So much better than the reviews it's received!

Rating: 9/10 (25 November 2008)

This movie is NOT BAD! I had such incredibly low expectations after reading the reviews here on IMDb. I was hesitant to see this. But I have loved M. Night's other works, and I kinda like Wahlberg too. So I spent the dollar at RedBox to rent it. I just now finished watching The Happening.
This movie is really worth watching! Of course, I really like sci-fi flicks, especially smart ones. I can't understand how this movie is rated to low? I can only guess that people want Bruce Willis or Will Smith to swoop in and blow up bad guys, or something equally lame.
This movie is suspenseful, slow, and deliberate. What can I say, I liked it a lot. The few key characters introduced seemed like real people. I cared about them and wanted them to succeed and survive. Isn't that the most important thing in a movie? Several other reviews here on IMDb stated specifically that that first half of the movie was good, or even great, but that the second half fell apart or lost the audience. I kept watching, waiting for that moment where the story jumps the shark and suckiness ensues. Alas, no suck was to be found. I was in suspense til the end.
The weak bits: The acting was spotty. There's a few scenes where the actor's timing appears off or perhaps are over-emotional for the moment. I blame that on editing, really. Also, this movie is very PG. Considering the horrors we are shown (or almost shown), I would expect a lot more cursing. The verbal cleanliness felt unnatural to me. But that's about it.
Really, overall, decent film. I give it 9 out of 10 stars. Yay M. Night!