From a first-timer's perspective.

Rating: 1/10 (26 June 2008)

Let me get this out there before I start - "The Happening" is the first Shyamalan film I have ever seen.
And I have to say that if anyone believes this movie was thoughtful, brilliant or creative, they have to be biased towards what I have been told is Shyamalan's former brilliance in earlier films, because this movie is downright awful.
Despite the "message" the movie may have been trying to subtly shove down our throats (ala the completely unnecessary pan to the chalkboard about how humans would die without bees in 3 years), it fails by quickly transforming from a half-interesting suspense film into a completely awkward and unintentional comedy.
I can't even say Shyamalan was making an effort to direct a believably terrifying film - the script is beyond laughable. Every scene that was supposed to be either heartbreaking, terrifying or downright creepy was completely shattered by some mind-numbingly stupid response like "cheese and crackers!" (usually from the main character Elliot played by Mark Wahlberg, but the provided one is thanks to Jeremy Strong.) I felt as though Shyamalan treated the audience like a bunch of idiots in presenting the concept of this film in the most dumbed down way possible. It spins around in circles, taking itself seriously then suddenly busting out a line like "You know hot dogs get a bad rap? They got a cool shape." It's negotiable when this movie jumps the shark, but i'm going to give it more credit than it deserves and say it's when Elliot starts talking to a plastic tree.
And if that isn't enough, the movie gives itself away after a grand total of 5 minutes.
In conclusion, I don't care who directed this movie, and I don't care what else he has made, it was bad.
1/10