The girl on the third floor - A Watchers Perspective

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Welcome back to The Foxs Fern blog if your a long time reader and if your new I hope you like what you read here! Any likes, comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated and honestly hearing from you guys means the world to me!

In this post I'm trying something different, I decided to watch the film as I wrote my review. It mainly is a compilation of my opinions, questions about the movie, and me just being completely puzzled by it. So this little blog post is my untouched opinions of the movie as I am watching the film. If you'd like to watch it to its "The girl on the third floor" also stay tuned to the end to find out why I think they called it that even its a weird title for the film!

Quick disclaimer, all of the opinions in this post simply reflect my views on the subject matter, I am not against the people who made this movie and I am not judging them, my take on the movie will not be the same as other peoples views on it. Honestly I completely respect them for making a film because I don't think I could make something as good as this and I couldn't dream of even making a movie. I have a huge respect for the creators and directors who make these movies.

Without further ado I hope you like this post and if its not for you there will be plenty of other posts coming soon!

The opening credits scene captures a lot of amazing imagery that is rarely shown at the beginning of a film. Showing the house off in a way of disrepair and in need of a lot of TLC, specifically as though it has been decorated in the 1970’s. We are then shown into the home by use of a mirror projecting us into the room, this gives an amazing perspective at the beginning of the film.

I really love some of the images they chose to use here, from detailed and painted wallpaper to a wall light that appears to have blood running down the back of it. The zoom effect into some of these images really creates an impression of question, as it makes us somewhat unsure of what the image is actually of, but still intrigues us. It also ensures that the viewer will wait to see if the image is as they thought or if it is something entirely different.

We then follow the dog through the house, looking at different rooms, finally stopping at a dark room that he doesn’t wish to enter. The use of the simple what looks like marble here is great as it echoes through the house increasing the feeling of the creepy/empty vibe it clearly embodies. It also guides the eye through the house as we are focused on this light green pop of colour against the darkness of the wooden floor.

There are also a lot of what appear to be vintage or hand painted mirrors placed throughout that reflect areas really well making us wait in suspense for something dark to show itself in them. But so far it hasn’t done that. I am writing this piece as I’m watching it and honestly so far, loving the feel of the film, the house has some incredible 1970's type aesthetic from the gold bright mirrors to the deep paper and typical light fixtures. Aesthetically so far, bravo, render me intrigued.

At this point we have just met the - well Vicar from across the street and honestly she seems lovely, but is that just a concept stereotype I associate with vicars? Although I do get an odd vibe from her - “My door is always open” Implies that she knows and expects something sinister within this house, like she is waiting for something to happen.

I hope she is a character we see throughout this film as she seems she could be quite entertaining and add a really light edge to whatever is going on within the house.

So, Don has just started the works on the house and honestly I'm not such a fan of the punk rock screemo style hes listening to, but I do like the effect of being able to hear the music before he puts his earphones in and then us actually hearing it as he would. This method of filming really helped to pull me into the charters point of perspective as it sets you in his mind set of getting the job done.

I do wish they had chosen a better type of music for this as it doesn’t really set a great scene for me and makes the character seem less relatable, it also illiminates a lot of interest from my perspective. If I could've chosen something I would've probably chosen more of a powerhouse piece of art, action packed style. Or even some chill music that has sinister notes throughout to enhance the mood of the film.

I’m also not keen on how oblivious to the surroundings Don seems, if something is leaking what looks like blood out of a whole in the wall, we all know it’s not just going to stop leaking if you cover it up, in these scenarios it always comes back. It's always worse than what you thought. Right? Or have I watched too many horror and mystery movies for my own good?

Frankly if something is squelching out of your plugs, don’t just wipe it off and plug your appliance in…Like you are going to get a shock of some kind. Or does no one else know this?

However this film does seem quite comedic, pulling a dress and wig out of the wall, was kind of funny. I have to say though I would not go out and leave my dog home alone, after he ate a marble, in a strange house, where there is probably a lot of...Well at this point I'm not sure - just generally not nice things.

