Secret Window | Review

Despite actor’s striking charisma, King-adaptation is weakened by a severe lack of story.

With the likes of Jack Torrance and a certain “number one fan” in Kathy Bates, Stephen King novels that deal with the overburdened life of a writer have faired relatively well on screen, unfortunately the miserable life of the novelist in writer/director David Koepp’s Secret Window doesn’t make for noteworthy film viewing material, – further indication that more often than not a King novel should be spared from the big screen treatment. That is not to say that this film doesn’t have its moments and that the main character isn’t of interest, the film’s major bright spot is by way of Johnny Depp’s performance, who rescues a paper-thin paltry figure and upgrades it into a curious to look at, lovable, yet paranoid everyday Joe.

Plagiarism is the worst form of flattery. Depp stars as a writer who’s got a little more than he has psychologically bargained for. Besides the regressive writer’s block, he is reliving the moment where he catches his wife (Maria Bello – The Cooler) in a motel with another lad, introduced as a flashback to the film opening sequence. Mort lives deep in the woods, in a cabin drenched in memories of his past relationship and yet there are all these distractions that keep his mind adrift. Slowly the horror element creeps itself into the script with the demonic presence of a Mississippi hick and laughable John Turturro ( Thirteen Conversations About One Thing ) who disputes the origin and the ownership rights to one of Mort’s short stories.

Thanks to a several cans of hairspray and a worn-out writer’s bathrobe, we instantly warm up to Depp and his character’s theatrics. As surprising as this might sound, it was fully enjoyable to watch him eat out of a bag of (product placement friendly) potato chips, or watch him sarcastically end a telephone conversation or watch him spook himself out in the empty cabin he calls home, perhaps only Jack Nicholson can manage the same kind of presence among such empty moments in narrative. Besides another fun performance from Depp, there isn’t much else working for this film which commences as an unconventional thriller and ends with everything being divulged into one atrocious ending;-a giant wink from the film to the viewer with a wish that we’ll somehow smile back and wish this was a good amusement ride. While it doesn’t take much detective work to figure out where the film is going, it does take time for the film to get itself started; Koepp keeps us starving for a hidden narrative that really isn’t much to begin with. Despite some nice atmospheric-cabin in the woods cinematography and a Turturro bit that shows the actor’s range in goofy talents, there aren’t many more ingredients to mix this film with.

I’d have a hard time recommending Secret Window as a must see film, perhaps this is a good popcorn flick for anyone who would like to see what Panic Room looks like in a wooden home and obviously for fans who can’t get enough from Depp. While the mood, moments of tension and pleasurable performance from Depp is there, it seems like an eternal wait for the film to get into gear-not a good sign for a film which lasts less than 100 minutes. And if you’re wondering what Depp’s next film might be, take a look at the coffee table in his cabin for a used Hunter S. Thompson book titled Rum Diary.

Rating 2 stars