Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

The Fifth Floor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 9, 2019

Perhaps trying to cash-in on the popularity of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” 1978’s “The Fifth Floor” returns to the manic energy of a psychiatric facility, with director Howard Avedis (“Mortuary”) steering the effort into more horrifying demonstrations of institutional corruption. “The Fifth Floor” is often caught between its desire to creep out the audience and its attempt to condemn the business of corralling and exploiting the mentally ill, resulting in an uneven picture that fails to make much of an impact, playing more confidently with B-movie hysterics and periodic chases.

“The Fifth Floor” tracks Kelly’s (Dianne Hull) imprisonment in a psychiatric hospital after being drugged at a disco. She’s surrounded by troubled patients (including Robert Englund, Patti D’Arbanville, and Earl Boen) and menaced by orderly Carl (Bo Hopkins), trying to figure a way out of her predicament. The screenplay explores Kelly’s charged interactions with others and her panic to survive, rendered powerless by those in charge, kept against her will. “The Fifth Floor” largely remains in the hospital, developing Carl’s evil influence, with the employee working in secret to take advantage of sedated patients, offering unwanted attention on Kelly in the shower and in bed, preying on her inability to fight back. Such routine makes up most of the endeavor, but the story does branch out to the saga of Melanie (Sharon Farrell), Kelly’s roommate, and a woman who’s lost all reason to live, barely hanging on to reality.

The Fifth Floor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Pulling "The Fifth Floor" from the depths of B-movie obscurity, Code Red promises a "Brand new HD master" for the picture, and maybe it is. The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation seems sourced from the last available film print, offering a pinkish appearance that's worked over with mild color refreshing, but doesn't restore in the feature in full. Skintones remains largely bloodless, finding most significant hues emerging from disco interiors with bolder lighting, and some of the costume choices. A mid-movie zoo trip offers greenery, along with hospital grounds. Detail is flat, managing the pained faces of the patients, and hospital interiors struggle with decoration and hallway depth. Delineation solidifies frequently, losing frame information during scenes with limited lighting. Source is in rough shape, with wear and tear obvious, encountering scratches, speckling, chemical blotches, and a few untouched stretches of the print (when lights are shut off), which present significant damage. "The Fifth Floor" isn't sharp or clean by any means, but for this type of grungy entertainment, decay almost adds to the viewing experience, replicating a drive-in viewing.

The Fifth Floor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also struggles with age, presenting dialogue exchanges that remain thin, almost shrill. Clarity isn't problematic, but vocal weight isn't there. Scoring is less memorable, with some light synth support that's not defined in full. Soundtrack cuts offer more heft, but not definition. Volume fluctuates with reel changes. Hiss and pops are encountered throughout.

The Fifth Floor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (8:27, HD) with Bo Hopkins is as casual as can be, catching up with the actor at a restaurant, with a bowl blocking a third of the frame. As he dives into his breakfast, Hopkins discusses the making of "The Fifth Floor," which was an uncomfortable shoot, working nights inside a V.A. hospital. There's some talk of character, but Hopkins is in the mood to discuss his co-stars, recalling professionalism and past collaborations. Some career overview is supplied, with the interviewee quickly recounting labor for "Tentacles," "The Nickel Ride," and his time with Burt Reynolds on "White Lightning" and "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing."

• T.V. Spots (1:05, SD) offer two commercials for "The Fifth Floor."

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

The Fifth Floor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Fifth Floor" is meant to be sleazy escapism with a few foot pursuits and betrayals to liven up the viewing experience. It's also an unexpectedly sad movie, with Melanie a tragic figure of anguish, sucking all the enjoyment out of the feature. "The Fifth Floor" never quite understands what type of story it wants to tell, instead offering a tonally inconsistent ride of mental health issues and panicky plans of escape. Despite commitment from the actors, there's very little narrative focus here to support the viewing experience.