Open Windows (2014)

A jilted fan soon finds himself pulled into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse after he accepts the opportunity to spy on his favorite actress via his laptop.

Director:

Nacho Vigalondo

Writer:

Nacho Vigalondo

Stars:

Sasha Grey, Elijah Wood, Neil Maskell

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elijah Wood	...	Nick Chambers
Sasha Grey	...	Jill Goddard
Neil Maskell	...	Chord
Adam Quintero	...	Pierre - Triop #1
Iván González	...	Tony
Jaime Olías	...	Dave
Jake Klamburg	...	Triop #3 (as Jake S. Klamburg)
Daniel Pérez Prada	...	Triop #2 (as Dani Pérez Prada)
Rachel Arieff	...	Carol
Michelle Jenner	...	Possessed #1
Julián Villagrán	...	Possessed #2
Carlos Areces	...	Watchman
Raúl Cimas	...	Survivor
Miguel Noguera	...	Man on TV
Nacho Vigalondo	...	Richy Gabilondo

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

internet | austin texas | tape over mouth | actress | computer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Spain USA

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

2 October 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aciq Pencereler

Filming Locations:

Spiderwood Studios, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

€3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apaches Entertainment, Atresmedia Cine, La Panda

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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.

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Goofs

Tony manages to gain access to Nick's room by going down to the reception after finding out through them which room Nick is staying at. Hotel staffs are not allowed to give guests access to rooms themselves other than those they had booked for.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Jill Goddard: I'd like to as well.
Nevada: You'd like to what?
Jill Goddard: Disappear.
Nevada: Sure. For how long?
Jill Goddard: Long enough.

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Connections

Spoofed in Unfriended (2014)

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Soundtracks

Ghost Rider
Music by Martin Rev and Alan Vega
Lyrics by Martin Rev and Alan Vega
Performed by Suicide

User Reviews

Bonkers high-tech thriller that eventually overreaches itself

I watched writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's Timecrimes a few years ago and was very impressed by the film generally, but especially by the unabashed ambition and imagination on display in what was a first feature-length effort. Open Windows demonstrates that Vigalondo's ambition and imagination is undiminished, but he could do with a little more restraint.

The set-up has echoes of Rear Window and Phone Booth, as Elijah Wood's super-fan Nick (a supposed competition-winner in town for a meeting with his favourite actress) finds himself let down. The curiously London-accented "campaign manager" for said actress (equally curiously named Chord) gets in touch, but evidently has motives of his own as he begins to manipulate Nick. The situation gets increasingly disturbing as the suspiciously tech-savvy Chord continuously ups the ante. To summarise the plot from here would take as long as the film given the density of events and twists, but overall the story gets progressively more bonkers and convoluted before careering off the road in admittedly entertaining fashion.

Vigalondo might be too imaginative for his own good at times, and I'd class Open Windows as a noble failure, but it's entertaining nonetheless.