineering that helped set the ~~standards~~ for global telecasts ~~used across the world today~~.		The film is especially notable for having been released in numerous countries around the world with either native-language dubbing or subtitles. This telecast premiere was one of the first of its kind for a movie of the week and was a feat of technical engineering that helped set the standard for future global telecasts.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"