Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Secret Window

For some reason I got it into my head that this movie had a lot in common with The Ninth Gate, an absolutely brilliant satanic mystery movie from a couple of years ago. Turns out that they both star Johnny Depp, but that's where the resemblance ends.

Secret Window is based on a short story by Steven King, and it's a thriller rather than a horror with no supernatural aspects. If you didn't already know that it's written by King you'd soon guess from the premise. Depp plays a writer working on a new novel in a secluded location (probably somewhere in Maine) who is visited by a psychotic southerner who appears on his doorstep accusing him of having plagiarised a story.

It starts out pretty good, with plenty of mystery and tension but like so many thrillers it falls apart when it comes time for the big revelations. In this case the final twist is ripped straight out of a much better story, but has none of that tale's clever foreshadowing.

Johnny Depp is usually pretty cool, but in this case he's hamstrung by a lame story and too much vocalised internal dialogue. Nothing else is in this movie is exactly good or bad, but just uninspired. Mostly it just made me want to buy The Ninth Gate on DVD. That movie is fucking sweet.

5 comments:

hg said...

Finally you review something that isn't a tool cd and I can comment.

I saw this a while ago, I don't really remember it, but your review confirms that like me, it was an entertaining watch, but not much else, forgettable and overall just average

Haven't seen Ninth Gate though.

Ed said...

It's true, The Ninth Gate is fucking sweet.

Hows this for timing Jon - You leave Christchurch and Cripple moves to Auckland.

Jon said...

Andrew: Yeah, it was watchable, but the ending failed to satisfy. And everyone should watch The Ninth Gate.

Ed: I didn't know that Cripple were relocating, although I did know that they're playing Hamilton the day after I leave for Aussie...

Ed said...

Check out the site. I'm going to their farewell gig tomorrow night.

Jon said...

Sounds like it'll be a fucking awesome gig, wish I could be there...