It’s basically The Swimmer with more teenagers.
“The real delinquents are the adults” etc.
Although Look in Any Window faded quickly from view upon its release, the movie remains a fascinating curio and walks a tightrope between moralistic drama and pure exploitation. (…)
Paul Anka’s troubled teen protagonist is only the catalyst to explore the seething dysfunctional underside of the American suburban lifestyle in Look in Any Window. His troubles stem from an unhappy family life with an out-of-work, alcoholic father (Alex Nicol) and a frustrated, lonely mother who is overly protective. But broken dreams, deceit and failed marriages seem endemic to this community. (…)
Like Anka’s obsessive peeping tom, Look in Any Window takes a voyeuristic approach to these damaged lives, which in some ways, mirrors the prophetic words of Carlo in the movie: “Walk down any street, look in any window, see how many of us are sitting there in a dark room while a television eye peeps for us into other peoples’ houses, into other peoples’ lives. We have become a nation of peeping toms no longer participating in life but getting our pleasure from watching others.” The moralistic message-mongering may have the subtlety of a sledgehammer but Look in Any Window also has a lively vulgarity and works on the level of trashy melodrama with some strong performances.
