Tag: Rear Window

Spoiler-Free Review of “Kimi” on HBO Max:  Modern take on the “Rear Window” Formula

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“So you’re listening to everything?”

Kimi (KIMI) premiered on HBO Max on February 10th 2022. The tech thriller film stars Zoë Kravitz, Byron Bowers, Rita Wilson, Robin Givens, Devin Ratray and Erika Christensen. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A tech worker with agoraphobia stumbles upon a recording of a violent crime. After several failed attempts to report it, she decides to leave her apartment to seek justice for the woman on the recording, but soon finds herself in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

Kimi may initially seem to follow the Rear Window formula, but its electric female lead and modern tech style give watchers plenty to enjoy. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

A worthy performance…

Zoë Kravitz really delivers in this one and then some! I’ve seen a lot of movies like this before with some over-the-top performances that left a lot to be desired, but Kravitz’s portrayal of Angela is believable and chilling. She is broken in a lot of ways, but is also extremely capable and I thought she brought a charming/awkward quality to her character, which made me like her that much more.

The tech angle worked.

In some ways, this movie is like a mix of The Net and Rear Window. Our main character stares out plenty of windows at her neighbors, but the real mystery surrounds something she hears while doing her job. I was worried that the tech feel was going to feel forced to make this film seem more modern, but it actually worked to the film’s advantage and gave it an edge of originality.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

We’ve seen a lot of this set-up before…

I just recently watched the Kristen Bell parody/spoof series, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window and I couldn’t help chuckling at some of the tropes and plot points that were presented once again in this film. The main character can’t leave her house and she has to channel her strength to actually face her fear. She copes with a past trauma and also has to deal with people not believing her. 

Sound familiar?

Well, yeah. It follows the Rear Window formula, but luckily Kravitz doesn’t keep handing out casserole dishes left and right. 

The plot follows a a very familiar path and the pacing is slow at first, but things do pick up and the ending is rewarding enough.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

The contemporary take on the Rear Window story delivers with a worthy female lead!

I may have seen this type of movie before, but I thought that it was really entertaining and I was glued to my seat the entire time. 

An intense watch!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Kimi in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Woman in the Window” on Netflix: Close your Curtains

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“I can’t go outside…”

The Woman in the Window is a mystery drama film that released on May 14th 2021 on Netflix. The film stars Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, and Wyatt Russell. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Based on the novel of the same name, the film follows an agoraphobic psychologist named Dr. Anna Fox, who lives alone and spies on her neighbors to pass the time. After a brief encounter with her new neighbor, she witnesses her murder, but no one will believe her. 

Here is the trailer:

The Woman in the Window has a talented cast and is clearly trying to channel the classic film, Rear Window, but its messy plot leaves a lot to be desired. Does it do enough to earn a watch or is it an uninspiring rip-off? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Woman in the Window Spoiler Free Review 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Talented cast.

Every single cast member makes a valiant effort with this one, but I have to say that I wasn’t truly invested in the portrayal of Dr. Anna Fox by Amy Adams. This is not the first time we have seen her in this type of role and yet I was disappointed.

However, some of the minor characters really elevated things and I thought that Julianne Moore was electric on screen and that Wyatt Russell did a good job as well with what he was given.

While I appreciate the talent and the familiar faces here, it almost seemed like it was making up for something else…

The Cons:

The Woman in the Window Spoiler Free Review 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dragged out messy plot.

This film was really frustrating because it had a story-line that could have been really interesting and it decided to go about it in a really slow and dragged out way that was so uninspiring. Unlike Emily Blunt’s character in The Girl on the Train, there were really no redeeming qualities for Dr. Anna Fox.

I mean, who doesn’t at least leave out a bowl of candy on Halloween? 

Sure, maybe she was trying to do the right thing and we eventually unfold the tragedy that has basically crippled her from having a normal life, but it took too long to get there.

Trying too hard.

Anna is a film buff and we see her watching several of the movies that clearly inspired this film, which really hit the audience over the head with the similarities. This honestly made this film feel like a really bad rip-off. At one point, I literally paused the film because I thought it was over and realized there were thirty more minutes to sit through.

The last thirty minutes were the strongest of the film by far, but it just took so long to get there and the film felt like such a trashy rip-off that almost insulted the audience, attempting to trick us into thinking this is something thought-provoking and relevant in present day because of the talented cast and hints dropped along the way.

So am I in or out?

The Woman in the Window Spoiler Free Review 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m out on this one…

Unfortunately the talented cast and interesting premise were overshadowed by a dull, dragged out, and uninspiring plot. While there is enough to keep you watching until the reveal at the end, it’s not as rewarding as you might expect and you are better off re-watching Rear Window or The Girl on the Train instead.

Honestly I had really high hopes for this film and I like Amy Adams, but I was really disappointed with this watch. I think Netflix should focus more on thrillers like My Secret Obsession. You know that you are getting a guilty pleasure thriller and you accept that, rather than being tricked into thinking you are about to watch something truly extraordinary…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Woman in the Window in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen trusted

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!