DIRECTED BY: JOE WRIGHT
STARRING: AMY ADAMS, GARY OLDMAN, & JULIANNE MOORE
RATED R FOR VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE
LENGTH: 100 MINUTES
Ever since David Fincher's adaptation of Gone Girl took the world by storm, Hollywood has been cranking out numerous adaptations of similar female-led mystery novels to varying levels of success. Films like The Girl On The Train failed to live up to their potential, while movies like A Simple Favor gave the genre a darkly comedic spin. The Woman In The Window is based off the best-selling novel by A.J. Finn whose own personal life and controversies are arguably more interesting than the book itself. Throw in an acclaimed director like Joe Wright on board to helm as well as Pulitzer Price winning playwright Tracy Letts penning the script and an all star cast. To top that off the film was initially set to release in theaters in October 2019 before it was pushed back numerous times and ultimately led to the Disney-owned 20th Century Studios to sell it off to Netflix. The film's seemed to have two fates: it'd either be a breakout hit or a total flop.
The Woman In The Window follows child psychologist and agoraphobe Anna Fox (Amy Adams) who rarely sets foot outside of her home and finds entertainment in observing her neighbors through a camera lens. When new neighbors move in across the street, Anna becomes curious and soon stumbles upon something so shocking and vile, that she realizes she needs to break out of her comfort zone and report the heinous event. The problem is, nobody believes her and she soon finds out that she may be in danger herself.
This film is an absolute mess, while the novel it's based on is already far from perfect; there's been plenty of examples of adaptations improving upon faulty source material. Wright attempts to give the film a more gothic flair and the film itself isn't necessarily boring or even dull, but a film can be entertaining but that still won't make it good. The ambition is clearly there and there are clear signs of Wright trying to make the best out of what he was given. The Hitchcockian suspense and intrigue that the film is going for just clearly isn't there.
Adams has proven again and again that despite the overall quality of a movie, she can always deliver a great performance. That's no exception with her work here and she is trying her best to rise above the material. Wyatt Russell, who recently was a highlight in Falcon and the Winter Soldier also turns in some decent work and is likely the only actor outside of Adams that doesn't feel wasted. The rest of the cast, which ranges from Oscar winners like Gary Oldman and Julianne Moore as well as other popular talents such as Anthony Mackie, Brian Tyree Henry, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, all feel criminally underused.
It's the film's third act reveal where the film stumbles the most, while the first two acts are nothing special it's still watchable enough. Unfortunately once there's a certain reveal the film becomes so nonsensical and corny that ultimately leaves a poor taste in your mouth. Not to mention everything seems extremely rushed.
The Woman In The Window isn't the worst thing you'll see all year, but it's certainly far from the best. It's a messy attempt to recapture the era of Hitchcock-fronted thrillers whilst forgetting everything that made those films so special.
2/5 Stars
The Woman in the Window is now available to stream on Netflix.