Written by Robert Scucci | Published
While I have no qualms about insulting my landlord for taking over 18 months to replace a window in my master bedroom, I still try to keep some perspective despite the pending maintenance request. I rent from a large group of property managers who are at the mercy of various contractors, at least that’s an excuse, or they’ll throw out a nasty email if I even think about sending a rent check after an hour. In the 1990s Pacific Heightson the other hand, the dynamic is a little different and more terrifying.
Here, a young couple buys a house and does everything possible to make sure their new tenants feel at home. That is, until the worst nightmare comes when they’re looking for a place to rent and destroys their lives in the process. With their hands tied by the legal system, and with no clear or easy way to fire him, they are stuck in a tenancy agreement they never wanted in the first place.
Batman’s New Secret Lair
The setup of Pacific Heights it’s easy and climbs to the point of no return quickly. When we’re first introduced to Drake Goodman (Matthew Modine) and his pregnant fiancee Patty Palmer (Melanie Griffith), they’re wide-eyed, green-tailed, and probably too green to take on a project like the one they saved all their money for. They bought a beautiful Victorian house Pacific Heights with plans to renovate it into a rental property.
They rent the first unit (portrayed by Mako and Nobu McCarthy) to the Watanabe family without a problem, and it’s a complete setup. They get a small salary from tenants who do not keep well and can continue with the maintenance of the whole house without worry. Their house flipping dream quickly becomes a disaster when Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton) shows up to rent another available unit, quickly raising more red flags than they can count.
Carter rejects the credit check but offers to pay six months’ rent by wire. While Drake and Patty go over the arrangements, Carter locks himself inside the apartment, changes the locks, and starts using power tools all night, scaring the Watanabes. Oh yeah, and he doesn’t pay them as promised, so he lives free.
Realizing they need legal action, they hire lawyer Stephanie MacDonald (Laurie Metcalf) to begin the eviction process, which proves more complicated than they thought. Drake’s attempts to force Carter out, such as cutting off the power and heat, only result in the police siding with Carter, who appears to be an innocent tenant and cruel landlords. Even more upset, Drake finally gets around to beating the squatter, which is what Carter had planned all along.
Now slapped with a legal foreclosure, Drake must find another place to live, further damaging his relationship with Patty. They’re already drowning in legal fees on top of their investment, and without Drake in the picture, Carter could finally get in on Patty.
Keaton at His Biggest Attack
What really sells Pacific Heights how Carter Hayes really shines, thanks to Michael Keaton. It’s clear from the start that he’s a fraud, but no one can put down his fate. He spends most of the movie going up and down, locking himself in the house, rocking the house, and staring at Patty whenever he thinks he’s alone. Drake, rightfully losing his grip, wants to protect what’s his, but Carter is anticipating his every move. Each attempt to remove him makes his presence, visible and invisible, aggressive and dangerous.
Doubts on Pacific Heights it comes from the knowledge that Drake and Patty are systematically disbanded with almost no defense against the squatter living inside their nest egg. As Carter’s motives slowly come into focus, we learn what he really wants, but by then it’s too late for a clean verdict.
As of this writing, Pacific Heights is streaming for free on Tubi.
