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Girl on the Third Floor (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Girl on the Third Floor (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 93 min · English
Echo score 56
JustWatch #16,190
Directed by
Travis Stevens
Starring
Anish Jethmalani, Bishop Stevens, C.M. Punk, Elissa Dowling, Karen Woditsch, Marshall Bean

A man's passion for home renovation takes a terrifying turn when he begins restoring a Victorian house. As unexpected problems arise—bursting pipes, decaying walls, and a strange, unsettling slime—he uncovers a disturbing history connected to the house and his own personal struggles. He must fight to maintain his sanity and protect his marriage while confronting the dark secrets hidden within the home.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Girl on the Third Floor
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Girl on the Third Floor (2019)

Where can you watch Girl on the Third Floor? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Shudder and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Girl on the Third Floor Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Girl on the Third Floor (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Don Koch

    Don Koch is a reformed criminal who attempts to atone for his past mistakes through the renovation of a house. His internal conflicts between guilt and desire lead him down a dark path, ultimately resulting in tragic consequences. Throughout the film, Don embodies the struggle for redemption while battling the malevolent forces entwined with the house's history.

    • 🏗️ Renovator
    • 😔 Guilt
    • 💔 Redemption
  • Liz Koch

    played by Trieste Kelly Dunn

    Liz Koch is Don's pregnant wife, who senses the growing danger surrounding their new home. Her character evolves from a supportive partner to a determined woman confronting the horrors of the house's past. Liz's journey embodies strength and resilience, as she ultimately takes charge of her destiny and the well-being of her family.

    • 🤰 Motherhood
    • 🔍 Curiosity
    • 🌪️ Resilience
  • Sarah Yates

    played by Sarah Brooks

    Sarah Yates is a mysterious neighbor whose intentions blur the line between temptation and malevolence. Her allure initially captivates Don, but her dark connections to the house's haunting history reveal a more sinister role. Throughout the film, Sarah symbolizes the dangers of succumbing to one's darker instincts and the facade of charm hiding malicious intent.

    • 😈 Manipulator
    • 🌫️ Alluring
    • 👁️ Malevolence
  • Milo Stone

    played by Travis Delgado

    Milo Stone is a former colleague of Don who unwittingly becomes entangled in the house's chaos. His curiosity leads him on a dark path where he discovers disturbing truths that ultimately seal his fate. Milo's character illustrates the dangers of complacency and the unforeseen repercussions of exploring the past.

    • 👷‍♂️ Colleague
    • 🔍 Inquisitive
    • 🚫 Danger
  • Ellie Mueller

    played by Karen Woditsch

    Ellie Mueller serves as a guiding figure for Don, representing hope and insight amidst the looming darkness. Her pastoral role provides a moral compass as she warns Don of the house's corrupting influence. Ellie symbolizes the importance of recognizing and addressing past traumas to forge a brighter future.

    • 🙏 Guidance
    • 😇 Hope
    • 📖 Wisdom

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:14

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Setting

Where and When Does Girl on the Third Floor Take Place?

The setting of Girl on the Third Floor (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1909

The movie dives into a troubled past as it explores events from the year 1909, revealing the house's sinister history. It was a time when the shadows of societal norms cloaked the truth, leading to exploitation and tragedy. This era resonates through the film, highlighting the cyclical nature of trauma and the need to confront it.

Location

Ellington, Illinois

Ellington is a quaint town in Illinois that serves as the backdrop for this chilling story. Known for its serene neighborhoods, the setting juxtaposes the horror that unfolds within an old house. This house, with its dark history and haunting secrets, becomes a character in its own right, deeply affecting the lives of its inhabitants.

  • 🏠 House
  • 🌳 Neighborhood

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:14

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3 major themes

Girl on the Third Floor Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Girl on the Third Floor (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Secrets

    Secrets play a pivotal role in 'Girl on the Third Floor,' influencing the characters' fates in profound ways. As Don uncovers the house's tangled past, hidden truths emerge, shape-shifting reality. The theme emphasizes how unresolved secrets can haunt both the living and the dead, carrying consequences across time.

  • Haunting

    The theme of haunting permeates the narrative, manifesting through both supernatural and psychological elements. The house embodies the spirits of its dark history, affecting Don and Liz's relationship. This haunting extends beyond the physical realm, intertwining personal trauma with the eerie legacy of the residence.

  • Isolation

    Isolation is a crucial theme as characters grapple with their personal demons amidst a menacing environment. Don's struggles with guilt and his isolation from Liz deepen the chasm between them. Liz's eventual journey of empowerment amid the house's oppressive nature showcases the battle against both external and internal forces.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:14

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Character & theme questions

Girl on the Third Floor Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Girl on the Third Floor (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Girl on the Third Floor set?

The movie takes place in Ellington, Illinois, a quaint suburban town known for its serene neighborhoods. This peaceful setting creates a stark contrast with the horrors that unfold inside the old Victorian house, emphasizing how evil can hide beneath a normal exterior.

  • ellington illinois
  • setting
  • location
  • victorian house
  • suburb
Q2

What time period does the movie explore?

While the main story is set in the present, the film explores events from 1909 through flashbacks and revelations about the house's dark history. This historical period was marked by societal norms that cloaked exploitation and tragedy, and the film uses this era to highlight the cyclical nature of trauma.

  • 1909
  • time period
  • flashbacks
  • historical
  • past
Q3

What role does the house play in the story?

The Victorian house serves as more than just a setting, it becomes a central character in the film. With its dark history and haunting secrets, the house actively influences the lives of its inhabitants, embodying the spirits of its tragic past and affecting Don and Liz's relationship throughout the story.

