Windfall (2022)

 

Genre: Crime/ Thriller            Time: 1h 32mins        Director: Charlie McDowell

Quick Summary: A man breaks into a tech billionaire's empty vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway.

This is a beautifully shot film that is very inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, but sadly it falls flat by being too dialogue driven.

There are relatively few big confrontation scenes, nearly no attempts at escape, and at no point is there any action. Some of Windfall’s earlier parts are played almost for comedy. I didn't really care for that too much if I'm honest. I liked the suspense parts but they really dragged on sometimes. It was just suspense on top of suspense that added more suspense which doesn't really lead to anything. 

Nobody is named either, but they manage to get through it as it never creates confusion and is very clever with how it words the script so that they do not need to be named.

A scene where "CEO" and "Wife" make a break for it through the orange grove carries an odd slapstick vibe. When "Nobody" tackles the CEO, he shouts, “I win! I got you!” like he was victorious in a game of tag and not a robber. 

Pretty much all of the film is static. Shot in the same various places with not much movement as we wait for anything to happen and move the plot forward. Really you do feel like the characters, sitting and waiting which becomes a bit boring if I'm honest. 

Though it is very heavy on the dialogue, all the characters fluidly interact with each other and manage to bring your interest in that way. 

The score is absolutely beautiful though! It is what makes it really a homage to Alfred Hitchcock, who always creates tension in the background when the dialogue is on the lighter side.

There were a few things I noticed such as one character looking at their feet early in their life before making a major decision, which cropped up a few times in the film with shots of the person's feet before making a major decision. And some things that all add up in the end. 

This is an average film, the main fault was not much happened, but it is worth a watch.

6/10

""You Guys Could Talk To Each Other. Is That Not Something You're Used To Doing?""

""How Can People Be So Mad At Me? It's Like Being Mad At A Fucking Clock. If You're Mad At A Clock, That's Really On You. That's Not About The Clock."