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Pacific Heights

Play trailer Poster for Pacific Heights R 1990 1h 43m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Unmarried yuppies Patty (Melanie Griffith) and Drake (Matthew Modine) move into an expensive dream home in a high-end neighborhood in San Francisco. As they renovate the house, they look for a tenant for the first floor of their house. Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton) seems like a great fit at first, but it transpires that he is a con artist who plans to swindle them out of their real estate. As Hayes tries to drive them out of their own home, the couple must take drastic measures to fight back.
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Pacific Heights

Pacific Heights

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Critics Consensus

Michael Keaton certainly proves himself as an effective villain, but Pacific Heights sticks too closely to well-worn thriller conventions.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times As a story idea, Pacific Heights has a certain appeal. The movie's problem is in its execution. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Entertainment Weekly Rated: C Sep 28, 1990 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...promising (and foolproof) subject matter that’s employed to mostly engaging effect by Schlesinger... Rated: 3/4 Jan 22, 2025 Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media Twenty years after his Oscar win for Midnight Cowboy, director John Schlesinger helmed this entertaining but generic psychological thriller. Nov 4, 2024 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Pacific Heights is not particularly notable, but it is modestly entertaining. [Full review in Spanish] Nov 18, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert M Lawrence Kasdan's 1990 thriller Pacific Heights is a masterclass in escalating tension and psychological torment, proving that sometimes, the greatest horrors lie not in the supernatural, but in the all-too-human. From the moment young, ambitious couple Patty and Drake (Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine) purchase their dream Victorian home in the exclusive San Francisco neighborhood, a sense of foreboding subtly permeates the screen. Their decision to rent out the downstairs apartment, seemingly a practical financial move, quickly unravels into a living nightmare with the arrival of Carter Hayes, played with chillingly calm malevolence by Michael Keaton. Keaton's performance is the undeniable centerpiece of the film. He embodies a truly unique villain – not a slasher or a maniac, but a sophisticated, calculated con artist who weaponizes the legal system and the vulnerabilities of his victims with ruthless precision. His transformation from charming prospective tenant to terrifying, immovable squatter is a slow burn, meticulously crafted to maximize the audience's frustration and fear alongside Patty and Drake's. The brilliance lies in how Hayes exploits the very laws designed to protect tenants, turning them into instruments of his own malicious design. This legal loophole aspect adds a layer of intellectual horror rarely seen in thrillers, making the audience question the very foundations of property ownership and justice. The film excels at building suspense not through cheap jump scares, but through the relentless erosion of Patty and Drake's peace of mind. Every unexplained noise, every subtle act of defiance from Hayes, pushes them closer to their breaking point. The claustrophobia of their own home, once a symbol of their dreams, becomes a prison. Griffith and Modine deliver convincing performances as the beleaguered couple, their initial optimism slowly replaced by desperation and a simmering rage. You feel their frustration, their helplessness, and their eventual determination to reclaim their lives. Beyond the performances, the film's production design and cinematography contribute significantly to its unsettling atmosphere. The ornate Victorian setting, initially picturesque, takes on a decaying, oppressive quality as Hayes's presence contaminates it. The narrow staircases and dimly lit hallways become conduits for dread. While some might find the ending a tad conventional, it still delivers a satisfying catharsis after the relentless psychological assault. Pacific Heights is a taut, intelligent thriller that holds up remarkably well, a testament to its strong script, superb acting, and effective direction. It's a gripping exploration of psychological warfare and the fragility of security, leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review I. S. W The problem with this movie is motivation. What is the motivation behind stealing a sink, etc., or gaining title to a very heavily mortgaged property? Doesn't everyone know that the house will be worth less with a demolished apartment with no plumbing fixtures? How could a tenant live there, with no plumbing? Lots of holes in this plot. The pile of phone books is hilarious in this day and age. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Luis Otavio F Sophisticated, but more of the same. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/25 Full Review KB B This was such an engaging movie with good acting and storyline. It's one of my favorite thriller movies. Michael Keaton was excellent and sinister. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/01/24 Full Review Horror fan 4 Michael Keaton was very good along with rest of the cast. The story was great but the last fight scene could've been better. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/25/24 Full Review Star Power & E Just saw this movie for the first time & I don't understand how can it have such a low rating score. This movie brought back old memories about a similar situation that happened to me with one of my tenants. It is very realistic on the events that happened to the couple. Would definitely recommend watching. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Pacific Heights

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Movie Info

Synopsis Unmarried yuppies Patty (Melanie Griffith) and Drake (Matthew Modine) move into an expensive dream home in a high-end neighborhood in San Francisco. As they renovate the house, they look for a tenant for the first floor of their house. Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton) seems like a great fit at first, but it transpires that he is a con artist who plans to swindle them out of their real estate. As Hayes tries to drive them out of their own home, the couple must take drastic measures to fight back.
Director
John Schlesinger
Producer
Scott Rudin, William Sackheim
Production Co
Morgan Creek Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 13, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$27.9M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround
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