The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing In The Wind

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2008)

The Happening opened today, 11th June, 2008 where I live and this is my no-spoiler review.
Walking forward, as opposed to backwards, out of the cinema I came up with some alternate taglines for The Happening:
Forward Ever, Backward Never
The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing In The Wind
If you have to see one movie for the summer you must see The Happening. That sounds like a marketing line from a biased reviewer but it is just my honest opinion. The Happening was a haunting movie that was fun, gruesome, intense, dramatic, sad, chilling, disturbing, intelligent, believable and yet sprinkled with humor. Though The Happening is an R-rated movie you would love, it is not for the squeamish regardless of age. I am not sure if Shyamalan wanted to prove something to his critics but he wasted no time in getting to the point. It was pure cinematic efficiency. As usual, Shyamalan's characters were mostly believable except when there was a need or two for an unbelievable one. The atmosphere created was one of suspense and hope. You will jump, believe me, you will. The cinematography by Tak Fujimoto under Shyamalan's direction was once again outstanding so please, finish your popcorn early. But that wasn't all as Shyamalan called on James Newton Howard once again to settle the score, and settle it good.
Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez, Betty Buckley and M. Night Shyamalan pulled it off and pulled it off in style. Mark Wahlberg was outstanding with Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo giving good support. Ashlyn Sanchez has a bright future ahead. Betty Buckley was simply bloodcurdling. M. Night - minor spoiler ahead - did not appear; at least physically.
I can't figure why, but The Happening is a movie that is strangely satisfying in an unsettling way.
But in the end they wanted more.
2008-06-12 - update: - I want to see this movie again and who is this Joey character anyway.
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