CIN3MA

"Oh, my God... There goes my career."

What’s wrong with M. Night Shyamalan? He initially gives us gems for films which I don’t think I need to mention but I will anyways—The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs are reflections of a filmmaker who has so much depth and artistic vision. Well-crafted story lines with spectral characters burn unforgettable moments in our minds. Even the Sixth Sense’s ending has become a pop cultural reference.

The Village is intriguing but not as captivating as its predecessors, and ever since that release Night’s movies have been rolling down the hill. I understand his intentions most of the time, which can be nice on paper, but then I could have a great book in my hand and slapping it against a fellow’s face isn’t going to make it any more appealing to them.

The movie starts off in Central Park, New York. Two girls are sitting on a bench. One is reading and the other is enjoying the nice view—they’re both having a good time. Suddenly, the reader starts mumbling stuff. Passerby slow to a halt and start walking backwards. What the… hell? Then the reader pulls out her hairpin and shoves it in her own neck. Dear lord… WHY?

Smack-dab at the beginning of the movie we witness the petrifying symptoms of “The Event”. What this event is is unknown, not even till the end of the film. But, as usual, many humans start to theorize and calculate while others clutch at their faiths. Viewers on the other hand are ready to piss their pants.

As usual, M. Night sails uncharted waters in the sea of movies. Unfortunately, if the delivery isn’t up to snuff the whole thing comes crashing down. The acting was awkward… Mark Wahlberg exhibited some emotional moments, but the rest was goofy (which how he really is in ‘most’ of his movies) and unnecessary. Many of the scenes were supposed to be terrifying, but people in the theater were laughing their asses off. Were the scenes not set up right, or did we just grow desensitized to the idea of people jumping off buildings and plummeting to their deaths?

In the end, I’d like to be left with something. A surprise or an idea, it doesn’t matter. I guess with this movie I’m left with a divide between humans and how they perceive foreign things in life and nature. Or is it just a superficial warning directed at us to stop raping the environment? I can understand the symbolism either way, but I’m still left unimpressed.

I don’t think you will miss anything if you skip The Happening. Go rent Unbreakable instead!