If you are looking for a thriller to keep you occupied during this current lockdown – with seemingly no end in sight due to this pandemic – then you should tune into The Woman In The Window. An international bestseller, the author has one incredible story that almost matches the thriller. (Read more about that here.)
In short? An Agoraphobic woman loves to ‘people watch’ the world outside, coupled with a pair of binoculars. However, there are new neighbours who move in – and all chaos is eventually let loose from there. It’s a thriller, a mystery, and so much more.
The film adaptation was being made of the book – but, like all other films being made at this time – *cough* No Time To Die *cough* – the plans for the film were quickly put into disarray. (What do you want to see in the next Bond film? Read our piece here that’s all about that.) According to Wikipedia, the film is now being brought to Netflix – possibly later this month, or in March. (Read more about that here.) Deadline had written about how Netflix was negotiating for the rights to the film – with the official website by the streaming giant seeming to confirm an imminent release. (See that here.)
What do we at Small Screen want to see? Well, I’m glad you asked. Beyond this point there may be some spoilers, however – you have been warned.
The Woman In The Window features an accurate portrayal of Agoraphobia
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A lot has been said about the topic of ‘diversity’ within the film industry lately. A lot has been said about SIA and her upcoming film, Music, for example – enough so I wrote about the ensuring backlash for this very website. (Want to know more about that? Read my piece here.)
Woman In The Window has a woman at the centre of all this – and she has Agoraphobia. This condition and the way that it shows itself is central to the book. However, it’s time that the film industry did better – and the condition should be portrayed with the respect it commands. And those who use it against the lead character ought to be questioned in the final scenes of Woman In The Window.
Gary Oldman seem to be the film’s villain
Credit: Netflix
Gary Oldman has been a part of some amazing films in recent years – and, like every thriller-mystery-crime film, a villain is needed. He would be perfect.
The big twist should still be the big twist.
Thrillers, when produced well, will keep you guessing right until the end – just look at Line Of Duty, for example. Sometimes films do not always execute the element of ‘surprise’ well enough – with the characterisation making the ‘whodunnit’ reveal really obvious. The Woman In The Window was written in quite a sophisticated manner – arguably there is an element of gaslighting, as well as an unreliable narrator – and it all contributes to one incredible ending. It is not at all obvious – and you will be guessing right until the last page.
But the film needs to live up to this expectation – otherwise, the very essence of this brilliant book risks being ruined when brought to the screen. Nuance to a subtle performance, complemented by a good script, would be really refreshing to see.
Julianne Moore? She’s more than the Kingsman villain
Credit: Netflix
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When you think of Julianne Moore, what role comes to mind? Do you think of the red-headed villain, Poppy, from Kingsman: The Golden Circle? Me too – simply because the performance was iconic. Poppy made a memorable villain; some of the themes are also very ‘now’, particularly with the reference(s) to drugs.
Julianne Moore is said to be attached to the cast of Woman In The Window – but the role of who or what she will play has yet to be confirmed. (Discount the trailer available online so far – because that was when the film was being managed by Fox, prior to the theatrical release being cancelled.) However, Julianne Moore is more than just the one-dimensional villain who is driven by some very strange ideology – and she has the range to pull off one of the characters in this film. She’d make a great lead.
Location, Location, Location. (Keep it the same – or at least make it impressive)
Credit: Netflix
If you have read the book, you will know that the location is important – especially because ‘scenery’ is referenced. A lot. It is integral to the plot.
However, sometimes location is not always taken into account when books are adapted to film; just look at The Girl On The Train, and the ensuring controversy of the film being set in the States, and not in London.
The trailer from 20th Century Fox looks like the location has been shot almost cinematically – so let’s just hope Netflix keeps this at the core of the film.
Amy Adams is The Woman In The Window’s lead
Credit: Netflix
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Amy Adams is the lead actress if you take the 20th Century Fox trailer at face value – and this has the potential to be really notable. Female Friendship Can Be A Beautiful Thing
Jane Russel begins something of an impromptu friendship with Anna Fox, the woman who has Agoraphobia. Female friendship can be a beautiful thing – and you can see this being carried over into the Fox trailer, such as by sharing wine, cracking jokes about medication, all the very ‘normal’ things that define this very facet of life.
Questions Need Presenting
Credit: Netflix
A lot of the book relies on what you could arguably call ‘gaslighting’ – particularly when it comes to people in positions of care and/or authority. And it can make readers of the book feel enraged at times, especially if reading between the lines. Because of this, the film has a huge potential to make gaslighting look like a really unpalatable, unacceptable behaviour – and it could do us all the world of good to have this as a reminder in our lives.
The Woman In The Window is coming soon to Netflix. The film should be with us this year. Fingers crossed it does actually come out. What do you want to see in the film? Let us know!
What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages! And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out our podcasts, Small Screen Stories and Small Screen Film Club wherever you get your podcasts!
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