Review: Secret Window (2004)

Nearly every actor in this film is familiar to avid horror fans. This movie was based upon the short story "Secret Window. Secret Garden ," by horror-maestro Stephen King.

 

Johnny Depp stars as Mort Rainey, a successful author who is currently stuck in the middle of a nasty divorce from his wife, played by Maria Bello.

 

Bello 's character lives in their home while Depp is staying at their vacation cabin. Mort has fallen into a deep depression and he can't write anything. His is shaken from his isolation by a knock at his door.

 

Mort answers the door to find John Shooter (Turturro), a deep South writer accusing him of stealing his story. Mort handles the plagiarism accusation normally and Shooter leaves a memento, a copy of the story.

 

Shooter becomes a regular character and visits Mort often to demand the story be rewritten to suit his work. Mort begins panicking when he realizes how stealthy Shooter has become and how he has avoided drawing attention from anyone else.

 

Mort starts considering that Shooter may be more than just a crazed fan, that he may be dangerous. Conspiracy, arson, and mistrust ensue to the point that he suspects everyone.

 

The ending is strangely satisfying and completely unexpected.

 

 

Ghoulish Details:

 

John Shooter is a great villain with a quick wit despite his apparent shortcomings. The character convincing and echoes other great villains in film, without mimicking.

 

The ending is shocking and unexpected.

 

The isolated cabin is the perfect setting for this story and adds an extra vulnerability to the character of Mort.

 

 

 

Ghoulish Rating: 4 (out of 6)

Trivia:

 

* Nearly all the major actors have previously been in other horror movies:

Depp- Sleepy Hollow, Nightmare on Elm Street

Bello - The Dark

Hutton- The Dark Half

Dutton- Gothika

 

* John Turturro became well-known from his role in "O, Brother Where Art Thou?"

 

* The writer and the director are one in the same for this movie! David Koepp also wrote the script for "Panic Room."