“Secret Window” is a film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden”. It follows the story of Mort Rainey (portrayed by Johnny Depp), a disheveled writer who seeks solace in a secluded cabin after his wife, Amy (played by Maria Bello), cheats on him. Writing becomes Mort’s way of coping with the betrayal. However, his life takes a chaotic turn when an enigmatic man named John Shooter (portrayed by John Turturro) shows up at his doorstep, accusing Mort of plagiarizing one of his stories. Despite Mort’s initial skepticism and dismissal, Shooter persistently stalks him, issuing threats and eventually carrying them out when Mort refuses to give in. Directed by David Koepp, who also screenwrote notable films like “Spider-Man”, “Mission Impossible”, “Panic Room”, “Stir of Echoes”, and “Jurassic Park”.
The short story “Secret Window, Secret Garden” by Stephen King, which this movie is based on, raises questions about King himself. As a writer, King explores the activities of a writer involved in dubious actions. This leads one to ponder about King’s personal interests and hobbies.
The movie starts with Rainey sitting in his car at the motel parking lot as his wife is having an affair with another man in one of the rooms. Despite trying to resist, Rainey eventually goes into the room and angrily confronts them. The story then fast-forwards six months later when a mysterious stranger named John Shooter shows up at Rainey’s cabin and accuses him of plagiarizing his story. Although Rainey had written his story before Shooter, he must find a way to appease the Southerner before he fully grasps the seriousness of the situation.
The performance in this film is extraordinary. Johnny Depp delivers another exceptional portrayal as Morton Rainey. His acting range is incredible, and it feels like this role was tailor-made for him. Depp perfectly embodies Rainey. Another actor with significant screen time is John Turturro, who, much like Depp before Pirates of the Caribbean, is often underrated. Turturro is also a talented actor with an impressive variety of diverse roles. In this film, he showcases his ability to be eerie as the serious Southerner John Shooter. Essentially, this movie revolves around Johnny Depp’s solo performance while John Turturro plays his adversary.
The script by Koepp is remarkable: it has impeccable pacing, well-developed characters, and mind-boggling twists and turns towards the end. Koepp’s work sends shivers down your spine; it is chilling and incredibly well-executed.
Unlike most movies and TV shows that cater to a wide audience, this film challenges viewers to pay close attention. More films like this should exist because they demonstrate that movies can be intelligent, thrilling, and funny all at once.
Koepp executes the controls skillfully, utilizing impressive cinematography by David Murphy. The lengthy, sweeping shots are beautifully displayed. The actors, particularly the two leads, are crucial to Koepp’s approach and vision. In many aspects, this role is more “typical” for Johnny Depp compared to his Oscar-nominated performance in The Pirates of the Caribbean. Depp’s portrayal is subdued and intense; he embodies a loner whose life continuously deteriorates. While Depp’s brilliance shines in Pirates of the Caribbean, his character in this film demanded a wider range, and Koepp successfully extracted all of it from him.
The standout in Secret Window is John Turturro, who personifies Shooter, a deeply frightening character. John Turturro’s portrayal of this hat-wearing stranger who unexpectedly shows up at Mort’s door is truly terrifying. However, those anticipating a typical Stephen King gore fest will be disappointed as Secret Window’s horror lies mostly in the psychological realm rather than graphic violence. Loss and the blurred line between reality and fiction are central themes in this exceptional movie. Secret Window is truly fantastic! While movies about unconventional writers are not uncommon, this film stands out due to the exceptional performance by one of the best actors and the brilliant writing and directing. There is no doubt that Secret Window is the best movie released this year.
Pictured: Johnny Depp and John Turturro are the main characters in Secret Window and have very demanding roles.
