OPEN WINDOWS (2014)

Written & Directed By: Nacho Vigalondo 
Cinematography By: Jon D. Dominguez 
Editor: Bernat Vilaplana 

Cast: Elijah Wood, Sasha Grey, Neil Maskell

An actress named Jill refuses to have dinner with Nick, a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. In return, a guy named Chord, posing as Jill's campaign manager, helps Nick to follow in the footsteps of the actress from his own computer. Nick starts a game in which he realizes that he is only a puppet into the maniacal plans devised by Chord, to hunt down the star

This film is innovative using modern technology to tell it's tale getting more intimate and thrilling then it could be by more conventional methods.

Director Nacho Vigalondo wanted to film a movie using the latest technology resources. By it he refused to use classical cams and steady cams, using instead web-cams.

Vigalondo was inspired to create Open Windows after he was asked to create a thriller that heavily featured the Internet. He found writing the script a challenge, as he had to create the film's plot as well as give specific reasons for each window that opened and why the point of view would shift between the characters.

The movie was filmed in real time, in order to make the plot more realistic to the viewer.

This film constantly stays Inventive and entertaining. Even when it starts to go haywire in the third act. In fact as the twists begin to rack up and become numerous that is when the film begins to start to become more and more unbelievable to the land of he ridiculous

The direction always makes sure that there is something constantly In the frame to pay attention to and keep your eyes on.

The film reminds one of the style of Brian DePalma with it's thriller route and exploring the subject of obsession. It's not as tawdry not exploitive as his films cans get. Not that this film doesn't have it's own raciness and peaks of sex and skin. Though somewhat shown it's more of a hint and tease at the same time. That luckily doesn't overshadow the material but does offer a slight taste.

The film goes along with making sure there are plenty of different stories and characters having their own individual situations and drama that eventually come together into this similar thread.

Now I am a big fan of director Nacho Vigalondo and here he does not disappoint though it doesn't feel as tight story wise as some of his other films and starts to come apart at the seems.

While I am always a fan of Sasha grey and she makes a perfectly fine object of desire in this film. She doesn't come across as enchanting or even interesting and this is the first time in a film hat has happened. It might also be because this is one of the more plot oriented films I have seen her in and she isn't films lovingly nor does he camera focus on Her for long periods of time here she is more of an object to go with the technology.

The film appealed to Sasha Grey, as she was a fan of Nacho Vigalondo's work but was also intrigued by the character of Jill as a public figure and as someone who has to deal with "criticism and scrutiny and online haters and cyber stalkers".

The choreography of the filming is the true star of this film. The actors more or less props that help feed the machine.

If just for technical inventiveness this film would receive and A. The story while exciting also comes across as a kind of b-movie thriller spectacle. That of not for the tech involved wouldn't necessarily make a great film or story in itself. Though I will say this is a fun film to watch and waste time with.

Especially knowing. That the director can do better this feels more like a successful experiment to try out ideas. See if it was possible to do. I applaud that cinematic bravery. As the experiment is a success. That is more revolutionary behind the scenes as to what can be done with the equipment more than for the audience watching.


Grade: C+