Secret Window

After a painful divorce, novelist Mort Rainey retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin to work on his next book. His quiet solitude is shattered when a menacing stranger appears, accusing Mort of stealing his narrative idea. The man, John Shooter, asserts a personal claim and lands a dark threat. With nowhere else to turn, Mort tries to defend his process and clear his name, but every encounter complicates his grip on reality. The pressure intensifies as the crank calls, the anonymous notes, and the looming question of who is telling the truth swirls around him. As suspicion grows, Mort finds himself second-guessing not only the accuser but his own memories and craft. The line between reality and fiction grows unstable.

Released in 2004, Secret Window was directed by David Koepp and adapted from Stephen King's novella Secret Window, Secret Garden. The thriller spotlights Johnny Depp as a writer who finds his world turning dangerous as the story unfolds.

Secret Window grossed about 92.9 million worldwide on a 40 million budget, signaling solid commercial success for a mid range thriller. The film opened to steady attendance and continued to perform well through its theatrical run in markets worldwide today.

While not a landmark in Stephen King adaptations, Secret Window helped cement Johnny Depp's penchant for offbeat roles and showcased David Koepp's knack for translating King's material into a lean psychological thriller. The film's mood and pursuit sequences linger with some genre fans today. Its atmosphere and mystery still resonate.

Critics cast a mixed eye on the execution, praising Depp's tense turn while noting pacing that flags at times. The film probes themes of creativity and ownership, jealousy and the fragility of memory, all wrapped in a claustrophobic cat and mouse mood. The ending remains provocative without revealing every detail.