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9 Windows: A Great Mystery...Until It Isn’t (Spoilers)

The premise of 9 Windows seemed like it might bring a fresh spin to the “stalker on the loose” genre. At first, it did. The story builds up the mystery effectively, keeping us on edge as Liza, the main character, tries to figure out who’s killing these people that are all in an online group she watches. The classic “who can you trust?” theme is strong, with Liza second-guessing everyone around her. Given her physical limitation from a recent car accident, which leaves her wheelchair-bound, it ups the stakes considerably. But as solid as this setup was, the film just didn’t deliver all the way through.

Image by IMDb

A Mix of Decent Performances and Muddled Execution

The cast here does a good job, especially given the limitations of the script. Liza’s role, in particular, is solidly acted; she’s sympathetic yet flawed, prickly yet likable. You can feel her vulnerability and resilience, which carries much of the movie’s initial appeal. But as the story derails in the final act, her character arc seems to flatten, with the plot shift making her actions feel increasingly disconnected from the buildup we’ve been following. It’s as though the film tried to stitch together two different scripts and hoped we wouldn’t notice.

Image by Movies and Mania

Character Complexity: Liza’s Flaws and Depth

One of the film’s strongest points is Liza herself. She’s not a typical “good girl” protagonist; she’s an online troll with a rough edge, using sarcasm as a defense mechanism. This bitterness gives her more dimension, and as we watch her handle fear and isolation, her likability grows. Her online life becomes a unique part of the plot, making her a more modern character and lending a psychological depth to her situation. But unlike typical thrillers, her trolling is more than just a quirk—it’s a coping mechanism that reveals her personal pain, which makes her journey more compelling.

Image by IMDb

Tension and Red Herrings: The Guessing Game

In the beginning, the movie successfully keeps us on our toes. Each scene builds the tension slowly, introducing characters who may or may not be suspects. The uncertainty works; it feels like anyone could be a danger to her, and the film gives just enough hints to make each interaction feel charged with suspicion. As a viewer, you're constantly guessing who could be hiding something or who might turn out to be a threat. The movie’s first two acts do well with this, creating a "whodunit" vibe that keeps you hooked.
Image by IMDb

The Reveal That Derails It All

But then comes the reveal. In the third act, the movie shifts suddenly, revealing the stalker as someone we hadn’t even met before. This move is puzzling—it deflates all the suspense and makes the guessing game feel irrelevant. It’s as though the story threw out all its buildup to take a shortcut. For a thriller that does so well at creating a foreboding atmosphere and raising suspicion around everyone Liza encounters, it’s a huge letdown to find out the villain is someone who was never on our radar. Instead of delivering a punch, the reveal falls flat, leaving the movie without a satisfying payoff.

Image by Bloody Disgusting

Final Thoughts

Final Score: 6 out of 10. It’s tough to rate 9 Windows because, for a while, it actually works. The first two acts show real promise, building a suspenseful story with a compelling main character and enough mystery to keep us guessing. The issue isn’t that the third act is “bad”—the scenes themselves are executed well enough—it’s that the plot twist just doesn’t make sense for the story. Had the killer been one of the suspects we’d spent time with, the mystery’s payoff would have been far stronger and more rewarding. As it stands, the movie feels like it pulled a last-minute switch that loses much of the suspense it had built up so carefully.

Pros

  • Suspenseful Setup – The first two acts build up a great sense of dread and mystery, with just enough red herrings to keep you guessing.
  • Complex Protagonist – Liza is flawed but relatable, adding depth to her character and making her struggle feel genuine.
  • Atmospheric Tension – The “stalker thriller” aspect is well-played, creating a closed-off, claustrophobic vibe that works well for the story.

Cons

  • Disappointing Killer Reveal – Unmasking the killer as someone unknown to the story erases the tension built in the earlier acts.
  • Lack of a Cohesive Plot – The last act feels disconnected, almost as though a new writer took over the script.
  • Ending Fizzles Out – Despite the promising start, the movie doesn’t deliver the punch you expect in a good thriller, making the story feel incomplete.

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