Secret Window (2004)

WARNING!

The following film review

contains: spoilers, puns,

and may contain nuts

This amazing film, directed by my favorite playwright David Koepp, is based upon the novella "Secret Window, Secret Garden" by Stephen King. This explains almost everything in a nutshell, as it is too difficult to review this film without giving away spoilers. A spoiler, for anyone who doesn't know, is a piece of information that gives away an important part of the plot (thereby spoiling the film for the viewer). If you haven't seen this film and want to be surprised, do not continue reading! If you haven't seen the film and don't want to be surprised, shame on you! However, it is up to you if you want to continue reading . . .

Secret Window (2004) is the story of Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp), an author who is presently going through a very nasty divorce. To complicate things, a man named John Shooter (John Turturro) comes to Mort's house and accuses him of plagiarizing his story, "Secret Window, Secret Garden" (sound familiar?). The worst part, according to Shooter, is that Mort butchered the ending of the story. When Mort completely denies this, and kicks Shooter off his property, Shooter comes back to butcher more then a story. . .

The now completely terrified Mort Rainey has fled to the sheriff, finding no help from him. Similar responses come from other people, and the little help he does receive "mysteriously" find screwdrivers flung into their heads. Eventually, Mort finds himself trapped, and confronts Shooter with an offer. If Mort can prove that the story is not plagiarized, by showing him the magazine it was published in (a few years before Shooter wrote the story), the Shooter must back off. However, Shooter seems to know every move that Mort makes, and tries to stop the magazine from ever coming . . .

Secret Window is an amazing thriller that will excite even the dullest viewer. Although it isn't necessarily a horror movie, it is certainly will screw around with your mind (Ha! Get it? Screw, like the screwdrivers in the head!). The reason? (Here's the spoiler, nut, and pun all rolled into one package) Mort Rainey is John Shooter. In order to save himself from the nasty effects of the divorce, Mort's conscience developed an alter-ego to battle his anger on his ex-wife (Shooter = Shoot her). Since Mort can't fulfill his desire to kill his ex-wife (and her new husband), Shooter does it for him. (Wow, it's my entire Psychology class in one film!) Not only is Shooter created, but Mort creates a good alter-ego that will advise Mort (every now and then) and tries to talk sense into him when frustrated (see the end of the film, it's amazing).

Of course, David Koepp decides not to revel this fact until the end of the film, but he does give minor hints here and there. Mort's alter-ego talks to Mort every now and then, giving him advice on what not to do. This, although not much of a hint, gives the audience the feeling that something is not right. Most importantly, David Koepp starts the film off by having the camera pan through a mirror. Yes, through a mirror. This symbolizes the fact that the story is now being told through the point of view of Mort. We see Shooter threatening Mort, because he seriously believes Shooter is threatening him. Once the audience figures out that Shooter and Mort are one and the same, the camera once again pans through the mirror, showing Mort donning the roll of Shooter.

The mirror motif continues in the film, most noticeably during one scene in which Mort becomes paranoid that Shooter is in his house (which also describes the entire film). Hearing some rustling in the bathroom, he picks up a baseball bat and charges into the bathroom, swinging at what he believes to be Shooter. Alas, it is not Shooter, but just a mirror reflection of himself. David Koepp was afraid that this scene would give away too much, as it seemed to make the final twist obvious. Mort does hit Shooter in the bathroom, for he goes and hits himself (the mirror).

The ending of the film is also highly symbolic, and was actually suggested by Johnny Depp. Mort, after 'fixing' the problem of his wife, is shown with a nice hair cut, clean shaven, and even braces. Mort literally decides to straighten his life out after Shooter shows up. This can be said for both his appearance and his personality. Although the entire town now seems to avoid him, (they all suspect him for the murders, but no one can prove it) Mort seems to be having a better life then before (which was how Shooter's version of Secret Window originally ended).

David Koepp really makes this film with the small, minute details that are placed within the overwhelming plot made by Steven King. For example, when "Shooter" starts screwing with Mort's life (once again, there's that screwdriver pun) he plunges a screwdriver through Chico, Mort's dog. While this is definitely shocking and depressing to all people (except the crazy ones like . . . Mort Rainey himself), it is even more sad if you look at the small details. Chico is blind. This is an incredibly small detail (I myself did not notice it until I watched the special features on the DVD), but can be seen through the swaying movements of Chico.

The most amazing thing about the film, however, is the way that it is filmed. David Koepp has done an excellent job in choosing the placement of characters, camera, and props to create a thrilling response from the audience. The best example is when Mort discovers a car in the middle of the woods. You, as a viewer, obviously know what's in it, but David Koepp refuses to show it to you directly. Johnny Depp's character blocks the view of the car, causing the audience to shift in their seat in order to peer around him (something that is impossible, but I admit to doing myself). The best, of course, is the discovery of the murder weapon. His own screwdriver. In order to remove suspicion, he removes the screwdriver itself from the head of a freshly dead corpse. We would know what this would look like, and inevitably be unafraid from it. David Koepp realizes this, so the scene is shot from the point of view of the screwdriver; Mort covers it with a paper towel (fingerprints), and all that is heard is "squish".

Secret Window is an amazing film. The wonderful way that director David Koepp displays Mort's duplicity will surprise the average viewer, and the way that it is filmed will even scare the pants off Dracula. An excellent film to watch when you have nothing better to do, or a film to watch when you have something better to do, Secret Window shows you how fragile a relationship can be, especially if you plunge a screwdriver through it.