Secret Window
Institutional Information
Initial release: March 12, 2004 (USA)
Director: David Koepp
Screenplay by: David Koepp
Story by: Stephen King
Box office: 92.9 million USD
Starring: Johnny Depp, Maria
Bello and John Turturro
Gross: $47,781,388 (USA) (14 May 2004)
Runtime: 96 min
Plot:
While in the process of an ugly divorce from his wife (Maria
Bello), writer Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) relocates to his remote cabin in
upstate New York for solitude. Attempting to recover his mental health, Rainey
has the misfortune of being found by John Shooter (John Turturro), a farmer who
claims Rainey plagiarized his work. At first, Rainey ignores the accusations,
but Shooter has no intention of quietly disappearing. Soon, Shooter becomes
increasingly vicious in his quest for retribution.
Analysis
The first visual we come to in the opening or 'Secret Window' is a black screen. However we are also presented with the diegetic sound of windscreen wipers. Using a plain visual alongside sound makes the sound seem more significant. Although this sound is generally well known, without the source of the sound being visual, it is ambiguous as to what the source is creating suspense. This is also complementary to the increasing intensity of the sound as this is also suspense building.
The first shot we see is a close up of the main character, Mort, in a standby car, in central shot. The lighting is very dim and the source of the sound car now be seen. The shot is taken from outside the car looking inwards through the windscreen. Droplets of rain can be seen on the windscreen; perhaps the rain could be seen as a pathetic fallacy for how he is feeling. His heavy breathing and unbroken stare, suggests that he is either coming to terms with something or that he is trying to pump himself up to do something. This idea is complemented by the introduced voice over into the scene. The non-diegetic voice over suggests that he is battling with himself; to do or not to do something. All the aspects of this scene, create a very ambiguous and mysterious beginning; dim lighting, close up of male with heavy breathing and an intense stare, rain in the background creating an uneasy atmosphere and also the unexplained voice over. All is strange and unexplained. Combined results in the audience wanting to know more, they are intrigued to continue watching.
Another shot is an establishing shot of where he is. This provides the audience with slightly more information on what is going on. The opening, and the film, seems to drip feed information to the audience so that its a thrilling mystery throughout. The shot itself has dim lighting as its night, this contrasts with the bright red writing of the motel sign and the bright car head lights. The only sound here is the diegetic of the reversing car. The car reverses and the camera stays still as opposed to following it. I think that this has been done purposely to follow the mystery theme as the location is drip fed.
This shot shows a long shot of the character that appears to be on a dolly of some sort as it follows the character as he moves. The lighting has now changed as its become brighter, showing that there is a change of mood; perhaps realisation. The fact that the character has left the door to his car open shows the importance of what he is doing as normally you would worry about it being stolen.
Analysis
The first visual we come to in the opening or 'Secret Window' is a black screen. However we are also presented with the diegetic sound of windscreen wipers. Using a plain visual alongside sound makes the sound seem more significant. Although this sound is generally well known, without the source of the sound being visual, it is ambiguous as to what the source is creating suspense. This is also complementary to the increasing intensity of the sound as this is also suspense building.
The first shot we see is a close up of the main character, Mort, in a standby car, in central shot. The lighting is very dim and the source of the sound car now be seen. The shot is taken from outside the car looking inwards through the windscreen. Droplets of rain can be seen on the windscreen; perhaps the rain could be seen as a pathetic fallacy for how he is feeling. His heavy breathing and unbroken stare, suggests that he is either coming to terms with something or that he is trying to pump himself up to do something. This idea is complemented by the introduced voice over into the scene. The non-diegetic voice over suggests that he is battling with himself; to do or not to do something. All the aspects of this scene, create a very ambiguous and mysterious beginning; dim lighting, close up of male with heavy breathing and an intense stare, rain in the background creating an uneasy atmosphere and also the unexplained voice over. All is strange and unexplained. Combined results in the audience wanting to know more, they are intrigued to continue watching.
Another shot is an establishing shot of where he is. This provides the audience with slightly more information on what is going on. The opening, and the film, seems to drip feed information to the audience so that its a thrilling mystery throughout. The shot itself has dim lighting as its night, this contrasts with the bright red writing of the motel sign and the bright car head lights. The only sound here is the diegetic of the reversing car. The car reverses and the camera stays still as opposed to following it. I think that this has been done purposely to follow the mystery theme as the location is drip fed.
This shot shows a long shot of the character that appears to be on a dolly of some sort as it follows the character as he moves. The lighting has now changed as its become brighter, showing that there is a change of mood; perhaps realisation. The fact that the character has left the door to his car open shows the importance of what he is doing as normally you would worry about it being stolen.
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