The visuals in this film so far seems pretty great, there is a common theme of loneliness as he's moved into the house without his wife, going for a drink – alone, where the bar has no one, an old man on his own, the vicar is also on her own, whenever the dog wanders off it is alone. The sense of demonstrating the lonesomeness within the film could be to enhance the scary aspect as everything seems more horrifying when your alone. But it could also mean that closeness is an aspect that will be needed later on in the film, so far I'm not so sure though - I’ll keep watching.

He came home to the dog and looks straight in the mirror, which is such a great feature because were seeing a new perspective of not being through a persons eyes. For example, we saw things through Cooper's eyes, then looking at cooper, where as in the mirror reflection we see something new whilst still seeing what the character is seeing.

At this point of him getting back from the bar, I am terrified Cooper is dead and Don has no idea where he will be. Although if Cooper is dead, part of me is glad we didn’t have to witness it. Bam! the dog is alive, the way he scared Don made me laugh so much - best part of the film so far.

My instant instinct when the girl (Sarah) showed up is that she is a ghost, and when Don turned around it didn’t show us if she was still stood there or not so I was left wondering whether she had dissapeared or simply stood looking at him. But seeing this girl and the message from, Gary? The old man “Straight men don’t do well there” or along those lines, makes me wonder if they get misled by this girl ghost and end up dying.

With the state of he water pipes it makes me wonder whether she was buried in the pipes or if shes buried somewhere else in the house - basement maybe? I know the film is called "Girl on the third floor" but...We haven't really seen a third floor. The fact the water comes out as a white gloop is actually really disgusting, it made me want to gag seeing all the gunge going near his face.

Then we get back to the supposed to be hard core bubbling paint on the wall, really? Is not everything telling this man to walk away? Also again here there are amazing reflections in the mirrors something that kind of looked like a pregnant lady? Don walked past and the mirror caught his reflection which made me question if it was his reflection or someone else's.

The pulley rattling was super creepy when she locked the “tiny wardobe” door, as though something was being sent down to the basement. The doggo instantly knows it’s a bad idea for this woman to be let in – good doggo. Cooper is then tempted by something of a shadow and lots of squeeking noise, which is incredibly strange and like wtf is going on? Then the ceiling falling down, like this is a lot in one go. Don also never actually follows the dog or listens to what he is barking at, just dismisses Cooper, which everyone knows dogs do not bark for no reason.

Going back to be ‘loving’ the different types of visuals throughout this film, I'm now not so sure, as it is intentionally placed to make us expect something to happen, and the off green night lighting really sets a tone for me that I'm not so set on. Also another thing that makes me unsure about this girl is that shes always in a short dress, shorts or a small top, which is totally ok, but we haven't actually seen a beautiful sunny day within the film so is she from another time or something? I guess I will find out.

Again, even though the title is called girl on the third floor there seems to be something creepy and dead in the basement or below the house that’s causing this gungy gunk stuff coming out of plugs and whatnot.

We then see shadow legs going through the mirrors and a woman that appears to be his wife, but hes awake, surely he knows this isn't his wife? Or does he think hes dreaming here? Ohh her face changed to the woman from outside and then back. It makes me wonder, if this girl was killed and raped by a man because like, shes asked to be choked once and we see him choking her in his dream. Plus she called him ‘Dad’ at the beginning on their second meeting so is this..some kind of indication to us?

Also why did he swallow what looked like the glass marble when he was looking at his new cut in part of dry wall?! Like what..is going on. We have no context, no background information at all, other than straight men don’t do well and it is a small town. Ohh I must’ve missed the bit where it said he owned a whore house, now it makes sense. The pipes are simply full of seamen and so are the walls? What a strange concept for a home. The woman is now saying shes his assistant? What the?

