Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Open Window is a slow, quiet, subtle film about rape, and its aftereffects.  Not just on its primary victim, but also on the victim's family, and friends. 

Robin Tunney and Joe Edgerton play Izzy and Peter, newly engaged and happily in love.  But their lives are shattered when a rapist climbs through an open window and brutalizes Izzy.  From that point on, nothing will ever be the same. 

Izzy is depressed, which is completely understandable.  But she also refuses to press charges, a decision Peter can't understand.  And she won't talk about the incident, or allow Peter to tell anyone what happened - especially her father, and their best friends. 

Izzy is dealing with the trauma in her own way, but it's driving a wedge between her and everyone who loves her.  Peter can't get close to her, and he can't deal with the incident since she won't allow him to talk about it.  Eventually Izzy tells her mother (Cybill Shepherd) but she's little help.  Oh, she tries, but she doesn't really know what to do. She thinks a tray of home-made cookies, and a thermos of herbal tea will soothe Izzy back into "normalcy".

Izzy reluctantly attends some group therapy sessions, but it's clear she's doing it half-heartedly, to please the people who are urging her to go.  Only when she meets with a counselor one-on-one does she really start to have any kind of breakthrough.

But will it be too late?

The movie is slow - tediously so, at times.  It's a whole lot of talking.  Izzy talking to her counselor.  Peter talking to Izzy.  Parents talking to their children.  This is not a movie for lovers of action, suspense, or thrills.  It's pure drama of the "Can Our Relationship Survive This?" type. 

A movie that will be considered way too dull by many is helped along by top-notch performances.  I thought Tunney was brilliant in her portrayal.  I believed her pain, and the emotional turmoil she was going through.  And Edgerton did a great job as a man who wants nothing more than to "fix" a situation, but is at a complete loss what to do.

As far as the rape scenes go - they are horrific, but not graphic. 

There is a very touching scene between Izzy and her father (Elliott Gould).  The dialog was poignant and underscored a father's love for his daughter, and how he deals with knowing that she's in pain.

There are also scenes between Peter and his father.  There's a bit of drama there, but it's really more of a subplot, as it doesn't have any impact on the main story.  I'm not sure why it was included.  Had it eventually tied into the main story it would have made more sense.  But as it is, it's merely a distraction.

This movie tackles a difficult topic - what happens after a rapist finishes and leaves a shattered victim behind.  But it's a slow film that relies on intense dialog to make its points.  It won't appeal to many for this reason.
 
 

Recommended: No

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age