Secret Window [M]

Mort Rainey is a successful author who is struggling with a case of writer’s block and is also in the middle of a painful divorce. His already-complicated world is thrust head first in chaos when a sinister stranger named John Shooter arrives on Mort’s doorstep and accuses him of plagiarism. Unwilling to cooperate, Mort then becomes trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with Shooter, who threatens that he will have revenge. 

What a great flick! Secret Window is a perfect thriller! It’s a classic example of plot misdirection, sinister deaths, and the power of the mental state. It’s absolutely fantastic! 

Mort Rainey is a successful author who is struggling with a case of writer’s block and is also in the middle of a painful divorce. His already-complicated world is thrust head first into complete chaos when a sinister stranger named John Shooter arrives on Mort’s doorstep and accuses him of plagiarism. Unwilling to cooperate with this psycho, Mort then becomes trapped in deadly game of cat and mouse, as Shooter threatens revenge and blocks Mort’s attempts to prove his innocence every step of the way. 

I can see this as the type of film that Hitchcock would be making in today’s society. Based on the story Secret Window, Secret Garden by Stephen King, it’s a wonderful spine-tingling movie that kept you on edge from start to finish. 

Opening with a climactic confrontation that sets the sinister events in motion, the film is a classic example of plot misdirection, as the audience is shown the events from the perspective of Mort, a perspective that is completely shattered towards the end of the film. 

All the suspense and anxiety of the movie is achieved through the long, slow camera movements and the haunting soundtrack, done by Phillip Glass, which consists of low and sinister sounding instruments. The marriage of the two literally sends shivers down the spine. 

Johnny Depp stars as Mort Rainey and he was absolutely brilliant! I think what was most great about his performance was that he also brought a little bit of comedy to play against the suspense and sinisterness of the film. One of my favourite scenes is where Mort is convinced that Shooter is in his house and, after a long and stressful search through the house, he corners and attacks him in the bathroom, only to realise that he’s scaring himself and has smashed the mirror. The scene is backed by low, suspenseful music and then silence, which is suddenly broken by Mort saying “I killed the mirror… and my shower door.” That little humorous line allowed me to breathe after holding my breath for the duration of the scene. Along with the occasional bit of humour, Johnny delivered a performance that was passive, paranoid, aggressive, funny, and occasionally psycho. He was absolutely brilliant! 

Starring Maria Bello, John Turturro, Timothy Hutton, Charles S. Dutton, Len Cariou, and Joan Heney, Secret Window was a fantastic, spine-tingling movie that was filled with murder, arson, plagiarism, sinister characters, and schizophrenia. I was hooked from start to finish!