The Woman in the Window (2021), directed by Joe Wright and based on A. J. Finn’s novel of the same name, is a psychological thriller that blends suspense, mystery, and drama in a way that keeps the audience on edge. The film stars Amy Adams as Anna Fox, a woman who, after a traumatic event, becomes agoraphobic and spends her days isolated in her New York City townhouse, peering through the windows at her neighbors. Her obsessive surveillance of the lives around her becomes her only connection to the outside world, but it also leads her into a complex and dangerous situation when she believes she witnesses a crime.

Anna, a former child psychologist, is grappling with personal demons, including the dissolution of her marriage and the unresolved trauma from a past incident. Her agoraphobia makes it impossible for her to leave her home, and she spends her time drinking wine, watching old movies, and observing her neighbors through the windows. One evening, she sees a shocking event: her neighbor Jane Russell (Julianne Moore) appears to be stabbed by her husband, Alistair Russell (Gary Oldman). However, when Anna tries to alert the police, she discovers that Jane is nowhere to be found, and her account of the events is dismissed as the product of an overactive imagination—complicated by Anna’s mental state and her reliance on alcohol and medication.

As Anna becomes more convinced that she saw a murder, she begins to investigate on her own. She befriends Ethan Russell (Fred Hechinger), Jane’s son, and tries to piece together the mystery. However, as she digs deeper, she finds that nothing is as it seems. The more she uncovers, the more Anna’s own reliability is questioned. Is she truly witnessing a crime, or is she simply unraveling due to her isolation and mental health issues? The film expertly blurs the lines between reality and delusion, keeping both Anna and the audience guessing.

The film’s atmosphere is one of suffocating tension and claustrophobia, with Anna’s physical and mental isolation mirrored in the narrow, confined spaces of her home. Joe Wright’s direction captures the feeling of being trapped in both the literal and figurative sense, as Anna becomes more consumed by her obsession with the Russell family and her suspicions of foul play. The narrative is steeped in noir-style visual cues, with dim lighting, shadowy interiors, and dramatic close-ups that enhance the sense of paranoia and mistrust.

Amy Adams delivers a powerful performance as Anna, fully capturing the character’s fragile emotional state and the complexity of her descent into obsession. Her portrayal of a woman trying to hold onto her sanity while being consumed by fear, guilt, and the pressure of her own suspicions is compelling. Throughout the film, Anna is both sympathetic and unreliable, making it difficult for the audience to fully trust her perspective. This adds a layer of uncertainty to the narrative, as we are forced to question not only the events unfolding on screen but also Anna’s ability to interpret them accurately.

The supporting cast is equally strong, with Julianne Moore playing the enigmatic Jane, who appears as a lifeline to Anna’s otherwise lonely existence. Gary Oldman portrays the chilling and enigmatic Alistair, a man whose true intentions are shrouded in mystery. Jennifer Jason Leigh also delivers a memorable performance as Anna’s therapist, providing a grounding influence that offers Anna some emotional support while simultaneously raising questions about the ethics and reliability of therapy itself. The interactions between these characters create an unsettling tension that adds to the film’s sense of paranoia.

The twists in The Woman in the Window come fast and furiously, with each revelation leading to another unexpected turn. The film plays with the audience’s expectations, creating a constant sense of unease and disorientation. Just when you think the mystery is about to be solved, the narrative shifts, revealing new layers of deception and intrigue. The finale, in particular, is a shocking culmination that brings everything into sharp focus but leaves the viewer questioning how much they truly understood about Anna’s perceptions throughout the film.

Despite its slow burn pacing, The Woman in the Window excels at building suspense through its carefully crafted atmosphere and nuanced performances. The film is a study in unreliable narration, using Anna’s agoraphobia and trauma to create an emotional and psychological labyrinth that mirrors the mystery at its core. The questions about reality versus illusion, memory versus truth, and sanity versus madness keep the viewer engaged, making the film more than just a typical thriller.

However, the film has been met with mixed reviews, with some critics praising its suspense and performances, particularly Amy Adams’ nuanced portrayal of Anna, while others have criticized it for being overly familiar and formulaic. The reliance on well-worn tropes of the “unreliable narrator” and the slow burn structure may feel predictable to some, especially those familiar with other psychological thrillers in a similar vein.

In the end, The Woman in the Window is an atmospheric and suspenseful film that explores themes of isolation, trauma, and the thin line between reality and delusion. It is a tense ride that will keep audiences guessing about what is truly happening until the very end. While its twists may not come as a complete surprise to thriller aficionados, the film’s performances and psychological depth make it a compelling experience for those who enjoy a slow-burning mystery.