SECRET WINDOW (2004)
Directed Directed by David Koepp
Starring Johnny Depp and Timothy Hutton
Another Stephen King adaptation similar to "The Dark Half," this is about
an author (Johnny Depp) who -- after finding his wife in bed with another
man -- isolates himself in a distant cabin. A strange Missisipian shows up
claiming the writer "stole my story," and starts doing the usual stalker
things: Killing his dog, leaving notes, killing his private eye protector,
etc.
It's pretty obvious what the twist ending is going to be going in pretty
early. And the film's PG-13 rating means the movie is pretty toned down.
But Depp is very, very good, giving his performance a kind of comic
tinge. In fact, he's the only good reason to see this movie. Timothy
Hutton plays the asshole boyfriend of Depp's soon-to-be-ex-wife.
Otherwise, it's standard Stephen King stuff, going over many of the same
themes that have been done better elsewhere. In fact, this flick is way
too similar to "The Dark Half" to offer up any surprises. "Half," by the way,
also starred Hutton.
Not very interesting.