What’s Happening??
After seeing the trailer, you knew this movie was going to suck. The premise that “something happens” was a weak hook. But this movie sucked far more than my wildest expectations.
M. Night Shyamalan usually has twists in his movies - unique Twilight Zone “what if” moments that can call into question our expectations and how we perceive the world. But, unlike Twilight Zone, Shyamalan can’t just present a twist and let us figure it out. No, he has to explain what he means to the audience and then beat them over the head with his message.
Sixth Sense being the exception, Shyamalan’s other films prove this point. Mel Gibson explains faith in Signs, the people in the village explain why they had to leave society in The Village, and the critic analyzes the plot of the movie in Lady in the Water. Other characters pad this dialog with explications of the message, as well.
The Happening’s big twist is that the trees are attacking. Not Lord of the Ring Ents or Deadite-possessed Evil Dead trees, no, our plants are releasing a chemical into the air that makes people kill themselves. Instead of letting the viewer come to their own Green conclusions, several characters talk about how man is hurting the planet and that nature is pissed. You even have the talk show at the end where the speaker warns mankind that this attack was just a warning. Throw in the giant bill board that satirically states “You Deserve This” and you’ve got yourself a pretty preachy film, almost as preachy as An Inconvenient Truth.
Shyamalan hits us with the moral stick, and continues to beat you with it until you have to file a police report upon exiting the theater.
What I’m saying is don’t expect The Happening 2: The Occurrence to come out any time soon.
Matt Knicl: My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.
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Matt Knicl
My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.
nikki (nikki) says:
(Posted June 15th, 2008 at 10:02 pm)
I’m not exactly surprised. Shyamalan hasn’t done anything decent since the Sixth Sense.