  • victorian house
  • haunted house
  • setting
  • home renovation
Q4

What does the movie say about secrets?

Secrets are a pivotal theme in Girl on the Third Floor, influencing characters' fates in profound ways. As Don uncovers the house's tangled past, hidden truths emerge and reshape reality. The film emphasizes how unresolved secrets can haunt both the living and the dead, carrying destructive consequences across generations.

  • secrets
  • hidden truths
  • past
  • haunting
  • revelation
Q5

How does the movie handle the theme of haunting?

The haunting theme manifests through both supernatural and psychological elements. The house embodies the spirits of its dark history, affecting Don and Liz's relationship. This haunting extends beyond the physical realm, intertwining personal trauma with the eerie legacy of the residence.

  • haunting
  • supernatural
  • psychological
  • house spirits
  • trauma
Q6

What role does isolation play in the film?

Isolation emerges as characters grapple with their personal demons amid a menacing environment. Don's struggles with guilt create deep isolation from Liz, widening the chasm between them. Liz's journey showcases empowerment against the house's oppressive nature, illustrating the battle against both external and internal forces.

  • isolation
  • guilt
  • personal demons
  • relationship
  • psychology
Q7

Who is Don Koch and what drives him?

Don Koch is a reformed criminal attempting to atone for his past mistakes through renovating the old house. His internal conflicts between guilt and desire lead him down a dark path. Don embodies the struggle for redemption while battling the malevolent forces tied to the house's history.

  • don koch
  • protagonist
  • redemption
  • guilt
  • criminal past
Q8

What is Liz Koch's role in the story?

Liz Koch is Don's pregnant wife who senses the growing danger surrounding their new home. Her character evolves from a supportive partner to a determined woman confronting the house's horrors. Liz embodies strength and resilience, ultimately taking charge of her family's destiny.

  • liz koch
  • wife
  • pregnancy
  • strength
  • resilience
Q9

Who is Sarah Yates and what does she represent?

Sarah Yates is a mysterious neighbor whose intentions blur the line between temptation and malevolence. Her allure initially captivates Don, but her dark connections to the house's history reveal a sinister role. She symbolizes the dangers of succumbing to darker instincts and charm hiding malicious intent.

  • sarah yates
  • neighbor
  • temptation
  • deception
  • villain
Q10

What role does Ellie Mueller play?

Ellie Mueller serves as a guiding figure for Don, representing hope and insight amidst the darkness. Her pastoral role provides a moral compass as she warns Don of the house's corrupting influence. She symbolizes the importance of recognizing and addressing past traumas to forge a brighter future.

  • ellie mueller
  • mentor
  • hope
  • moral compass
  • guidance
Q11

Why is the setting contrast important?

The film's setting of a quiet, serene Illinois town serves as deliberate contrast to the horror inside the Victorian house. This juxtaposition emphasizes how evil can exist hidden within normal, peaceful communities, and how the past can corrupt even the most wholesome environments.

  • contrast
  • suburban
  • evil
  • community
  • hidden horror
Q12

What does the movie suggest about cycles of trauma?

Girl on the Third Floor explores how trauma can repeat across generations. The 1909 historical events and their reveal suggest that ignoring or suppressing painful truths creates cycles that continue to affect future generations. The film implies these cycles must be confronted directly to break their hold.

  • cycles
  • trauma
  • generational
  • past
  • breaking cycles

Movie threads

More Movies Like Girl on the Third Floor, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Girl on the Third Floor tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Haunted renovation horror movies like Girl on the Third Floor

Houses where the very walls hold dark secrets and malevolent histories. If you liked the dread of Girl on the Third Floor, discover more movies where characters face supernatural terror while renovating a home. These films use the familiar setting of a house to create intense, claustrophobic horror, blending psychological tension with ghostly hauntings.

  • claustrophobic
  • dread-filled
  • unsettling
  • sinister
  • anxious
  • oppressive
  • Tone: dark, sinister
  • Pacing: variable, slow burn to chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist, often seeking a fresh start, who takes on a renovation project that quickly unravels. As they peel back layers of the house, they uncover a dark history that mirrors or exploits their personal failings. The house becomes an antagonist, using their weaknesses to torment them physically and psychologically.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared premise of a haunted renovation, creating a unique blend of domestic drama and supernatural horror. They share a focus on a contained setting, a slow-building dread that escalates into high-intensity terror, and themes of confronting a corrupt past.

Psychological haunted house movies like Girl on the Third Floor

Stories where supernatural terror preys on personal guilt and fragility. For viewers who enjoyed the psychological torment in Girl on the Third Floor, this list features similar movies where hauntings are personalized. These stories explore how ghosts and malevolent forces exploit human frailty, creating a deeply unsettling and character-driven horror experience.

  • psychological
  • oppressive
  • dread-filled
  • anxious
  • melancholic
  • sinister
  • Tone: dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: variable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a flawed protagonist entering a space that acts as a crucible for their unresolved issues. The haunting is not generic; it is intimately tied to their past actions or current struggles, using temptation and psychological torment as its primary weapons. The conflict is as much about surviving the supernatural as it is about overcoming one's own demons.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their focus on a symbiotic relationship between a character's psychology and a supernatural threat. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a pervasive sense of dread that comes from the horror being a direct reflection of internal conflict.

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Movies Like Girl on the Third Floor

Similar movies to Girl on the Third Floor: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Girl on the Third Floor (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Girl on the Third Floor in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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