When I first heard that this film was in production, I was frankly very surprised. I have read all of Steve King's work, and "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was never something I felt would make an easy film adaptation. I was even more surprised to hear that Johnny Depp - an actor who rarely mis-steps - was signed for the lead. Now, add both Depp and John Turturro doing deep-south accents, and I'm afraid, you've just disappeared into a mirror through which I could never pass. Yet, here it is. And somehow, they all pull it off. Secret Window is a fairly well made and entertaining shocker, with some amazingly creepy and bizarre performances by Depp and Turturro, and some good eerie camera work and sound. That said, I will cut right to the chase - THIS IS NOT A FEEL-GOOD FILM - so don't come to it looking for straightforward fun, comedy or a happy-go-lucky story. This is hardcore Stephen King, and does not necessarily let anybody off the hook. As with many of the film adaptations of Steve King, this is a film best seen AFTER you read the original work. This film, like so many others, lacks the depth, detail and richness of King's writing, but does relate the story particularly well, and occasionally achieves a literary feel.
This film, like the original story, is a disturbing mystery dealing with the connection between unconscious thought and premeditated murder.
Depp's Mort Rainey is an odd-ball writer undergoing a painful divorce from a wife who he found cheating. He has locked himself away in their vacation cabin deep in the woods, taking long naps, smoking, and apparently experiencing writer's block. Soon enough, "Shooter" (Turturro), an obsessive sociopath fan shows up. Mr. Shooter claims that Rainey stole one of his stories, and demands that he re-publish it with Shooter's name and that he "fix the ending." In Shooter's version of the story, the protagonist kills his wife and buries her in her 'secret garden, which can be seen from the 'secret window' of their house. Mr Shooter, it seems, will go to any length to ensure that his will is carried out, and is particularly adept at connecting Mr Rainey, but not himself, to all of his dirty little deeds.
Depp plays the down and out writer well, appearing alternatingly drunk, depressed, anxious, confused, desperate and angry. Depp deserves credit for handling this very difficult role decently, however, this is not his usual flawless performance. Turturro is especially creepy as the monotone, murderous, and obsessive Mr Shooter. These two succeed in transforming every scene in which either of them appear, with the help of some clever directing and camera work, into something surreal and memorable. One of the most convincing aspects of this film is the way it shifts from the otherworldly weirdness of these two to the very ordinary lives of all of the other characters. The plot becomes somewhat transparent about 2/3rds of the way through the film, but, as with some of King's more predictable works, it's not what happens but how it happens that is interesting in the end.
If I remember the original story correctly, the 'secret window' becomes something of a metaphor for the later action of the story. This is not really explored in the film, and any non-King fan in the audience might end up wondering what the title of the film really means.
Bottom-line: Recommended for Stephen King fans, mildly recommended for non-King folks.
This film, like the original story, is a disturbing mystery dealing with the connection between unconscious thought and premeditated murder.
Depp's Mort Rainey is an odd-ball writer undergoing a painful divorce from a wife who he found cheating. He has locked himself away in their vacation cabin deep in the woods, taking long naps, smoking, and apparently experiencing writer's block. Soon enough, "Shooter" (Turturro), an obsessive sociopath fan shows up. Mr. Shooter claims that Rainey stole one of his stories, and demands that he re-publish it with Shooter's name and that he "fix the ending." In Shooter's version of the story, the protagonist kills his wife and buries her in her 'secret garden, which can be seen from the 'secret window' of their house. Mr Shooter, it seems, will go to any length to ensure that his will is carried out, and is particularly adept at connecting Mr Rainey, but not himself, to all of his dirty little deeds.
Depp plays the down and out writer well, appearing alternatingly drunk, depressed, anxious, confused, desperate and angry. Depp deserves credit for handling this very difficult role decently, however, this is not his usual flawless performance. Turturro is especially creepy as the monotone, murderous, and obsessive Mr Shooter. These two succeed in transforming every scene in which either of them appear, with the help of some clever directing and camera work, into something surreal and memorable. One of the most convincing aspects of this film is the way it shifts from the otherworldly weirdness of these two to the very ordinary lives of all of the other characters. The plot becomes somewhat transparent about 2/3rds of the way through the film, but, as with some of King's more predictable works, it's not what happens but how it happens that is interesting in the end.
If I remember the original story correctly, the 'secret window' becomes something of a metaphor for the later action of the story. This is not really explored in the film, and any non-King fan in the audience might end up wondering what the title of the film really means.
Bottom-line: Recommended for Stephen King fans, mildly recommended for non-King folks.