Review of The Woman in the Window (2021) by Flipje — 26 May 2021

This is one of those films that has no idea what it wants to be. Right away, from the premise alone, most movie savvy types might say, hey, the plot reminds me of Hitchcock's Rear Window (shut in witnesses a murder in a neighbouring apartment, tries to get involved, etc.

..). Indeed, it does and agoraphobic Anna's movie viewing shows a brief glimpse of the classic. Otherwise, the cameo bit of Rear Window you witness in this mess is the only real redeeming instance. Otherwise, I spent a lot of time shaking my head.

Honestly... and the actors (Adams, Moore, Oldman), all normally superb in other films, find themselves paychequing their way through this one. They give B-movie performances, working with a muddle of a movie script (and based on a book.

... so I have to wonder). And the movie indeed feels B quality at times, then schlocky, then momentarily surreal. At one point I found myself wondering: are these people, namely Anna's neighbours, her tenant and the police all acting so strange and stilted because she has been a shut-in watching far too many old-fashioned movies and thus projecting onto the world around her? Could this explain the exaggerated moments of dialogue? Nope.

It was just the movie not figuring out itself. And when it does, and you get to the twist and beyond it and find out who the real murderer is, the climax and death scene for the bad guy, and you have to guffaw if not choke back your incredulity.

I wonder what happened to this movie. It feels like someone started a fire, tried to put it out with a few drops of water, added more oil, then, added gasoline then gave up and focussed a camera on the flaming pyre figuring, might as well get something out of it.

Avoid this one unless you like dumpster flambé.