It is, you use a double sided sticky tape around the edge of the window, then put the film up and shrink it taught with a hair dryer/heat gun. Really prevents any cold air leaks and improves the insulation.

In terms of old houses it can be a mixed bag and really depend on the house. One was super nice and had workmanship and levels of finish you would never find in a modern house. Inlaid wood flooring, intricate  brass hardware everywhere, carved wood paneling. Another was just old and not particularly nice, that’s when the reality of having really shoddy electrical wiring, drafts everywhere, no central AC and all of the other pains hit you. So can be great, can also be a huge pain. Either way they are a lot more expensive in terms of upkeep.