A Cinematographer Walks Into a Director’s Chair… and Trips Over It
Windows was Gordon Willis’s one and only attempt at directing, and after watching it, you’ll understand why he never tried again. Willis, the legendary “Prince of Darkness” who made The Godfather look like it was lit entirely by guilt and cigarette smoke, apparently decided to bring the same approach to storytelling… except here, instead of rich, operatic mob drama, we get a limp, creepy soap opera about a stalker with a tape recorder and zero personal boundaries. If you ever wanted Taxi Driver rewritten as a trashy Harlequin novel about lesbian obsession, congratulations — this is your stop.
The Plot That Mistook ‘Creepy’ for ‘Erotic’
Talia Shire plays Emily Hollander, a shy divorcée who becomes the fixation of Andrea (Elizabeth Ashley), her neighbor. Andrea’s idea of courtship? Hire a taxi driver to assault Emily and record her “sounds of pleasure” like she’s producing a Now That’s What I Call Restraining Order compilation. Andrea then plays the recording over and over while reciting the moans in her apartment, because apparently this is a film where “romance” means “felony evidence you can dance to.”
Emily, blissfully unaware her “helpful friend” is basically a one-woman crime syndicate, starts dating the detective on her case. This intrusion into Andrea’s fantasy pushes her into full telescope-stalking mode, because why just be creepy when you can also be obvious?
The Climax That’s Somehow More Awkward Than the Beginning
Eventually, Emily hops into a taxi driven by — surprise! — the same guy who assaulted her. She recognizes him, calls the cops, and survives, only to have the big “reveal” scene with Andrea. Andrea tearfully professes her love; Emily responds with a slap that probably echoed through the screening room like an applause break. Andrea sobs, Emily slams the door, and the detective shows up so we can all pretend this was a love story in any traditional sense.
Performances: Soap Opera Energy with a Side of Stockholm Syndrome
Talia Shire is working hard to bring dignity to a role that asks her to look scared for 90 minutes while still inviting her neighbor over for tea. Elizabeth Ashley leans into Andrea’s unhinged energy so hard she practically invents lesbian Bond villainy. And Joseph Cortese as the detective has all the charisma of a beige filing cabinet. The cat (credited as Jennifer) is arguably the most sympathetic character.
The Cinematography is Gorgeous… Too Bad About Everything Else
Yes, Willis can shoot a pretty picture. The lighting is moody, the shadows are rich, and the Manhattan skyline looks great. But the story? It’s like someone threw Basic Instinct, Rear Window, and a stack of pulp lesbian exploitation paperbacks into a blender and forgot to put the lid on. The controversy over homophobia isn’t subtle either — this film leans hard into “predatory lesbian” tropes that were outdated in 1950, let alone 1980. It’s less a thriller and more a long PSA about why you should never accept help from your neighbor.
Final Verdict: A Pane You’ll Regret Looking Through
Windows wants to be edgy and erotic but lands squarely in skeezy and ridiculous. The only thrills are unintentional, the “romance” is basically a police report waiting to happen, and the ending feels like it was written on a Post-it note during lunch. If this is a psychological thriller, the only psyche it thrills is the one that greenlit it. Watch it if you’re curious about how an Oscar-winning cinematographer can absolutely miss the mark — otherwise, close these windows and draw the blinds.
Cast Talia Shire as Emily Hollander Joe Cortese as Bob Luffrono (as Joseph Cortese) Elizabeth Ashley as Andrea Glassen Kay Medford as Ida Marx Michael Gorrin as Sam Marx Russell Horton as Steven Hollander Michael Lipton as Dr. Marin Rick Petrucelli as Lawrence Obecny Ron Ryan as Detective Swid Linda Gillen as Police Woman Tony DiBenedetto as Nick Bryce Bond as Voice Over Ken Chapin as Renting Agent Marty Greene as Ira William Handy as Desk Officer (as Bill Handy) Robert Hodge as Desk Sergeant Kyle Scott Jackson as Detective Pat McNamara as Doorman Gerry Vichi as Ben Oliver as Jennifer the Cat
