Is It Possible That There Are No Coincidences ?

Rating: 7/10 (13 June 2009)

Graham Hess is a recently widowed farmer. One night, strange patterns appear in his corn crops, the family dogs start acting weird, there are odd noises at night and the water tastes funny. What is going on, and will Graham be able to protect his family from it ?
Shyamalan is a great director with many strengths, but for me two things distinguish him from his contemporaries. Firstly, he has a very old-fashioned film sensibility; he goes for low-key effects and overall mood rather than big showstopping scenes, and secondly, he has a classical sense of film grammar, with long, simple, direct shots that tell his stories with grace, simplicity and charm. He's almost like Jacques Tourneur or Sam Fuller in the modern age of cinema. From literally the first shot, he starts to build tension and suspense with carefully constructed characters we come to believe in and care about, despite all the craziness to follow. The story might have familiar elements (some scenes are reminiscent of the stunning child abduction sequence in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind) but the picture keeps us off guard all the time, never knowing quite what to believe. Is there really an alien invasion taking place ? If so, what do they want ? Is Mel Gibson really playing a wimp ? Shyamalan weaves in his fate versus circumstances versus freewill theme with a deft touch; Merrill's batting style and Morgan's asthma may have spoiled their pasts but end up saving their lives. It's a very positive message within a juicily scary and disturbing film. James Newton Howard's music is terrific, eerily setting the scene and as unsettling in its absence as when it's tingling our spines and pulling our heartstrings. The two kids are terrific, Phoenix is solid support and Gibson does very well in the risky part of a man crushed by tragedy, fear and incomprehension. The sequence in the basement where he holds and talks his son through life-threatening breathing convulsions is bravura acting. Shyamlan also appears in his customary small role, here as a drunk driver. This is a great cryptic horror/suspense film, oozing atmosphere and drama in equal parts, made by a guy who doesn't pull his punches and never kowtows to Hollywood expectations.