GIRL AT THE WINDOW

Australia, 2022, 88 minutes, Colour.

Radha Mitchell, Ella Newton, Vince Colosimo, James Mackay.

Directed by Mark Hartley.

This is a low-budget thriller led by the strong Australian cast, Radha Mitchell as a mother, Ella Newton as a disturbed daughter Amy, Vince Colosimo as the suspicious neighbour. It is a story about a serial killer and abductions.

Some years ago, the director of this film, Mark Hartley, made an award-winning documentary about small-budget Australian horror films and thrillers, Not Quite Hollywood (including commentary from Quentin Tarantino). Hartley was exploring the Australian film industry and the range of films which could be described as “schlock-horror”. These are the kinds of thrillers that used to be shown at drive-ins, were popular with groups watching them on television and, later, on streaming. It is interesting to note the definition of schlock-horror: A genre of low-budget horror films characterized by sensational plots and lurid special effects.

Which means that Girl at the Window needs to be reviewed with an understanding of the genre and its conventions, that it is not meant to be a classy, well-thought-out psychological drama, crime, clues and detection. Rather, it is presented as over the top, situations, characters, reactions, and the touch of grisly murders.

Girl at the Window works rather well at this level – which does not mean that this is a recommendation for everyone to see it. Rather, fans of such films will probably find it above average of its kind.

There is the advantage that it was filmed in Ballarat, some fine views of the city, the buildings, memories of the past, and the surrounding bush. The focus is on a young girl, bereft at the accidental death of her father, mentally disturbed, blaming herself, yet going to school and studying. She and her mother have moved from the city out to the bush, abandoned mines area.

Amy has nightmares, imagines people present, acts on her suspicions of the neighbour as if she were paranoid Nancy Drew – with some dire consequences.

There is a twist at the middle, a revelation about the mysterious serial killer, some scenes of peril involving her mother and schoolfriend, interventions by detectives.

So, for its limited audience, a pastime movie entertainment in the schlock horror vein – and an immediate candidate for Mark Hartley’s sequel, Not Quite Hollywood 2.

1. Schlock-horror entertainment? To be judged by the genre and its conventions rather than as a thriller?
2. The Ballarat setting, the vistas of the city and its buildings, streets? The surrounding countryside? The bush? Mines? Homes, underground mines and shafts? The musical score?
3. The background, Amy, her relationship with her father, birdwatching, his accidental death, falling down the mine, her inability to help, blaming herself? The experience of the abductions and the serial killer? Preying on her mind, imagination, her dreams? Seeing people present? At home with her mother, moving out of the city? Not able to sleep, noting the van, writing down the times? Chris, neighbour, suspicions? Her intrusion, the clash with him, injuries? Her mother wanting her to apologise? His going out with her mother?
4. At school, with her friend, the essay on Macbeth, the discussions with the teacher, his comments on her assignment, identifying with the killer? Her friend and her dates, cheeky, the police interrupting them, spending the night at the station? The phone calls, her exasperation with Amy, yet helping her?
5. Amy, the contact with the detective, his response, his assistant, listening, the notebook and dates?
6. Amy intruding again, into the house, fearful of Chris, getting into the van, the wrapped limb and blood, going out to the bush, his throwing the limb away? The return, her banging, getting out of the van, opening the door, with the weapon, his being shot?
7. The background of the abductions, the news on television, the list of those abducted, Susan, being seen in the cage in the mine shaft? The screams?
8. The consequences, the detective taken off the case, the new detectives, the interviews? Amy and her determination? Yet the appearances of the teacher, disappearances?
9. The taking of her mother, her friend and the boyfriend, entry, his being killed? His body removed? The two women bound, in the cellar?
10. Amy, going into the house, the confrontation with the teacher, the serial killer, mad and bad, the fights, his overcoming her, her letting him be impaled?
11. The detectives, the recovery, her friend, her mother, the reconciliation?