What's Happening? (The Happening (DVD))

Member Name: adambrown400

Product:	The Happening (DVD)
Date:	30/12/08 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting premise

Disadvantages: Poorly executed

To be honest I had heard nothing but 'indifferent' reviews about this film. I had seen the trailer, and was intrigued to see what 'Night' had come up with next. I was never a big fan of Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense, but I did enjoy the Village and to some extent Signs - so I didn't have huge expectations.

The film begins with people in central park stopping dead in their tracks and then killing themselves, there are people who throw themselves off the top of buildings and those that put themselves under lawnmowers. Mark Wahlberg is a science teacher who, along with his wife and friend sand their daughter, leave New York to seek refuge somewhere quieter. However, the 'virus' follows along with them and is always one step behind them.

It's always hinted at throughout the film that the virus i9sn't anything to do with terrorists, but is in fact trees and bushes that are killing people with the wind. Yes, you did just read that right - the trees and the bushes using WIND. It's a pretty ludicrous premise, but then this is M Night and you might expect a decent twist towards the end. I won't ruin the film for you, but its less explosive than those other Night movies.

The film took itself a little too seriously and felt a little 'cheap'. It didn't look like a big Hollywood blockbuster like The Day After Tomorrow, there as no CGI or special effects, but then I don't think it would have made the film any better. To be honest, it wasn't good, but it wasn't too bad either.

Wahlberg is bearable as an actor, and his co-stars are equally watchable. It's unfortunate then that the highlights in the film are when people start killing themselves in funny ways. They explain the deaths in the film as the body's 'self-preservation' system is overridden. Why then do they need to kill themselves immediately? It always seems convenient then that there is a gun nearby to top themselves with.

M Night writes, directs and produces this film, but he really needed a second opinion when making this. I expect he'; surrounded by 'yes men' who tell him 'everything's great' and 'you're a genius' every five minutes. Someone needed to tell him 'No! Don't blame the trees!'

I look forward to Night's next film, but hope that that he employs some quality control on that next epic.

Summary: Average