Director Joseph Ruben has some decent titles to his credit. The Stepfather, Sleeping with the Enemy, Money Train and The Good Son are all films that managed some modicum of notice for the filmmaker in the late 80s and 90s. Ruben’s career tapered off in 2004 when Julianne Moore-vehicle The Forgotten sort of shit the bed. The director came back on the scene in 2011 with Penthouse North, a thriller starring Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan in a game of angry cat versus blind mouse.
Except no one saw Penthouse North in 2011. Or 2012 for that matter. The movie’s been on the shelf this entire time, as Dimension Films still apparently contemplates what to do with it. These are performers I very much like working with a director I somewhat respect. But, as this new international trailer suggests, something has gone horribly wrong here. Like, Tommy Wiseau wrong. See for yourself: