The Happening: Review By Brian

Jun 13th, 2008 by Brian
It's Official This Time: Shyamalan's Worst Yet.
  • OVERALL
    1.5
    POOR
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
I have never disliked any of Shyamalan's films. I even liked Lady in the Water which the general populous seems to have deemed "horrible." That said, The Happening doesn't do anything for me.

The idea of the plants taking back the earth is great. Very intriguing. Especially in today's climate urgency surrounding our environmental attention. SO, I get it. I understand where M. Night was coming from, but the way this whole thing played out onscreen was very cheesy. I mean we didn't even get the signature Shyamalan twist at the end. Maybe that's the point. I don't know.

Nonetheless, Wahlberg was great, but way too "nice guy". He's looking at the end of the world and seems to give off this whole "golly-gee-shucks" attitude towards the whole thing. I don't think the director played to his strong suit. Teachers can be pissed too.

As for Zooey Deschanel. .Horrible. Didn't buy her character. Didn't buy her sincerity, and I think it was throwing off Wahlberg's game. Honestly, I think most realistic "human" interaction going on in the film was that between Wahlberg and John Leguizamo's character.

So, I'm not sure if it was the "summer time movie" time constraint put on the editors or what, but there are some serious flaws the direction the movie takes in making us care about these people. I couldn't care less if they lived or died, I just wanted to know what the twist was going to be.

I think M. Night Shyamalan may have pigeonholed himself into a corner.

What a bummer!

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Comments (12)

  1. Silk

    Yes, this film ate balls. I was really looking forward to it, and it wasted my time. Time I'll never get back. Shame on you Shyamalan! Good Review.

    3 years agoby @silkFlag

  2. ...YeahButTheBookWasBetter

    Took the words outta my mouth, but I wouldve given the movie one more star for that creepy ass old lady towards the end.

    4 years agoby @theboywhocriedsequelFlag

  3. The Dark Knight

    hmm Sounds like the movie Birds but dealing with plants instead

    4 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  4. Brian

    See, here's the thing. I love M. Night BECAUSE of the twists. I look forward to them, and obviously have come to expect them. I never disliked, or thought they should have disappeared. Still, even without the twist, his most disappointing flick yet.

    4 years agoby @brianFlag

  5. T.Clark

    Ya know what i think the problem is with people? Even the people who hate M have too high of expectations for his films. Plus, i think you listen more to the critics then u do ur own self judgement. The whole point for a "no twist ending" is becuase he didn't want to ruin the message of the movie. I thought the ending was great. And most people bitch about the plot twists anyways, and yet, now people r bitching that there isn't a plot twist. I don't get people...

    4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  6. CelluloidDreams

    I would rather see "The Day of the Triffids" again!

    4 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  7. CelluloidDreams

    It's an interesting premise for a doomsday thriller, but Shyamalan botches it from the get-go

    4 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  8. ed_wood

    Characters were terrible, and so was the movie.

    4 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  9. Timmy

    I agree with everything you say character wise in this review. but still Love the flick.

    4 years agoby @timmyFlag

  10. slysnide

    Great review! The best I've read on this film yet! And it really does suck that there's no signature twist at the end of this movie like there are in all of Night's previous films. Were there any actors from "Lady in the Water" that were carried over into this? Kinda like with his carry overs from his last 3 films in a row, and then the first 2 with Bruce Willis. Or is this a fresh start?

    On a completely unrelated note: I'm really getting fed up with this website's ad campaign with the banners taking over the screen for minutes on end!

    4 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  11. vc206

    its not "plants taking back the earth" it was more of the plants killing people to survive (stop the pollution that humans are causing). Self-defense.

    4 years agoby @vc206Flag

  12. NazuK

    Real Good one beebs:]

    4 years agoby @nazukFlag