In auteur David Koepp’s adaptation of the Stephen King novella Secret Window, Johnny Depp plays disheveled author Mort Rainey, who struggles with writer’s block in a remote cabin while his estranged wife (Maria Bello) shares their old house with her boorish lover (Timothy Hutton). A menacing stranger named John Shooter (John Turturro) pays a visit, accusing Rainey of stealing a story from him. Soon enough, dead bodies – animal and human – start piling up. There are more slow patches than thrills, and Turturro’s good-ol’-boy twang grows tiresome. But Depp’s sly, witty performance and Koepp’s crafty conclusion largely make up for the weaknesses.
EXTRASThe lead actors discuss their characters, and Koepp describes how he went about adapting King’s tale. Animated storyboards and four deleted scenes – including a grislier finale – reveal further film-making secrets. Just be sure to watch the featurettes after the movie.