The Happening(2008)

[Dodge_Sniper]

A family is on the run from an inexplicable and unstoppable event that threatens not only humankind--but the most basic human instinct of them all: survival.

I know M. Night Shyamalan's movies tend to be hit or miss, and I wasn't a big fan of The Village, but The Happening was definately a good movie. The movie started out with a great pace, you get right into the story and what is happening, rather than having to wait for 30 minutes to build up and then get 5 minutes of action. The idea behind the event is also very clever and frightening as well, because(And I'll try my best not to spoil anything) it's something that isn't too crazy, and could happen in real life(Although maybe not exactly how it's shown in the movie. But the event is backed up by very good scientific evidence). The only thing that I was let down by was the fact that the trailers for The Happening made it seem a lot better than it really was. But overall, The Happening is a pretty good film, and it's not a bad way to spend two hours at the movies if you've got a free night.

 

[Obdurate]

Here are the notes I wrote down for my LJ:


Something happens... HA HA... okay I'll stop. It's about everyone dying mysteriously, though you probably already know why. It's a bad title but it welcomes jokes so I guess that's okay.

The direction (atmosphere) is what Shyamalan does best and this movie does look wonderful, especially the beginning. He manages to make the trees/wind/plants/etc really effective, reminded me a bit of Tropical Malady, being trapped by nature. He needs to just direct, not write because his writing hasn't been that good (or it's been downright awful) since Unbreakable (amazing movie).

This script is mediocre at best with some awful lines but some touching scenes, and has some decent enough dialogue (and some laughs) and each actor/actress says at least one thing that took me out of the movie. Very up and down movie. Mark was decent though, for the most part. Good music. Old lady unnecessary.

Some scenes were fantastic, some were really awful. Very inconsistent movie which left me cold at the end (no closure, but I didn't appreciate the ending either). The ending will turn off a lot of people... I'm all for author intent and the ending does fit but it's just not that great. But because of the general direction of the movie it gets, despite the sometimes horrible script...

Mild recommendation.



Although there's a certain wind part that was one of the worst things I've ever seen.

 

[Maulds]

My wife and I both were very disappointed with this movie. I swore after "Lady in the Water" that I would never pay to see another Shyamalan film but the damned previews were intriguing enough to get us in there. Big mistake.

The first 15 minutes are golden...the rest is crap. Lots of scenes of running away...but from what? Theres no monster or villain in this movie that you can see or try to escape. Not much about the events makes any sense. I can't recommend it at all.

 

[Dodge_Sniper]

The event makes sense, you just sort of have to pay attention(Which is also when you can tell what they're running away from).

SPOILERS BELOW

When Elliot finds that guy in the plant warehouse or whatever, he mentions that some plants emit a toxin to kill their predators, since they can't move out of the way. Basically, that's what's going on around the world. The human population is not being wary of the earth, and just invading the plants habitas, so they've evolved to emit a similar toxin. It shuts down certain parts of the brain, the self-preservation center of the brain, and causes fatal effects in humans(Notice, animals aren't effected by it). As for running away, the wind carries the toxin, so the running is to stay ahead of the wind. If they aren't in the wind, the toxin won't affect them.

It's a very good movie if you don't just assume it's going to be some major catastrophic monster-style event like Cloverfield. If you actually pay attention to it, and don't just take it at face value, it's a very good movie. Then again, I never saw Lady In The Water, and day-dreamed my way through The Village(We watched it in English in 9th grade), so maybe that's why I wasn't affected negatively by M. Night's movie. My only complaint was that for an R-rated movie, M. Night seemed to show all the violence off-screen.

 

[Minor Axis]

Thanks for the reports!

I was hoping for another gem, I was ready to go see it but I then read a review this week giving it 1.5 stars and decided I'd wait for rental. I guess everyone loved The Sixth Sense, and I liked Signs. The Village and Lady both were both disappointments.

 

[c_squared]

I have not seen it if is not that good i will not watch it.

 

[Pheonix23B]

its the trees.

 

[FreeWorkVest]

I have yet to see a movie of his that I like. This def won't be the first

 

[Obdurate]

Have you seen all his movies?

 

[FreeWorkVest]

I saw Sixth Sense, and I figured out the ending from the trailer, so it wasn''t a big surprise ending for me.
I saw Unbreakable, I think that is his
Lady in the Lake (water or whatever)
and the Village. I think his writing is heavy handed and opressive, his direction is worse. I feel his movies move forward for a few minutes, then seem to stall. The have a very uneven feel.

Critics like his movies because they don't feel or look like the 200 odd other movies they see through the year.

 

[Obdurate]

Well I don't know about the critic comment. Because people like Ebert sees tons of movies and still likes some of his movies. I don't really think M. Night is liked that much, to be honest. He was though, after the Sixth Sense, which was an okay movie but not amazing. Which brings me to...

You didn't like Unbreakable? I mean, the quality of most of his stuff isn't great but Unbreakable is awesome. I agree that his writing is horrible but I don't agree on the direction at all. He's got a great sense of atmosphere and if he found a capable writer and got off his high horse, then he could make another great movie. As of now he's got 1 and then the rest are either downright horrible or decent at best.

 

[FreeWorkVest]

I thought he was way too heavy handed, too many, IMO "Lookie here, this is important" moments.

 

[Obdurate]

I didn't think that. It certainly wasn't a subtle movie, though, I doubt it was supposed to be.

 

[FreeWorkVest]

I didn't even know he had directed Unbreakable when I saw it, it was at the closing credits when I saw his name. I guess my problem with the movie was the writing. I liked the concept, but I guess he wrote and directed it, so some of the poor writing would be reflected in the direction.

I think Hancock looks like it will be the movie Unbreakable wanted to be

 

[Minor Axis]

Signs was very good.

 

[Maulds]

The event makes sense, you just sort of have to pay attention(Which is also when you can tell what they're running away from).

I did pay attention, and I caught all of that, but it just doesn't make for any suspense. I'll admit there are some very good scenes in the movie but running from the wind isn't one of them.

He's definitely on a downhill slide and most reviews I've seen for this movie are downright ugly. I agree with some of the other folks here that he should just be a director and hire some writers.

 

[Obdurate]

I'm pretty sure I agree with everything you just said. Especially the wind part. What a horrible horrible HORRIBLE scene. I was able to buy into the plot and view it like it is but I don't know why M. Night thought THAT was a good idea.

Honestly, one of the only positive critic reviews I've seen is a Roger Ebert one.

 

[Minor Axis]

I agree with some of the other folks here that he should just be a director and hire some writers.

There may be some grounds for this if The Happening is sucky.

Honestly, one of the only positive critic reviews I've seen is a Roger Ebert one.

And you know Roger is a candy ass.