Sarah..she has to be dead…right? Also big respect to Milo for pitching in and helping him out with his house for free and actually being good at helping out. Also…not so sure about the acting in this film like the main guy is a bit – well he doesn’t seem too great at acting. Hes lacking the mystery that the film is trying to portray.

There are honestly so many points in this film where I'm like what the hell is going on -

the giggling in particular is super weird, like I am NOT a fan – the fact its also “disembodied giggling” with subs on. Yes, I always watch films and series with the subtitles on as it just works better for me. Sarah is definitely some sex hungry ghost..

Oh god she clocked Milo with a lump hammer, she definitely has some man issues. I'm really not so crazy on the visuals here, she thumped him up under the jaw and somehow he has a hollow in his eye? Like…shes blasted him in the face with a gun. There's a lot of creepy concepts in this…The disembodied women, the weird entities that become different people. With no explanation this film really comes across as though it has been misjudged and made without a lot of thought as without background information there's not really a story line the viewer can get on board with an want to watch to see more. If that makes sense?

Also didn’t I just say that there was some creepy basement thing like why would Milo openly go into the basement, surely if you don't know the house well you can stills sense how bad it is? There is a lot of dark staring into a void in this film which…what? The sinister plucking of a violin? I know it's supposed to set a tone of unease and earieness as he is fitting new cameras, door knobs and locks, but it honestly doesn’t really create the atmosphere its supposed to. It feels like something is constantly missing from the atmosphere. In my opinion there are a lot of different other styles they could’ve gone with that would’ve impacted it a lot more.

They could've shot him putting up the cameras from within the dark spaces as though he is being watched, or from the other side of the door knob when he fits a new one. There could be a lot of shadows and ominous reflections in the mirrors that are round that could really enhance the unease.

The vicar coming back labelling the house as a “Bitch” and “Rotten” Really made me laugh as she is simply giving him the advice to either go up against the ghost and not go to them, stand up to them to make the house something better. Which in most films isn't a concept that works out very well in the end.

Again what is with the marble type balls and the animals and people following them? I understand with the dog as a ball is appealing to an animal but really? Cooper seems a lot smarter than this.

The loud clattering and scraping, honestly I thought it was coming from the door but oh hell when it was the dog in the tumble dryer, it was horrible. But the sick..? Really? Clearly wasn’t real looked like custard.

I understand the women hating the men of the house but not the dog, really I don’t get why he would be targeted, although in most horror movies, if there's an Alsatian – which there usually is. He’s the one to get it. Quite similar to the Paranormal Activity dog that is killed by a ghost. Its never a small dog like a yappy terrier is it?

The following conversation between Sarah and Don – Seemed odd..somehow, like - Holy heck he bashed her over the head. Blood? Really? Is that real? If she’s a ghost she wouldn’t be bleeding. Or is this what they meant? By men being different in this home? It makes me wonder where the film is going to go from here. Is he seriously going to bury her in the walls and coating her with lye, I don’t know how he knows this will work, like in a lot of murder mystery films or series they do use lye but how does he know?

There's a lot of craziness going to go down now in this house, like its one thing on top of another and another so there's no real way to let it sink in what's going on and it all seems a little chaotic for the sake of including something slightly sinister.

Were going back to DIY now, when he threw that board how did it come back at him? Like the heck. Oh and hell the body moved! The disembodied giggling Is really getting annoying now, setting me right off. Why would you go into a dark room up in an attic space following something your not sure what it is but it giggles?! This weird thing up in the roof space.

This is the first actual time I think we have seen the "third floor" or attic in this film. Oh the room is full of marbles, and weird child drawings.

Why does it look like the ‘dad’ in this scenario is wearing a death plague mask? Maybe I was right and he beat a kid to death or something? Or raped her to death? And the kid is coming back as a grown up version called Sarah? Heck if I had any idea of what might be going on id share it.

I love the camera view of the camera going into the wall twisting around as it goes that’s actually a really cool perspective. But the fact the house is now turning into a blood machine? Oh wow there's Milo’s face dead in the wall. Ooh the little cupboard opened behind him and next to him…This film is creepy weird and not in the good horror way they usually are and now the little girl with crystals...? coming out of her head is super weird. How did the ball jump into his leg? How is that even a thing? This film is something else all together.

