The Woman In The Window review: This Amy Adams-starrer is a below-par psychological thriller

The Woman In The Window review: This Amy Adams-starrer is a below-par psychological thriller

However, if you are into murder mysteries, the climax is definitely applause-worthy. But for the rest of you, there are better things to watch this weekend, so AVOID

Prateek SurUpdated: Sunday, May 16, 2021, 08:12 PM IST
article-image

A reclusive psychologist who is also agoraphobic and hasn’t stepped out of her house in 10 months, witnesses a crime in her new neighbour’s house. Will she be believed by the police and the neighbours, considering her sanity is constantly being doubted due to the insane amount of medication she is on? Will she be able to prove her story? Or will she be caught up in a bloody mess of a situation unable to get herself out of it? Well, that’s what this Amy Adams film is all about.

Amy Adams plays the character to perfection, but most of the characters that she has been playing in the last few years have all had the same arc of the performance. She has been sombre, at times lost trying to figure out the pieces of what’s going on — and that’s basically what she has done in most of her recent ventures. That doesn't impact the film if you're a first-time viewer, but as someone who has been following Amy’s career, it seems like she is doing the same thing all over again. But, even in that, you won’t be able to find a false note. You seriously wouldn’t want someone who has so many personal issues as your immediate neighbour.

Oscar winners like Gary Oldman and Julianne Moore have been totally wasted as they barely have scenes to justify their talent. Anthony Mackie (many might know him as The Falcon from the Avengers series) has a blink-and-miss appearance. Tracy Letts, who has also written the screenplay, is barely there for a couple of scenes. Overall, the supporting cast had big names, but they weren’t given enough screen time to come up with a justifiably good performance.

The good part about the film, which is based on the novel of the same name by AJ Finn, is its writing by Tracy Letts. The central character has been written with finesse and has been given so many layers that as an audience there are times you might actually think she is going bonkers. To add to that, the story has a shocking climax and that makes the 100 minutes runtime worth the wait.

Sadly, the direction by Joe Wright is quite amateurish. It wasn’t as tight as a thriller should be, and that impacts the viewer. The opening 15-20 minutes are directionless and you are made to wonder which way the film is going. It’s only when you painstakingly sit through that, that you start realising what the story is actually about. From then on, you are led in a different direction, and that makes the movie interesting. But, an average moviegoer has already lost interest in those opening 20 minutes, and is off to watch something better.

The Woman In The Window is a below-par psychological thriller. However, if you are into murder mysteries, the climax is definitely applause-worthy. But for the rest of you, there are better things to watch this weekend, so AVOID. I am going with 2.5 stars.

Title: The Woman In The Window

Cast: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Fred Hechinger, Anthony Mackie

Director: Joe Wright

Platform: Netflix

Rating: 2.5 stars

RECENT STORIES

Sushant Singh Rajput's Chhichhore Co-Star Naveen Polishetty Meets With Accident In US

Sushant Singh Rajput's Chhichhore Co-Star Naveen Polishetty Meets With Accident In US

A Gentleman In Moscow OTT Release Date: Know About Plot, Platform & Cast

A Gentleman In Moscow OTT Release Date: Know About Plot, Platform & Cast

Hi Anokhi Gaath OTT Release: When & Where To Watch Shreyas Talpade's Marathi Film

Hi Anokhi Gaath OTT Release: When & Where To Watch Shreyas Talpade's Marathi Film

The Holdovers OTT Release Date: When & Where To Watch Alexander Payne's Oscar-Nominated Film

The Holdovers OTT Release Date: When & Where To Watch Alexander Payne's Oscar-Nominated Film

WATCH: Diljit Dosanjh Breaks Down At Chamkila Trailer Launch After Imtiaz Ali Praises Him

WATCH: Diljit Dosanjh Breaks Down At Chamkila Trailer Launch After Imtiaz Ali Praises Him