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The Happening

The Happening

2008
M. Night Shyamalan has bundled up a love for Hitcockian suspense, Spielberg family values and science fiction in creating an impressive number of mini-epics that have been both loved (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable) and maligned (Lady in the Water, The Village). Perhaps he's an acquired taste, but when on song there's no denying his skill in holding an audience and delivering suprises. The Happening is an apocalyptic thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.

The plot remains mysterious but involves some kind of mass plague threatening to take down humanity. In the trailer a character revealingly states, "there appears to be an event happening". The film is described as "a paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity."

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Spencer Breslin

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan ('The Sixth Sense', 'Unbreakable', 'Signs', 'The Village', 'Lady in the Water')

Written by M. Night Shyamalan

Suspense, Drama, Science Fiction | 1hr 31mins | Rated (R13) | Contains violence & horror scenes | Origin: USA, India

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The people's reviews

8 reviews

  • Shouldn't Be Happening

     1

    Hannah

    Nobody (?)

    I've seen better acting from a pencil, this movie is so terrible that I would almost pay NOT to see it. Although, underneath the shocking "acting" and weak plot, The Happening does have some potential.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • This is real horror!

     5

    R C Banks

    Nobody (?)

    I can't understand why I see this movie get such a bagging in so many different places. I saw it last night and I consider it the best horror movie I have seen in the longest of times. My stomach was in a knot from practically the beginning and didn't let up til the credits rolled. The scenes of people killing themselves are truly disturbing, and the building up of suspense and the growing isolation of the lead characters masterful. Great naturalistic, and moving performances from the all the actors. Great cinematography, at times reminescent of David Lynch's Twin Peaks. I'd highly recommend this inteligent, original, unsettling film.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • That's one freaky movie

     4

    Frances T

    Nobody (?)

    MNS has said that he made 'The Happening' specifically to be a B-movie so people going in expecting a cinematic masterpiece will be disappointed. Adjust your expectations and you'll enjoy it.

    I found the movie quite scary but with moments of humour. It freaked me out which I think was MNS' intention. I encourage people to see it.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Incorrect all of you!

     4

    Brodie

    Nobody (?)

    I disagree with the reviews here... i think the film has been mis-interpreted. This is a fun, B-movie. It's not supposed to be serious, and thankfully MNS is not heavy handed here (which ruined his previous 3 films)... I thought it was funny, freaky-assed.

    In fact its my favourite blockbuster of the year. Go see it with no predetermined MNS expectations.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • the worst film i saw

     1

    Martin

    Nobody (?)

    save yourself the money - this is definitely the biggest piece of rubbish out there these days. what a waste of time. it's not marky mark's acting (which is not good), it's the plot - oh wait, what plot?Bad bad bad.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Absolute Garbage

     1

    Lyndon

    Nobody (?)

    M. Night Shyamalan has definitely jumped the shark with this piece of garbage. The acting is worse than a b-grade 70s porno, the characters are weak and storyline lacks any of the twists and turns that normally make his films watchable. I can't agree more with the other review who summed up the film with the phrase "give me my money back".

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • How The Great Fall

     1

    Hoss

    A-Lister (?)

    There was once a time that "Directed by M Night Shyamalan" got me excited. Not now. Love him or hate him, he had a unique style and some impressive success early on. Namely: ‘The Sixth Sense’ (remarkable); ‘Unbreakable’ (clever); ‘Signs’ (brilliant); ‘The Village’ (interesting); ‘Lady in the Water’ (“what the ____”); ‘The Happening’ (“Give me my money back!”). Yes I forgave him for ‘Lady in the Water’ (no one is perfect) but ‘The Happening’ is unforgivable. It is so bad it insults his fans and might be his last movie for a long time. He has lost my respect and I suspect many other former fans.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • The Happening

     3

    Paula

    Nobody (?)

    Well my partner hated this movie but I liked it and found the concept interesting. Although I'm sure the next 'Scary Movie' spoof horror will have a field day with it.

    Agree? Disagree?...

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Press Reviews

  • The Dominion Post [Graeme Tuckett]

    The same tyro who wrote and directed The Sixth Sense before he was 30, then followed up that mighty success with the flawed but likeable Unbreakable, the promising but ultimately laughable Signs, the imponderably daft The Village and the flat-out deranged The Lady in the Water is back cluttering up the multiplex for a week or two with The Happening.
    Read full review

  • The Hollywood Reporter

    The movie seems more like a '50s science fiction film of extreme paranoia or an episode of "The Twilight Zone" that even at a swiftly paced 90 minutes feels padded.
    Read full review

  • Variety [USA]

    In short, this is a Shyamalan movie minus the bravado, the swagger; there are no audacious attempts to pull out the rug from under the audience, no ham-fisted lessons about the importance of religious belief or the power of storytelling.
    Read full review

  • Village Voice

    What a bunch of nonsense--effective nonsense, chilling nonsense, occasionally wrenching nonsense, but nonsense nonetheless.
    Read full review

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