Poetic and Ironic

Rating: 2/10 (16 June 2008)

It is at once strangely poetic and ironic that one of our perceived "master filmmakers" would commit career suicide with a movie that so prominently features character suicide. Never have we witnessed such a glorious swan dive into the cold concrete of director jail from a modern filmmaker. Like the construction workers leaping off the building to their deaths in the opening minutes of 'The Happening', Shyamalan's fall from grace has been as equally swift and as oddly captivating.
'The Happening' is an absolute mess: A thriller that is neither scary nor thrilling. It is a drama that contains more (unintentional) laughs than most summer comedies. The acting is some of the worst ever witnessed in a mainstream Hollywood movie. Zooey Deschanel was particularly offensive in a role as Mark Wahlberg's estranged wife, in a performance that I can only describe as career ending. Cringe worthy dialogue pollutes the air in every single scene, making one wonder if it was indeed the plants releasing deadly toxins, or merely the characters dying from their own inane vocalizations. The film lost steam in the early minutes, and to no ones surprise, DID NOT gain it back with the thrilling "outrun the wind" chase sequence. One feels kind of silly writing that sarcastically - how did it make it into an actual film? One answer: M. Night Shyamalan has officially lost touch. He has gone the way of so many powerful and influential artists before him  he has risen to a place where his peers are afraid to tell him "no, actually that doesn't make sense" or "this story needs work" or "are you out of your mind?!" It is both painful and pleasurable to witness the clearly talented, if not horrifically insecure 'master of suspense' hit rock bottom. Have fun in director jail Mr. Shyamalan.
-Weirzbowski, Out