Romance Cult Classic

A down-and-out scientist turned motel voyeur stumbles into murder and underworld intrigue.

BLINDSIDE

First, he was paid to watch her. Now, he'd pay any price to have her.

1987 · 1h 38m · R · Romance / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Harvey Keitel plays Penfield Gruber, a once great scientist, reduced to managing a sleazy hotel. Gruber monitors the daily comings and goings of his tenants, mainly for his own interest, until underworld figures ask him to spy on a suspected double-crosser. While watching the man, Gruber overhears a murder plot.

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Quick Answer

What is Blindside about?

Blindside is a 1987 Canadian romance thriller directed by Paul Lynch about a disgraced scientist managing a sleazy motel, whose surveillance habits entangle him in a world of murder and drug trafficking.

Programmer's Pick

Harvey Keitel in a sleazy Canadian motel, peeping with purpose—Blindside is a voyeur’s noir with Canuxploitation edge. If your idea of romance involves video surveillance and murder-for-hire, you’ll feel right at home in Gruber’s grimy corridors.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Blindside brings a distinctly Canadian flavor to the sleazy-thriller subgenre, following the downward spiral of Penfield Gruber—a former scientist now running a disreputable motel. Harboring a voyeuristic streak, Gruber can't resist spying on his eclectic guests through video surveillance, which seems harmless enough until he is approached by underworld criminals. Tasked with monitoring a suspected double-crosser, Gruber's curiosity leads him to overhear a murder plot, drawing him into a murky web of drug deals, infidelity, and espionage. With Harvey Keitel lending credibility to the lead role, Blindside blends romance and suspense with a dose of Canuxploitation grit, all set against the backdrop of a bugged, neon-lit motel.

Details & Specs

Director: Paul Lynch
Writer: Richard Beattie
Release: 1987
Runtime: 1h 38m
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Thriller
Also Known As: Penthouse North (original title)

Cast & Crew

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Director: Paul Lynch Writer: Richard Beattie

Harvey Keitel Penfield Gruber

Lori Hallier Julie

Lolita Davidovich Adele

Michael Rudder Freelong CS Cordelia Strube Dolman DC Durango Coy Borden

Alan Fawcett Gilchrist

James Kidnie Sandy

Kenneth McGregor Collinson

Sam Malkin Peters

Sugith Varughese Two Tone FM Frenchie McFariane Elvis Impersonator CW Cheryl Wilson Janine RR Robert Ramsay Collins Killer #1 LK Lawrence King-Phillips Killer #2

Paul Bradley Saxman

Clark Johnson Moriarty

Steve Mousseau Policeman #2

Explore More

Independent Film Female Nudity Murder One Word Title Scientist Blonde Drugs Hotel Infidelity Double Cross Espionage Canuxploitation Cadillac Topless Dancer Landlord Drug Deal

Why Cult

Harvey Keitel Voyeur

Watch Keitel play a fallen scientist whose surveillance obsession drags him into a tangle of crime and betrayal.

Canuxploitation Vibe

A distinctly Canadian take on the thriller, blending sleaze, drugs, and underworld dealings in a rundown motel.

Sleazy Motel Surveillance

Bugged rooms, hidden cameras, and a landlord who can't mind his own business—voyeurism is the order of the day.

Double-Cross Murder Plot

Espionage, infidelity, and a murder-for-hire twist keep the stakes high behind every closed door.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Gruber's surveillance of guests

Threat

Underworld murder plot

Effect

Draws Gruber into drug-traffic intrigue and danger

Setting

Sleazy Canadian motel

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Blindside? +

Blindside was directed by Paul Lynch.

How long is Blindside? +

Blindside has a runtime of 98 minutes.

What genre is Blindside? +

Blindside is a romance thriller.

Where can I watch Blindside? +

Blindside is available to stream on SassyFlix.

How does Penfield Gruber get involved in underworld crime? +

After being asked by criminals to spy on a suspected double-crosser in his motel, Gruber overhears a murder plot and becomes entangled in their criminal schemes.