A Flop

Rating: 2/10 (7 December 2008)

Shylamalan has had his successes, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs. However, in recent times he has failed to deliver. The Happening unfortunately continues in the same disappointing vein.
The Happening follows the flight of a husband and wife, and a child from a chemical induced matter, which is driving people to suicide. It is a chilling prospect but in retrospect Shylamalan has tied his own hands. It is a concept which is difficult to actualize without an emotional core, and far-more difficult to conclude.
The film is a mighty flop, apart from fleeting moments of tension, and a good performance from Mark Whalberg in a role in which he is ill-suited to, it is awful. The Happening has no emotional engagement it is a mere film of flight, running away from a threat and nothing of substance in-between. Zooey Deschanel, although very photogenic, only manages to produce one emotive display throughout which involved her beautiful eyes, we needed more
I respect Shalayman's message, bringing forth an issue which is a the forefront of many minds today, respecting the environment and not over industrializing the planet but it doesn't work. Maybe the issue is not dealt with enough or strongly enough but it is a rather flimsy deliverance.