Format: Region 1 DVD
Known for his esoteric offerings that frequently fail to deliver anything other than an overwhelming sense of disappointment; I looked to The Happening with hope. His first R rated movie, a great cast and storyline and trailer that really got me excited.
I wish I could say it was a great movie that utterly engrossed me for the whole of it’s 90 minute runtime. I wish I could say that M Night really brought the best out of his cast of usually convincing actors. I wish I could be positive and enthusiastic about the film in general but I would be lying.
The plot is actually pretty sound one. An airborne pathogen is released into the air by plants and flips self-preservation switch in the human mind causing millions to commit suicide. True, this is not the happiest or light-hearted subject matter but then sometimes a little tension and a sense of mortal danger is good for the soul.
I don’t understand how the director managed to coax the God awful acting out of his cast. Granted, I know some people struggle with accepting Mr Wahlberg as a serious actor after the Funky Bunch and the Calvin Klein ads but come on now, Boogie Nights was amazing. I personally found John Leguizamo the most disappointing. After his performances in Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge, I’ve come to take seeing his name on a cast list as a sure sign that I’m going to be entertained.
The story begins in New York City and takes us on a rather meandering exodus across America’s north east. Smaller groups seem to be the only way to avoid the effects of the plant’s neurotoxins and so we find ourselves being taken to smaller towns and coming across ever stranger characters. Mrs Jones with her “why are you eyeing my lemon drink” and child-sized dolls are a strong testament to that.
I’m rarely one to be negative for negative’s sake. Indeed there are a few moments within the film that are in equal amounts truly disturbing and yet enormously compelling (the mass suicides on the building site were very chilling indeed) but these moments are far and few between and really aren’t weighty enough to compensate for just how lacking the film is throughout.
One has to wonder if Shyamlan is trying to send a deeper meaning or message with The Happening. The shocking effect that humans have had on our planet perhaps? Or maybe he’s trying to comment on how, in the face of danger, we desert our fellow man. Who knows. Who cares? Anything to that end has been woefully lost in a quagmire of terrible acting and ill conceived characters.
Catch it on TV rather than renting or buying.
4/10
The Happening website
The Happening imdb page
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