Cinemuse | 'Secret Window' (2004)
A reflection for Macabre Monday.
I imagine this movie is an amalgamation of every fiction writer’s worst nightmare…
But since I’m not a fiction writer — you tell me, Fiction Stack!
Overview
Briefly, Secret Window follows the bumbling and irreversibly mopey Morton Rainey played to a tee by Johnny Depp. He is a writer, soon-to-be divorcee, and hopeless optimist — which turns out to be quite an unfortunate cocktail of traits in this Stephen King adaptation. He quickly finds himself in a very sticky situation: he is being accused of plagiarism. For the rest of the movie, the audience is left to figure out if this is legitimately the case. A stellar cast comprised of Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, John Turturro, and more, constellate around “Mort” in an ever-anxiety-producing manner leading to a ghastly result. And without giving away any spoilers, let’s just say that Mort has some trouble reconciling the world he wished for and the world he is being served.
Film Appreciation
Like a dancer or silent film star of a by-gone era, Depp flits to and fro on the screen with little dialogue to aid him. Corporeally expressive almost to a fault, he manages to hold our attention whilst maintaining a level of suspense that any horror source material requires. I have not read the novella by King nor am I an aficionado of thrillers, but I do recognize a consummate performer when I see one.
But if you are familiar or a fan of Depp’s career pre-Captain Jack Sparrow, you were already aware of Depp’s magnetism on the screen. And no, I am not referring to his sex symbol status that solidified in the 80’s. I’m referring to his talent for developing his characters à la Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Llyod, Laurel and Hardy, Chester Conklin, etc. You get it.
Much of the film is quite like a silent movie.
There are long stretches without much intervention from other characters and a common scene is one of Mort shuffling along through the plot like a true loner.
Does Depp have a natural ability or knack for pantomime? I would argue, yes. Does the film take advantage of that? Triumphantly, yes. Did the filmmakers realize Depp’s skill set upon hiring him for the job? That, I would say, is unclear.
The year of Secret Window’s release, 2004, was a sandwiched year in the meteoric revival of Depp’s career. Between the summer of 2003 and the summer of 2005, he had several box office successes on his hands including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), and Corpse Bride (2005). Secret Window was filmed approximately 1 month after the release of the gigantic global hit of Pirates of the Caribbean. The human race was barely adjusting to Depp’s larger-than-life performance of Captain Jack Sparrow when he was shipped off to Canada to film this quiet movie about a man struggling with what is and is not reality.
Successful actor? Check.
Brilliant physical comedian? Absolutely. But woah there — since when??
Since forever.
Again, if you are a fan, you already knew long before 2003 just how magical Depp’s physical performance could be. His character work on Edward Scissorhands (1990), Benny and Joon (1993), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), and even Sleep Hollow (1999), immediately jump to mind.
Depp has openly admitted how big of an influence Keaton has been on his own acting career. That kind of physicality cannot be contained. I sure hope the filmmakers of Secret Window knew that. And surprisingly enough, I believe Depp’s propensity to let his actions speak louder than his words elevated this film. It becomes more than just a quiet film about a man sitting in the woods worrying about whether or not he believes his own words, on the page and off. Depp’s performance transforms it into a film about the psyche, and all the ways we push and pull on our minds.
Tl;DR
Johnny Depp has a lot of explaining to do about that certain short story he wrote in 1995. And because Stephen King is attached somehow, happy endings are optional around here.
My favorite things about this movie:
Depp’s thoughtful acting choices.
The enormously talented supporting cast.
The use of internal monologue.
The opening lines of the movie.
You can watch Secret Window for free on YouTube right now. Go watch it, I highly recommend!
Here’s to another ghastly Macabre Monday! I know, I know. Secret Window is not a pure horror film but I do think it’s horror related! There are enough elements of a classic horror movie thrown in to blur the genre lines a little. For the record, King’s novella apparently falls under both horror and thriller. But you can’t argue that Mort is definitely haunted by something — you decide by what exactly, of course. But what do you think crew: what did you think of Secret Window? Are you fan? Not so much? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
A salute to the rest of The Macabre Monday Team:
Be sure to check out the rest of the tortured writers:
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I really enjoyed this movie! It was a fun one tbh
This motivated me to see the movie, which is exactly what one would hope a positive review would do. It is both thorough and perceptive!