Early in Netflix's The Woman in the Window, the camera roams through the Manhattan brownstone of agoraphobic Anna Fox (Amy Adams). As the different parts of Anna's life and current reality are introduced, including photos of her young daughter at various ages and the toys Anna used in her practice as a child psychologist, the picture focuses tightly on a slow-motion image of James Stewart in the climactic scene of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic Rear Window. It's a nod to the old movies Anna spends copious amounts of time watching, but more importantly, it's also an acknowledgment of the two films' similarity and a hat tip to the inspiration the new work has taken from Hitchcock's films in general. Yet, while the plotline of The Woman in the Window may superficially resemble that of Rear Window, in spirit, it's more reminiscent of the psychological thrills of the Master of Suspense's 1958 masterpiece Vertigo.

Like Stewart's character in Rear Window, Adams' Anna is housebound and spends her days watching her neighbors in the apartments across the street. Unlike Stewart's character, however, Anna isn't stuck at home because of an unfortunate injury. Her inability to leave is psychological; the outside world became terrifying to her after an unspecified trauma that happened months before. Her psychiatrist (Tracy Letts), who stops by for regular appointments, encourages her interest in her neighbors, observing that her curiosity suggests she's becoming more willing to re-engage with the world.

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Anna becomes fascinated with the Russell family, who recently moved into the home opposite hers, especially after their son Ethan (Fred Hechinger) comes to see her one night and her professional instincts to befriend and help the vulnerable 15-year-old kick in. However, when she witnesses a horrific crime in the family's home and reports what she's seen to the authorities, Anna is sent reeling by revelations that make her doubt both the Russells and herself.

The Woman in the Window has the outline of a typical thriller, but telling the story from Anna's perspective taps into her unstable psychological state, making the movie feel off-kilter. Director Joe Wright tells the story with a tight economy, providing just enough information in a given scene to move the plot along and showcase Anna's often troubling responses. Meanwhile, a combination of unusual angles, tracking shots, extreme close-ups and long shots are used to illustrate the unsettled way she experiences events. That combined with the dimly lit but colorful design of the film, which emphasizes soft pinks and darker blues, brings Anna's world to a visually engaging life.

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The Woman in the Window is so thoroughly rooted in Anna's world that Adams is in almost every scene. Given her track record of phenomenal performances, it's no surprise the six-time Oscar nominee easily occupies the center of the story. Adams spends most of the film traversing the same rooms in oversized nightgowns and a flowy pink robe, but even in the confined space of Anna's apartment, she's fascinating to watch. The rest of the movie's star-studded cast is also fantastic, especially Julianne Moore as a woman who may or may not exist and Wyatt Russell as the tenant living in Anna's basement apartment who may be more dangerous than he appears. However, their screen time is fairly limited.

The structure of the screenplay by Letts, based on the novel of the same name by A. J. Finn, hints at the story's big twists and revelations, so when they come, they aren't as shocking as they could be. However, film buffs will enjoy the cues the film is clearly taking from Hitchcock's work, including the strange staging of the film's biggest confrontations and the spiky string-laden score by Danny Elfman. These elements make The Woman in the Window stand out and keep the suspense high, with Anna's flagging mental health often as big a source of tension as the story's central mystery.

Directed by Joe Wright, The Woman in the Window stars Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russell, Brian Tyree Henry, Tracy Letts, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Julianne Moore. It arrives on Netflix May 14.

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