Don is now struggling to cut himself open and get the marble out, he is literially going to kill himself trying to get this out of himself. Oh, just had a thought, because her eye is all gross and bashed in, is that why Milo’s eye was the first thing to be all indented and gross? I am honestly so unsure about what this film means or even is going on at this point the lack of context is kind of…well disturbing.

Now his pregnant wife is coming in and looking round? Why wouldn’t he have warned her sooner to not come and get involved, especially since she is pregnant, like seriously. Oh god shes gonna go in the basement…honey don’t do it seriously, your pregnant, you don’t want to die. If Don had been honest with her all of this could’ve easily been avoided. I had hopes that she wouldn’t be able to see the marbles that are on the floor and she wouldn’t be susceptible because shes a woman but heck she has to be. Sarah might be mother to the girl lost in the brothel? Hence why she is feeling the baby and asking about it?...I'm so unsure as to what any of this means in this film.

When shes going for a wee I literally thought she was stood up peeing from the perspective of the camera. Why is she sticking her finger down the sink…This woman no.. Ew the hair, guarantee the child is in the water drain in the basement.

Finally Liz is giving us some decent background information on her relationship with her husband, there is a lot more to Don than meets the eye. I think in Liz’s talk with the vicar it was supposed to come across as sinister and kind of…worrying to the audience but in all honesty it just instilled the feelings I already had about the place and maybe its supposed to release some sympathy for Don as the now dead husband?

Liz has came back to a party wow, is she going to go upstairs and see the brothel back in action? Seems pretty likely. The people are watching from above looking down at the people below, what a weird concept for this kind of film, we knew it was something weird and not quite right but, this seems…so strange. All the people watching behind her are men and dressed as in a past time, instilling the impression of it being an old house that’s been transformed. The man comes in with the mask exactly the same as the girls drawings, this really is…such a weird twist on the film considering what we started with.

The film now refers to the girl as the “Creature giggling” which is different to the "Disembodied giggling" from earlier...so is it the same person? I know she’s turned into something different from a girl but what is going on.

Sarah really turned into one mad mess, like this film is just giving out a lot more questions than answers – oh god the dark cupboard opened and Don is alive! How is Don alive – it feels like he is going to stab his wife with the box cutter, I really hope he doesn’t. This film is taking a really weird turn of him cutting his face off and it being Sarah. Like…what the hell is this film seriously. But way to go Liz for smashing the creatures head in…but Sarah has already been killed once, we know she can't die? as such? The vicar knew?! All this time? I mean why couldn’t she have warned them? Calling it a game. So what happens next?

Liz braking down dry wall whilst pregnant is honestly iconic if I'm honest, like how the heck even can she do this and carry the gross decayed corpse. Again after this the shot going into the window…It’s like it is purposefully supposed to be sinister and the echo in the talking sounds…Strange like its empty in some way. I honestly have a feeling that nothing is gone and something bad is going to happen to this baby, shes so going to choke on these beads or something.

What a weird film. I really didn’t like this film in all honesty, there was not a lot of context for the film and a lot of questions that really needed answering? Like I understand that it was a brothel and the women were murdered and Sarah wanted to be found and so on…But...Why?

I honestly didn’t really find this film enjoyable it simply felt strained to be scary and even then wasn’t. There was a deep lack of context and it just was not a film I would recommend. Based on the trailer I was really excited for this film and was looking forward to the sinister twist it seemed to encapsulate. But hey guys in my opinion its not worth a watch.

As always, thank you for reading - I hoped you enjoyed! Feel free to leave a comment, like or reach me on social media!

I hope you all have a lovely day,

🍁 Stay smiling

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Sources:

http://horrorfuel.com/2020/01/05/blu-ray-review-girl-on-the-third-floor-2019/

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