The Woman in the Window - Hitchcock Says What?

 

Stream it on Netflix. 

    In 1954, legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock released one of his most famous thrillers, Rear Window. Starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, it was the story of a man trapped in his apartment from a broken leg who passes the time by spying on his neighbors only to witness what appears to be a murder. It inspired many similar mystery/psychological thrillers and was also treated to a made-for-TV remake starring the late Christopher Reeve and Daryl Hannah. Today's film, The Woman in the Window, isn't really a remake of Rear Window per se, but it is close enough to show its influence on its sleeve. Plus, it has enough of its own identity to be a different story utilizing a familiar framework. It is the equivalent of baking a new kind of cake in the same pan you've used for years; it still works, so why not have some fun with it? 

    Based on the novel of the same title by A.J. Finn, the story follows a woman named Anna Fox (Amy Adams), a child psychologist suffering from a severe case of agoraphobia (fear of the outside). She remains shut inside her New York house with limited contact with the outside world. One night, she has a brief but memorable encounter with a strange woman named Jane (Julianne Moore), who just moved into the house across the street with her husband and teenaged son. Sometime later, as Anna continues her nosiness, she witnesses what she's sure was the murder of Jane. After calling the police, the detective dismisses her claims as fits of hysteria and delusions due to high anxiety caused by her unstable condition. From there, the story dives headfirst into a full psychological trip where reality is constantly questioned, and certainty is rarely on the table. 

    As I alluded to before, this movie is basically an unofficial remake of Rear Window. It follows the same general idea of witnessing a murder from afar only to be dismissed by the authorities. However, what sets this iteration of the concept apart from the Hitchcock classic is the uncertain reliability of the protagonist. It's immediately obvious that this woman is not entirely stable due to some yet unknown past trauma. The film gives plenty of hints early on that something is not quite right with this character, creating an intriguing mystery to hook you in. 

    Amy Adams has always been a talented actress, and this movie is a fantastic reminder of that notion. She brings a level of humanity to the role that only she can deliver and showcase her wide emotional range. If nothing else, her performance makes the whole film worth watching. 

    The cinematography also deserves special mention. Photographed by Bruno Diebonnel (late of Amélie and Inside Liewyn Davis), the film boasts a tremendous use of color and shadow. The lighting is striking, the seemingly random color palette adds to the sense of disorientation without being overwhelming, and the predominant use of practical lighting (as in lights that are visible within the frame) easily distracts the viewer from the more stylized moments, creating a genuine distorted sense of reality. It's a visual wonder to behold! 

    While the film does lose a few points for being yet another "homage" to Rear Window, it maintains a sense of individuality that makes it memorable on its own merits. It's a solid piece of work that deserves a curious look. 

    Check this one out. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.