Plot: What’s it about?
Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) is a famous mystery writer, a best seller who crafts some of the best genre novels out there. But in his most intense book, he never dealt with the kind of tension and suspense he soon is to face. This is not to be in his next novel however, instead the danger and mystery will be in his own life. He is just emerged from a bitter divorce with his wife Amy (Maria Bello), a split which was most cruel. Mort walked in on his wife as she was being pounded by another man, an event which sent him into exile. The divorce has now finalized, but Mort’s life hasn’t returned to normal, not even close. While his wife enjoys the city estate they once shared, Mort has holed up in the rural cottage, which has seen better days. As if his life weren’t in enough chaos, he is soon visited by an unusual stranger. The man is John Shooter (John Turturro), a man who claims that Rainey stole his work for his one of his novels. Of course, Mort knows that wasn’t the case and he promises to produce the original, which predates Shooter’s version. But when time runs out, Shooter begins to make some vicious threats against Rainey. Unless he is given some retribution, he is set to do some serious damage to Rainey’s life. Can Mort somehow sort out this situation and in the process, perhaps get his life back on track?
The work of Stephen King hasn’t translated well into feature films, but could a skilled cast and crew make Secret Window an exception? David Koepp, who directed Stir of Echoes and wrote the screenplays for such blockbusters as Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, and Panic Room would have the reigns as director, as well as penning the screenplay. Koepp has a knack for the darker side, so he was a wise choice for Secret Window. He is able to elevate the film above a standard thriller, with a lot of stylish touches. The realm of traditional logic is ignored in favor of surreal moments and rather insane turns, which all work quite well. The level of suspense remains high and tensions is effective, so the thriller angle works like a charm. I do think this movie could have been better, as some extra work could have enhanced the impact. The tone is dark, but could have been even darker, adding more horror to the thriller slate. This would have made for more a more intense atmosphere, as well as the danger of hideous violence. The film does wander into the horror realm at times, but remains planted in the thriller genre most of the time. Johnny Depp (From Hell, Sleepy Hollow) gives a decent performance, but not one that is unforgettable. I found Secret Window to be better than expected, so if you’re interested, a rental is recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Secret Window is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a very solid image, with only a shade of grain at times to complain about. The grain has little effect on the other elements however, which is good news of course. The colors usually remain with a normal scope, but at times, wander into rich, vivid hues. But the colors never smear, even when they’re bursting with vibrance, while flesh tones look normal and warm also. The contrast is even handed, but often looks too dark, due to the unique lighting schemes used. But I think this transfer replicates the intended visuals very well, which is all I can ask in this case.
Audio: How does it sound?
The eerie atmosphere found here wouldn’t be as effective without some creepy audio, which we have here in spades, thanks to a great Dolby Digital 5.1 option. I love the way the woods sound here, but that’s just one example of the superb audio found in this soundtrack. The surrounds drive home the tense, spooky texture of the material with skill, thanks to some not only good powerful presence, but superb use of the subtle touches. The music comes through well also, while dialogue is clean and crisp throughout. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
David Koepp provides an audio commentary track, one which proves to be candid and well worth a listen. He discusses the adaptation process and what changes were made, then rattles off some interesting anecdotes. A solid track in all respects, one that covers a lot of ground in enjoyable fashion. This disc also includes three behind the scenes featurettes, some deleted scenes, animated storyboards, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
