If someone's looking for a film that provides a new twist on the haunted house trope, then look no further than Girl On The Third Floor. The film follows Don Koch, a man with an unsavory past, as he begins renovations on a house so that he and his pregnant wife, Sarah, can properly start over. However, it becomes very clear that the house is anything but ordinary.

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The film addresses many themes such as the consequences of one's actions, gender, and how a haunted house's past can bring out a person's real nature. Pro wrestler, Phil Brooks' (aka CM Punk) leads the film in his first traditional acting role as a man who has to come to terms with the fact that his unsavory personality isn't without consequences.

Based On An Actual Haunted House

Girl On The Third Floor

The house in the film is haunted... and so was the actual filming location. According to producer Travis Stevens, they had found a house in the suburbs of Chicago that was reported to be haunted. It had, reportedly, been a bordello and it matched perfectly with the story of "a house that makes [a man] pay for that weakness."

Stevens even admits that the house felt haunted. He said that "My experience walking in the house was one of the most dreadful feeling in my chest."

House Mid-Renovation While Filming

Girl On The Third Floor

Stevens had moved his production company, Queensbury Pictures, into the house in question to renovate it and flip it. They began renovations on the house but, during the filming process, the renovations were purposefully stopped.

Not only did this work in the world of the story (as Don's house is in mid-renovation), but it allowed for the house's urban legend status to add to the mood of the film.

The Theme Of Choice Influencing Fate

Girl On The Third Floor

In a traditional haunted house narrative, the house in question holds the spirits and history of its previous owners, and that is what corrupts the unfortunate occupants. However, in this film, the house reveals the true nature of the occupants.

About this theme, Stevens comments that "At any given moment, you’re making decisions. And there’s going to be a consequence for those decisions." This overturning of a traditional trope is one of the many things that makes Girl On The Third Floor unique.

CM Punk's Facial Expressions

Girl On The Third Floor

It becomes very clear, as the film goes on, that Don is not the best person. In fact, calling him a "douche" isn't missing the mark too much. And CM Punk does a great job expressing that, as well as his growing terror towards the house.

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Since many of the shots are from the POV of the walls, the viewers see his many facial expressions, including confusion, anger, and self-righteousness. Don is simultaneously a sympathetic and non-sympathetic character, and CM Punk's facial expressions make that possible.

A Commentary On Gender

Girl On The Third Floor

There are many underlying themes and messages in the film. The haunted house, which used to be a brothel, holds the spirits of many women who suffered abuse during their time there. And Phil, who is unfaithful to his pregnant wife, falls victim to their rage.

Don's wife's refusal to accept his apology for his affair is actually the reason that she survives. According to The Nerdist, "It’s an allegory for crappy men thinking with their id at the expense of women in their lives".

CM Punk Is Perfectly Cast

Girl On The Third Floor

There is a large history of traditionally non-actors getting film leads to add an acting career to their resume, including Bill Goldberg in Santa's Slay. Depending on the film, this can have mixed results. In the case of Girl On The Third Floor, CM Punk did an amazing job as the lead in the film.

Producer Greg Newman praised Punk's performance, saying in Deadline that "Phil Brooks has proven his abilities as an actor outside of the ring and is a natural fit for the lead."

Appreciation For Second Takes

The newspaper clipping from Girl on the Third Floor

In his first career as a pro wrestler, second takes don't come in the job description. However, filming is quite the opposite. In an interview with Paste Magazine, when asked about the art of second takes, Punk is quoted as saying: "Oh my God, it was like a luxury [...] it was great to be able to shoot something and be like “oh, I can do that again?"

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Punk was also very open to doing takes multiple times and letting Travis Stevens "mold" his performance so that it fit the directorial vision.

CM Punk Credited With Real Name

Phil Brooks CM Punk Girl on the Third Floor

Throughout his wrestling career, Punk went by his stage name, CM Punk. However, when it came to being credited in the film, he decided to go with his real name, Phil Brooks. He mentioned in Paste that "I do very much feel like that CM Punk is a character."

Punk clarified his decision by explaining that he didn't want to be his character playing another character. He adds that "This is Phil playing Don, so I wanted to be Phil."

One Of The Actors Practices Magic

Girl On The Third Floor

Actors can be very multifaceted human beings that have many other hobbies and projects outside of traditional acting. In the case of Tonya Kay, who plays The Nymph in the film, not only is she an actress, she's a burlesque performer, dancer, and practitioner of Choate (or Chaos Magick).

She has been described as a cross between "the super hip rock and roll blonde Carol Burnett and her own character as the wild circus performer" Having such a multi-talented human being in their cast definitely added to the film's charms.

CM Punk Enjoyed Getting Gory

Phil Brooks CM Punk Girl on the Third Floor Close Up

For anyone who's seen the film, one of its many traits is its gore factor and the crazy special effects (involving thick white substances bursting from pipes). And CM Punk, despite it being his first-ever traditional acting role, loved the experience.

About his experience with the film's gore, Punk mentions that "it just brings out that childlike joy. [...] That’s what we did for a month and it was like, ‘This is the best!’” Punk has mentioned being a lifelong horror fan, so his enjoyment is more than justified.

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