Secret Window (2004)

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Directed by
David Koepp

Written by
Stephen King, David Koepp

Cast
Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, Charles Dutton [more]

Secret Window Reviews

Those looking for a standard Stephen King gorefest will be disappointed. The levels of violence and blood are tame enough for the MPAA to issue a PG-13 (although I dispute that because of one scene), leaving the majority of Secret Window's horror in the psychological realm. It's a taut, entertaining motion picture that serves its purpose. [read review]  -- (ReelViews) As for the story, Rainey is an author who is accused of plagiarism by a scary stranger called John Shooter (John Turturro), who is too much of a Stephen King character to be really interesting. In any case, of all the things Rainey could do to prove his innocence--including a Google search--the ones he picks are the most ludicrous. [read review]  -- (Boxoffice Magazine) Unfortunately, there are a couple of directorial and stylistic slipups but they are forgivable. When we King fans walk into the theater, we never know if we're going to get Maximum Overdrive or The Shining -- or something in the ravine between those extremes -- so I'm glad to report that although Secret Window may not be classic, it's one of the "good" King adaptations and worth seeing. [read review] --Staci Layne Wilson (Horror.com) Secret Window is not a complete waste. Thanks mostly to Depp, its 90-minute duration does solicit a chuckle and a raised eyebrow or two. But without the solid foundation of a fresh story or adroit direction, the eyebrows quickly sag and the chuckles fade. King fiends may appreciate its straightforward take on the master's work, but for those looking for something new, it may be best to keep this Window closed. [read review] --John Dedeke (Diabolical-Dominion.com) The view from "Secret Window" makes for a diverting enough ride, and the hard left turn it takes at the end induces a decent amount of whiplash -- albeit in a way that's more than a little derivative of "Psycho." But it never profoundly satisfies, by doing something that both startles and has staying power. [read review] --Michael O'Sullivan (Washington Post) Koepp clearly knows how to build subtle menace. And as a director, he has created an appropriately eerie world: Mort's cabin is shrouded in darkness and mist; it feels like a natural, scary cul-de-sac. If there's a take-home message to be gleaned from "Secret Window," it is this: You can boost mediocrity a little, but you cannot raise it from the dead. [read review] --Desson Thomson (Washington Post) At the end of the day, Secret Window is a sub-par thriller that’s trailers pretend to be something that it isn’t that has a great opening tracking shot and a fun performance by Johnny Depp. That said, it’s less entertaining than most Stephen King adaptations including some of the straight-to-video ones. [read review] 5/10 -- (CHUD.com) It's true that we have seen these movies about quirky writers before. But with a performance from, honestly, one of the best actors of my time, and crafted by a top-notch writer-director, it's no secret that Secret Window is the best movie to come out sofar this year. [read review]  --Brian Gallagher (MovieWeb) Another dunderheaded adaptation of a Stephen King story, Secret Window could be the dullest of the schlockmeister's cinematic outings. Even Johnny Depp in quirk-overdrive can't save it, his slyly insincere performance eventually irritating as much as thesincerely stupid movie he's stuck in. [read review]  --Nev Pierce (BBC Films) ''Window'' has been opened up to let too much air into the room, and the sluggish pacing will allow even the drowsiest viewer to keep up with the story. ...has the vague plotting generally found in an anthology horror-show episode. It's the kind of thingthat's fine for about 20 minutes, before your attention kicks in, or nods off. [read review] --ELVIS MITCHELL (The New York Times) We should award them all for making what should have been an utterly un-watchable two-hour bore into a rather entertaining pulpy mess. Ultimately, this could be a high-end straight-to-video treat, so my suggestion is to wait until video and save yourselfa couple of bucks. And only bring about half your brain so as not to spoil the surprise. [read review]  --Lyle Henretty (Bloody-Disgusting.com) Sleepy pacing, a paucity of genuine frights and an unremarkable "twist" may detract from its ultimate impact as a thriller, but "Secret Window" works well as a showcase for Depp's idiosyncrasies, which include a rather spectacular example of bed head. [read review] --Megan Lehmann (New York Post) The story is more entertaining as it rolls along than it is when it gets to the finish line. But at least King uses his imagination right up to the end, and spares us the obligatory violent showdown that a lesser storyteller would have settled for. [read review]  -- (Chicago Sun-Times) I enjoyed most of this movie, primarily because of Depp's performance, the touches of humor and Koepp's taut directing, but at the end of the day, didn't feel complete when the film revealed itself entirely. Great final shot though! [read review] 6/10 -- (JoBlo.com) Otherwise, it's standard Stephen King stuff, going over many of the same themes that have been done better elsewhere. In fact, this flick is way too similar to "The Dark Half" to offer up any surprises. [read review] -- (eSplatter.com) 'Secret Window" is what happens when a writer - in this case, Stephen King - hangs around the house too long in his bathrobe, working in solitary at his computer: He is too much inside his head. [read review]  --Jami Bernard (New York Daily News) ... what we ultimately receive in Window is a clear disappointment, not because it follows a familiar formula, but because it lacks the suspense and action so prevalent in King’s novels. [read review]  --David Levine (FilmCritic.com) Without Depp or Turturro the movie would have been nothing. Interesting, but slow-paced and the ending was rather predictable. Still a good watch in my opinion, just don't expect a lot. [read review] 7/10 --FrighT MasteR (UHM) I have not read the Stephen King novella on which "Secret Window" is based. Nevertheless, I guessed what the movie's big surprise was just from watching the TV commercial. [read review]  -- (L.A. Daily News) John Turturro is cleverly creepy and Johnny Depp appropriately tangle-haired and crotchety, but the real star of this Stephen King adaptation is the couch. [read review] -- (Salon) While the film may be far from perfect, Secret Window offers a well-acted and tautly-directed thriller of substantial depth and character. [read review]  --Christopher Monfette (MovieWeb) The Hitchcockian touches makes the film fun at times, but by the time the obligatory twist rolls around, you won’t care whodunit. [read review] C- --Brian Orndorf (FilmJerk.com) Based on a Stephen King story, "Secret Window" skimps in the plot and suspense department, but the excellent casting saves it. [read review]  --Jeffrey M. Anderson (San Francisco Examiner) They had all the makings of a top-notch thriller here, except for original ideas – a deficiency that’s difficult to overlook. [read review] 69/100 --Brian Webster (Apollo Guide) Like a cheap Saturday night in L.A., Secret Window veers off into the absurd, but it's still low-rent, pulp-fiction fun. [read review]  --Stacie Hougland (Hollywood.com) Trashy, but enjoyable thriller redeemed by a performance from Johnny Depp that is never less than watchable. [read review]  --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon) But in the end, this just deteriorates into a mediocre suspense flick with a cute Johnny Depp cherry on top. [read review] C+ -- (E! Online) The movie travels along at a nice leisurely pace and keeps the viewer pretty entertained. [read review] B --Craig Younkin (Lee's Movie Info) The only real secret to this film is how they got Johnny Depp to star in it. [read review]  --Derek May (MovieWeb) The secret is out the window much too quickly, but Johnny Depp does shine. [read review] --Kirk Honeycutt (Hollywod Reporter)

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