Skip to main content
Romance Cult Classic

Harvey Keitel checks in as a voyeuristic motel manager tangled in murder and drug intrigue.

BLINDSIDE

1987 · 01:38:00 · R · Romance / Thriller

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.

5,471 FilmsIn The Vault
Vault UpdatedDaily
Curated ByHumans
No AlgorithmBullsh*t
Quick Answer
What is Blindside about?

Blindside is a 1987 romance thriller film directed by Paul Lynch about a former surveillance expert who, after buying a motel, becomes embroiled in murder and drug trafficking when he can't resist spying on his guests.

Synopsis

The sublimely derivative Blindside stirs up a modicum of tension. The principal character is a onetime surveillance expert, who after purchasing a motel can't resist the temptation of spying on his guests. No, there's no shower stabbing here, but there isa brutal murder.

Before long, our peeping-tom protagonist is up to his chin in drug-traffic intrigue. As the voyeuristic hero, Harvey Keitel is the most recognizable performer in Blindside; with the exception of the always welcome Lolita Davidovich, the rest of the cast is unremarkable. Filmed in 1986, Blindside was released in the US in 1988. 
Details & Specs
Director
Paul Lynch
Writer
Richard Beattie
Release
1987
Runtime
1h 38m
Also Known As
Penthouse North (original title)

Why Cult

Keitel's Voyeur Turn

Harvey Keitel stars as a disgraced scientist-turned-motel manager who can't resist spying on his guests, giving the film its uneasy edge.

Sleazy Motel Setting

The action unfolds in a rundown motel, providing the perfect backdrop for a story steeped in surveillance and underworld dealings.

Murder and Drug Intrigue

What starts as routine spying quickly escalates into a web of murder plots and drug trafficking, upping the stakes for our dubious hero.

Elvis Impersonator Cameo

For those who appreciate oddball supporting roles, keep an eye out for Frenchie McFariane as a motel-bound Elvis impersonator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blindside about? +

Blindside follows Penfield Gruber, a former surveillance expert who, after buying a motel, becomes involved in murder and drug trafficking when he spies on his guests.

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.