The Woman in the Window (2021)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Dr. Anna Fox	Amy Adams	½
Alistair Russell	Gary Oldman	½
Edward Fox	Anthony Mackie	-
Ethan Russell	Fred Hechinger
David Winter	Wyatt Russell	½
Det. Little	Brian Tyree Henry	½
Katherine Melli	Julianne Moore
Jane Russell	Jennifer Jason Leigh	-

Review

This psychological thriller based on A. J. Finn's much sold and debated debut novel of the same name begins as a mishmash of homages to classic thrillers from Rear Window to The Tenant. Amy Adams' character is an agoraphobic semi-alcoholic pill abuser who believes she is witnessing a crime in the apartment of her new neighbours across the street, and we follow her through a downward spiral of distrust and panic attacks while she's playing private detective. The unreliable narrator premise is quite alluring and explains why the novel was a New York Times best seller, but director Joe Wright (Atonement, Darkest Hour) piles on so many stylistic touches that it becomes counterproductive. His retro aesthetics is fun to watch for a while, but they don't really help build suspense and ultimately end up accentuating rather than masking the weaknesses in the script's final act. The same can be said of Amy Adams' erratic performance. She seems to be clutching at straws trying to find the right note for her role. And Wright isn't able to help her or the unwitting Fred Hechinger, who plays the neighbour kid Ethan, reel in their performances on the right side of parody.