The Happening
June 14, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. After the commercial disaster that was Lady in the Water, who doesn’t want to see M. Night Shyamalan redeem himself with his new writer, director, producer release, The Happening? But this eco-drama falls short of providing viewers the Shyamalan hit they are looking for.
With early promise, the movie gradually loses steam, focusing more on cheesy puns than the psychological horror that should come when your villain is the unlikely Mother Nature. Much is invested in the idea that this is Shyamalan’s premiere R-rated film, but don’t be fooled just yet. While tension builds as humans are one by one struck by "the happening’s" effect, becoming disoriented, freezing in their tracks and ultimately causing their own death via the quickest means possible, it becomes inherently clear that the reason this film is R-rated is simply due to the gross-out factor.
Although viewers might be left asking the question, “So that was a comedy, right?” the film truly becomes horror where Mark Wahlberg’s character is concerned. Wahlberg has proven himself to be more than just a teen heartthrob with films such as Boogie Nights and The Departed, so why is he now being upstaged by John Leguizamo (who appears to be the only believable actor in this film)? It’s apparent that Shyamalan likes his actors to portray their characters a certain way, but what he’s getting at with Wahlberg’s performance is beyond understanding.
While the premise of the film is an interesting and fresh take on the common horror flick, The Happening leaves viewers with the “clenching your teeth, sucking in air” face. The film has the potential to entertain, but not much else. An interesting concept, but ultimately a film perhaps only Al Gore could love.
V - Save your hard-earned money
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