The Happening - what happened?

Rating: 3/10 (18 July 2008)

After watching the trailer, I was really looking forward to seeing this film. I'm quite a fan of Shyamalan, and was hoping this would be something of a return to form for him. It wasn't.
Other people have already pointed out the major flaws - the terrible script, the miscasting of Mark Wahlberg, the god awful acting at times, the overuse of the wind - and I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above. I just couldn't believe that the person responsible for films like The Sixth Sense could have got it so wrong.
If indeed this was supposed to be a B movie style film, that's all well & good - but that doesn't mean it can get away with absolutely anything. (I admit that comment is also aimed at Quentin Tarantino a little too, for Death Proof.) It's such a shame, because I really do like the idea, and some of the images in the film (like people walking off of the roof like some sort of human lemmings) were amazing & disturbing. I didn't even mind the somewhat heavy handed message, which I know riled some people. It was everything previously mentioned in between that was awful.
It's been a while since I watched a film that actually left me feeling angry, as it did my partner as well. After we finished watching this, we almost started an argument with each other, just to release the tension this drivel had caused. So there you go, not only is it bad, it can cast a cloud on your relationship too. I'm giving it a very generous three for the building site scene, and also for the bees, who had the right idea from the start by not being in it. And as for you Mr Shyamalan - go sit on the naughty step and think about what you did!