Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Nick is excited to discover he's won a dinner date with his favorite actress, Jill Goddard. But when Jill refuses to honor the contest, he receives an offer he can't refuse: the ability to view Jill secretly via computer. Nick begins watching the unknowing star on her webcam, not realizing that this decision will put himself and Jill at risk as they enter a terrifying world of cat-and-mouse.
Open Windows is an ambitious but flawed screenlife/cyber-thriller that tries to do something distinctive with its entirely-computer-screen presentation and real-time voyeuristic tension. The gimmick is genuinely interesting and the film earns credit for its technical conception, but the plot quickly devolves into increasingly absurd and convoluted twists that strain credibility well past the breaking point. Elijah Wood and Sasha Grey deliver serviceable but unremarkable performances, with the format limiting traditional acting range. The cinematography/visual design deserves mild credit for the creative challenge of composing an entire film within nested windows and screens — it's competently executed even if inconsistent. The ending collapses under the weight of its own over-complication, leaving audiences more confused than satisfied. Overall a curio with an intriguing premise that falls short of its potential.