The Woman in the Window (2021)

There is an old fashioned feel to The Woman in the Window, like director Wright was trying to evoke a certain feeling like we had in a certain genre. From films like Gaslight and Rear Window to more modern takes like Fatal Attraction and Panic Room. The Woman in the Window may not hold a candle to those films but it is a love letter to them in a way and despite all the negative press the film has received for me it held up well as a simple thriller with a satisfying twist, even if the end is telegraphed a bit. 

Wright competently sets out his story, setting out exactly who we're dealing with and getting right into the heart of the story quickly. He builds the tension, effectively creates his heroine's world and struggle, and then lets the story play itself out. By casting the likes of Adams and Oldman and Moore he has a cast that is up for it and doesn't phone it in. It's hard to fault the film or its cast. 

The film might be critiques for the overly complicated back story needed for the tale and the series of coincidences that fall into place. But these are qualities of this genre and this film is no more guilty of them than any other. The film famously did extensive reshoots and the climax errs a bit on the gory side which I imagine is a result of those reshoots, but none of it felt out of place for this story. 

And what I think The Woman in the Window should gets points for is the way it explores the gaslighting of people, especially women, who suffer with mental health issues. So much of this story is based on the way people won't take Adams' character seriously and attack her own sense of who she is.  I kept worrying the film would make her out to be the problem but it doesn't. It makes us doubt her and we become complicit in her torment and for me that was a fascinating aspect of the film. 

I feel this is one of those examples where the film doesn't transcend it's genre and sticks very close to the formula expected. But still I felt it worked for what it was. And Adams as always is a joy to watch. 

The Woman in the Window

Starring: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russel, Brian Tyree Henry, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tracey Letts

Director: Joe Wright

Writer: Tracy Letts