Professional wrestling is enjoying a resurgence, partly thanks to CM Punk’s return to WWE. Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, famously left WWE in 2014 but made a surprising return to the wrestling world with AEW in 2021. After a two-year stint there, he made headlines again by rejoining WWE, where he’s become a fan favourite, known especially for his exceptional promo skills.
In 2019, during a hiatus from wrestling, Punk ventured into acting with ‘Girl on the Third Floor’, directed by Travis Stevens in his feature film debut. The film, a haunted house horror story, showcases Punk’s acting chops and offers a blend of eerie practical effects and unsettling themes. The movie follows Don Koch (played by Punk), an ex-con who buys a rundown house to fix up for his pregnant wife. Instead of facing typical horror villains, Don encounters supernatural elements, including a house with a grim past and a mysterious woman who leads him into a dark spiral.
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The haunted house in ‘Girl on the Third Floor’ adds an extra layer of authenticity to the film, as it was shot in a real house with a tragic history. Stevens, who bought the abandoned property as an investment, decided to shoot the film there after learning about its past. The house, formerly a bordello, was the site of a murder, which added depth to the film’s exploration of trauma and horror.
While ‘Girl on the Third Floor’ incorporates familiar horror tropes and references to classic films like ‘The Shining’, it stands out with its strong practical effects and its focus on themes of sexual assault, trauma, and the sins of men against women.
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Stevens acknowledged the film’s reliance on traditional haunted house formulas but expressed hope for more originality in future projects. Despite its genre conventions, the film is engaging and highlights Punk’s potential as an actor, suggesting that he could transition successfully from wrestling to leading roles in Hollywood.
–Farheen Ali