Open Windows (2014)

Wonderful character development!

Very well executed

A Major Disappointment

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Released in the same year as 'Unfriended', though not as widely seen, 90% of the action here likewise takes place on a single laptop screen with the camera darting between various open windows (hence the title), including a webcam of the protagonist. It is a very well paced movie and one that offers further proof of the ability of a single laptop screen to create a riveting thrill ride. Little can be revealed of the plot without ruining a fresh experience, but suffice it to say that it focuses on a nebbish who receives an invitation to spy on a famous actress through his laptop and then has trouble preventing a planned kidnapping without convicting himself. As such, 'Open Windows' plays into some interesting dilemmas faced by computer users in the voyeuristic era in which we live. At the same time though, the film mounts such a series of ludicrous twists (especially in the final fifteen minutes) that the convoluted nature of the plot detracts from the novel laptop screen format. And in terms of the laptop screen format, 'Unfriended' plays better into the anxieties that we all face when the internet or our computers do not work properly, however 'Open Windows' certainly puts a new spin on clicking on links from non-trusted sources. It is a decent enough thriller, but it is easy to see why the tighter scripted 'Unfriended' has found a larger audience over time.

In yet another case of filmmaking coincidence, "Open Windows" shares the same idea as another movie made around the same time ("Unfriended") - that idea being a "live" (or "real time") movie seen almost entirely through computer screens. This effort goes a step further by eventually getting the characters out and moving around, which I admit does help prevent the movie from getting tedious. There are certainly some creepy and suspenseful moments, though I have to admit I found them mostly in the first half of the movie. Eventually, the movie gets really hard to swallow, with some really unbelievable revelations and actions by the various characters. And when you start to think about the movie after watching it, you'll be able to realize some additional plot holes. Also, the French accents of several characters are so thick that their dialogue is really hard to make up at times. Despite these problems, I admit that I was never bored by the movie, but all the same I felt unsatisfied at its end. "Unfriended" did it better despite being cheaper and less elaborate.

The best will be after 10 minutes of the film, kept me intrigued throughout time. Made her best performance Jill. With eyes Elija Wood all is triller!. :).The movie don't show porn, please only see if you like triller.In part the movie show does what technology should uses in future for spy us. Is possible now and cameras spy's all is possible apply the movie in real life. With NSA, and revelation Snowden about possibilities technology. All is possible.Excellent screenplay and direction of Nacho Vigalondo for put intrigued in all movie =).

'Open Windows' was not a bad concept. The 'found footage' genre is still alive and kicking (despite what some may say) and little innovations like this are most welcome. But when the script you're doing it with is as poor as this one was, you're doomed before filming even starts. The dialogue is unbearably bad, the plot is far too convoluted for its own good and not one character has an iota of likability about them. Not a good recipe for a successful film.There was potential here somewhere. The plot actually had something going for it I'm pretty sure but the execution simply wasn't there. I hadn't even realised it until just now (I didn't even know he was behind 'Open Windows') but I was actually criticising writer/director Nacho Vigalondo for the exact same thing the other day for his segment 'Parallel Monsters' in 'V/H/S: Viral' - a whole lot of potential with no execution. The man obviously has a creative brain but is lacking the filmmaking skills. A real shame.The acting was pretty feeble. Elijah Wood is incredibly flat and makes the already cringe-worthy dialogue even worse. Pornographic actress Sasha Grey would probably have to be called the stand out performer in this. Don't get me wrong she was nothing great, the rest of the cast was just that bad. She held her own though and I'll be interested to see what she comes out with next. Altogether the film is a complete misfire. The amount of plot holes will give you a headache and for that matter so will every other aspect of the film. Give it a miss.