Although limited, positives can be found in the chilling death sequences (the Jeep, lawnmower, and gun transfer scenes are the most memorable). Moreover, James Newton Howard assists in appropriately setting the tone. Finally, the sequences in which Elliot talks to the houseplant, speaks of the “superfluous cough syrup,” and encounters Private Auster lighten the load.
Unfortunately, the load — in the grand scheme of things — is cumbersome in quality and deficient in impact. When deaths occur via lion and shotgun, viewers are disgusted. With the continuous mood ring references, emphasizes on handholding, and inclusion of Mrs. Jones (Betty Buckley), audiences are suffocated with bunkum. Lastly, in the ill-advised slow-motion scenes and unnecessary epilogues (one an update on the main characters and the other a French rehashing), critics wonder if the editing team was absent or non-existent.
Get over the highly touted R rating. It means nothing but added Final Destination-esque gore. Look past the similarities to Signs (isolation of the main characters in a secluded farmhouse to find hope/ love/faith in one another - including a Breslin who is not Abigail, although he’s barely noticeable since his days in The Kid, and requiring its lead to test his specialty in science/religion).
Accept that if The Happening were Shyamalan’s freshman effort, Hollywood would boot him to low-budget campy B-horror. Fittingly, at one point, you half expect to see an evolved/half-human plant on the other end of a shotgun.
Even so, Shyamalan somehow continues to excite viewers by mentioning, “From the writer/director of The Sixth Sense” in his trailers. This simple statement motivates moviegoers to empty their wallets, and 20th Century Fox to thereby increase Shyamalan’s budget to produce more toxic motion pictures.
Take it from me: save your money, pass up The Happening, and “Stay ahead of the wind.” It’s survival of the fittest out there, and M. Night still looks egregiously out of shape.
Post Script: As for Shyamalan’s attempt to match Hitchcock in appearing in his own motion pictures, Shyamalan does not garner face-time in The Happening. Instead, his voice is briefly heard on the other end of the phone as Joey.
Article comments
1 - Matt Paprocki
"When deaths occur via lion and shotgun, viewers are disgusted."
I thought the lion scene was part of the comedic value. Granted, only a few other people laughed too, but it was so poorly done with the visual effects and awfully amusing gore factor, it had me in tears.
2 - Rajesh Shetty
I know there are lots of bad reviews on this movie. But seriously guys you have to see this one for yourself. I was thrilled by these great moments thrown at me one after another.I didn’t try to think of the story or the theory as to what was happening. I was lost in the moment of every scene unfolding on screen. The humour has been woven beautifully into the screenplay. While the audience is rejoicing a lighter moment on the screen, a scene makes the audience go “ah!” followed by a pin drop silence. That’s when you realize the power of cinema and the magic of Shyamalan.
3 - Brandon Valentine
Matt,
I agree that the lion scene is laughter-inducing because of its weak CGI and inappropriateness. It's like Shyamalan ran with his R-rating and said, "We have to have a scene that features lions mauling the limbs off a willing victim." While I chuckled, I was also disgustingly disappointed.
Rajesh,
"Great moments," "beautifully," "rejoicing," "magic of Shyamalan?" I admit Shyamalan is a man of talent, but The Happening is the wrong production to offer such praise. You may have soaked in every scene and got "lost" in "the power of cinema," but unless other viewers are sponges who can't remember their way home, I don't see your thoughts being echoed by the majority.