Secret Window (2004)

Director:

David Koepp

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (novel)
David Koepp (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The most important part of a story is the ending.

Plot:

A writer is accused for plagiarism by a strange man, who then starts haunting him for "justice."

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Divorce | Lake | Magazine | Ups

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Mort Rainey
John Turturro	...	John Shooter
Maria Bello	...	Amy Rainey
Timothy Hutton	...	Ted Milner
Charles S. Dutton	...	Ken Karsch
Len Cariou	...	Sheriff Dave Newsome
Joan Heney	...	Mrs. Garvey
John Dunn-Hill	...	Tom Greenleaf (as John Dunn Hill)
Vlasta Vrana	...	Fire Chief Wickersham
Matt Holland	...	Detective Bradley
Gillian Ferrabee	...	Fran Evans
Bronwen Mantel	...	Greta Bowie
Elizabeth Marleau	...	Juliet Stoker
Kyle Allatt	...	Busboy
Richard Jutras	...	Motel Manager

Also Known As:

Secret Window, Secret Garden (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence/terror, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | France:U | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | Japan:U | India:UA | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB (DVD rating) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40120) | Greece:K-17

Filming Locations:

Bromont Sur Le Lac, Québec, Canada

Company:

Grand Slam Productions

Trivia:

Johnny Depp's line, "This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. Anymore.", is taken from the Talking Heads' song "Once in a Lifetime".

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Mort's wife tries to escape, she starts her Saab and then struggles to get the manual gear in reverse. This is illogical, as the Saab has it's ignition at the gear shifter, incorporating a lock for the shifter. The ignition will always be turned off with reverse engaged, to be able to withdraw the key in these cars.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mort: [voiceover] Turn around. Turn around. Turn the car around and get the hell out of here. Right now. Don't go back. Do not go back there.

Movie Connections:

References Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Soundtrack:

Once in a Lifetime

Finally, a King movie worth seeing.

Secret Window can be found in fourpast midnight, Stephen King's Novella that also contains, The langoliers, the library policeman and the sun dog.

If you're a Stephen King fan or just someone who appreciates eccentric horror, this will be worth your trip to the store.

At first, I wasn't at all impressed with the idea of Depp playing Mort, he's a good actor, but we all know how it is to read a novel and then see it adapted for the screen...disappointing.

This will not disappoint, whether you've read it or not, its one of the few King's book turned movie that I don't wince while watching.

I give it an eight for terrific acting and well written script.