Following the streaming success of saucy Spanish romance-drama, Through My Window, which landed on Netflix in 2022, comes the sequel Through My Window: Across the Sea. The movie arrives on Netflix today, reunites director Marçal Forés with actors Clara Galle and Julio Peña, and picks up the story shortly after the events of its predecessor.
In the film, Raquel and Ares are still together, but they are in different parts of the world attending college. They try to keep their relationship alive, by sending each other suggestive text messages, but time constraints, life responsibilities, and tech problems mean they are becoming increasingly distant.
With Ares worried about the future of his relationship with Raquel, he travels to her college to meet up with her, before whisking her away for a weekend at a villa. However, the villa soon becomes occupied with various friends and family, forcing Ares and Raquel to share their time with other people.
At first this doesn’t seem too much of a problem, as Ares and Raquel find a way to reconnect. But soon outside forces begin to create divisions between the couple, putting further strain on their relationship.
Anyone who read my review of Through My Window from last year, will know I was not a fan of that movie. I found the writing and character motivations incredibly difficult to swallow, with the power dynamic between Ares and Raquel completely one-sided, and this made for an uncomfortable watch.
As a reminder, Ares was a complete dick to Raquel throughout the movie and treated her badly. The film seemed to suggest this was OK, because she was in love with him, and the message in the film was that audiences should simply accept bad behaviour regardless.
I didn’t accept it, and as a result I wasn’t a fan of the movie. While Through My Window might have proved a hit with Netflix, it wasn’t a hit with me.
And I have to say, Through My Window: Across the Sea is not a hit with me either. This sequel still struggles with power dynamics (even though it is to a lesser degree), Ares is still a dick, and the writing is still dreadful.
The movie also struggles with its expanded cast, who are less interesting than the central couple, yet take up far too much screen time. Director Marçal Forés never seems to know who to focus on with so many characters in play, and this leads to a jumbled mess of a picture.
As with its predecessor, Through My Window: Across the Sea is designed to offer some titillation with its drama, so every once in a while there are shots of boobs and bums to liven things up. There is also a scene in which everyone gets a bit suggestive with a Cornetto, and a sequence involving some three-way snogging, which adds to the slightly racy nature of this film.
But before anyone gets too excited, none of the nudity really raises the temperature. It merely seems to exist to keep Netflix audiences from falling asleep, or sticking with this dirge even when the boredom sets in.
But believe me when I say, it really isn’t worth sticking with. There’s nothing in this movie even remotely worth devoting your time to, no matter how much it tries to tempt or tease you.
It’s rubbish. Complete and utter rubbish.
In 2022, I severely disliked Through My Window because I hated the way it handled its two lead characters. In 2023, I dislike Through My Window: Across the Sea with equal measure, but this time around for different reasons.
Through My Window: Across the Sea is a pointless exercise, which only seems to exist because the first film did decent numbers on Netflix. While it might not make me angry in the way its predecessor did, there is no creativity and no imagination at play here, and the story is all over the place.
Unless you loved the first movie (which I find very doubtful), then steer clear of this sequel. It’s utter tosh, and a complete waste of everyone’s time and money.
Will another sequel follow? Sadly yes – another film is apparently on the horizon, so get out now while you still can.
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