The year of 2020 forced many of us to face the reality that we were going to be stuck inside our homes for a considerable amount of time. I’m sure at first many folks like myself considered this to be relaxing and wonderful. With theaters, shops, and experiences closed down, however, being stuck at home eventually becomes increasingly boring. What better way to celebrate 2021 than by watching a film about a woman who is stuck in her house, and out of boredom, allows her curiosity to get the best of her?

The Woman in the Window has been touted as a 2021 psychological thriller based on the 2018 hit novel. The film had been hyped for years, as Fox 2000 Pictures bought the screen rights for the novel in 2016, two years before it even hit shelves. Joe Wright was signed on to direct, and renowned playwright Tracy Letts would pen the screenplay. The film was originally set to release in October of 2019, but was delayed and sent back for massive edits after several horrendous test screenings. After Disney acquired Fox, Disney execs tried to find an acceptable cut of the film, but eventually chose to sell the distribution rights to Netflix. Now, after years of delay, The Woman in the Window has finally graced the home television screens of the masses, and I would wager it served as sufficient material to put many home viewers to sleep. 

The talented Amy Adams plays Anna Fox, a psychologist who lives alone in a large Manhattan apartment. Anna suffers from agoraphobia, which forces her to stay in her apartment and never venture outside for any reason. For months, she has been seeing a counselor, as well as taking pills which she combines with large amounts of alcohol. All day, every day, she peers out her windows, taking in the lives of her neighbors and passersby. She has a tenant, David, played by Wyatt Russell, living in her basement. He, like others, accommodates Anna’s condition, though at times he seems clearly irritated by its limitations. 

The plot picks up when a new family moves in across the street. The father, played by Gary Oldman, seems to be a busy and possibly abusive husband. The mother, played by Julianne Moore, comes across as a bit unhinged. The son, played by Fred Hechinger, eventually seeks a friendship with Anna, and it is not long before she suspects that he is being abused at home. While spying on the family one night, Anna witnesses a horrible crime and immediately calls the police. Her world, however, is turned upside down, when the police can’t find any evidence to support what Anna saw and they begin to question her sanity. 

As you can see, the film itself is packed to the brim with a gifted cast. On their own, each of these actors could easily carry a film to fruition. Somehow, however, they all came across as lacking in this film. Before I knew about the production hell that this film went through, I could have easily guessed that The Woman in the Window had been through immense edits, as the film just flies by with an uneasy pace. Outside of Amy Adams, most of the other big names of the cast barely have any screen time, which again leads me to think that much of the film was cut. I’m not saying a director’s cut is warranted, because apparently those original test screening audiences didn’t care for it. To my knowledge, the book did fairly well when it was initially released. While I haven’t read it, I have been told that the book contained a lot of meat that was left on the cinematic cutting floor - meat that could have fleshed out the film adaptation quite a bit. 

I’m not sure how much the book relied on references to the thriller Rear Window, but the film certainly bashed you over the head with “winks” and “nods’ to the 1954 Hitchcock classic. In fact, in the opening scenes of the film, half of the screen is filled with shots of James Stewart as L.B. Jefferies. Rear Window was about a photographer confined to his Manhattan apartment while he recovered from a broken leg. Over time, boredom causes the photographer, Jeff, to stare out his window and watch his neighbors. He even uses his nice camera to get a closer look (not creepy at all, right?). One stormy night, Jeff hears a scream and stares across the way at his neighbors until he sees a man cleaning a large knife and a saw, then making multiple trips out into the night with a large suitcase. 

This was an incredible scene for its time in Rear Window. In The Woman in the Window, and in the trailer for the film, this scene is outright duplicated. Anna, who also lives in a Manhattan apartment, hears a scream at night, which leads her to pull out a really nice camera to spy on her neighbors. Through the lens, she then witnesses a murder and a very bloody large knife. If you are going to pay homage to a classic film that is held in incredibly high regard amongst the film community, my advice would be to remember to make your film at least watchable. Otherwise, you are simply telling the audience that there is a much better film out there that they could be watching, instead of wasting their time with yours. 

On top of the Rear Window references, Director Joe Wright also made certain stylistic choices in this movie that cheapened the appeal in my opinion. For example, Wright decided to film The Woman in the Window as if it were a stage play, with theater sets and design. Sure, some of these shots could have looked interesting on Broadway, but it didn’t really look that great or make that much sense for the film. Perhaps this choice was made to accommodate playwright Tracy Letts’ screenplay, but it just didn’t work for me. That, combined with the clear notion that this film was chopped up pieces in the editing room, made for an unsatisfying visual. 

There is a twist at the end, but the build up to it was so lackluster, the reveal couldn’t save the film for me. Again, if you are going to go out of your way to modernize Rear Window, at least make an effort to match that film’s quality with your offering. Are there worse films out there? Absolutely. As a streaming film with a lot of big names in the cast, especially with not a lot of films back in theaters yet, I believe many people will give The Woman in the Window a positive pass. Had this film been on the big screen in a normal year, however, I think most would consider it to be all built up with no payoff whatsoever. If you’re bored in your house and you want to watch a film about someone else who is also bored in their house, watch Rear Window. If you’ve seen that film, and every other film in this subgenre, then perhaps with lower expectations you could find The Woman in the Window an acceptable film.

RORSHACH RATING:

Mental Health Moment: 2020 forced a lot of us indoors. It took a while for us to adjust to the new norms: to wear masks, to stay home, to not hang out with friends and whatnot. I’m likely not alone in saying that all of that weighed heavily on my psyche, my behavior, and my overall wellness. Now that things are starting to open up again, I’m feeling just as uncomfortable. Some folks are willing to jump right back in the swing of how things used to be, others are taking things slow, and others aren’t ready at all to step back out into the crowd. Whether you find yourself, just know this, you don’t have to readjust your life to anyone else’s pace. Take your time and remember to take care of your needs. If your friends are moving faster than you are, let them know, but don’t think that you have speed up to meet them. Likewise, if you’re out there and you’re finding yourself annoyed by folks that aren’t at that comfort level yet, remember to be compassionate to their struggles. Empathy and patience go a long way.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Woman in the Window is property of Netflix and Fox 2000 Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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