There is a point in Nacho Vigalondo’s new feature Open Windows when potentially fading interest is rejuvenated. For much of the first act this is a somewhat plodding tale of suppressed voyeurism as competition winner Nick (Elijah Wood) is tricked into spying on famous actress Jill (Sasha Grey) after she apparently cancels the dinner which was to be his competition winner’s prize. As he follows the “forced” instructions from the mysterious Chord (Neil Maskell) however the film becomes much more interesting, developing from simple cyber stalking into something much more sinister.
Cleverly filmed showing a laptop screen full of “open windows” from the operating system this is a thriller that works hard to engage the viewer, without ever fully doing so. Much of the film’s problems lie in dialogue that is at times clunky and unnatural. Only Wood really seems to fully inhabit his character, presenting an innocent desperation that is preyed upon by the malevolent Chord. As his character Nick develops some depth through the film, Grey and the usually reliable Maskell are reduced to simplistic stereotypes; their roles becoming increasingly clichéd as several genre tropes are crudely inserted.
The strength of Open Windows though is in the slow and steady increase in tension. As the action moves away from the early restriction of the hotel rooms, and the laptop use is reasonably well justified, the film becomes more and more intriguing as the mysterious plot begins to unfold. There may not be a clearly defined arc for many of the characters, and while this may occasionally result some unpredictable behaviour, it does however create an aura of the unknown.
When the reveal does come and the convoluted motives reach their conclusion it is all a little fantastical but curiously satisfying. Limited to the screen of a laptop Vigalondo does a good job in keeping the story moving along at a decent pace following the awkward opening set up, and there is never a sense of this version of the found footage format falling into the traps that beset many standard productions. There is an element of fun to everything and underlying sense of adventure even in the darker moments that generates a certain amount of goodwill for the film, allowing you to ignore some of the issues.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Open Windows is on the whole an enjoyable thriller that just about delivers without providing any real shocks and surprises, and Wood’s inherent likeability will paper over many of the cracks.
