Interesting Premise Devoid Of Any Logic In Its Development

Rating: 4/10 (20 March 2011)

THE HAPPENING is a great example of someone coming up with a good premise for a story then sabotaging it at every turn . The premise might seem somewhat fanciful but given some intelligent development we could have seen a movie that was compelling . Instead we ended watching a film that has the audience pointing out what a ridiculous film it is
In his defence M Night Shyamalan knows how to draw his audience in to a story . The opening scenes featuring construction workers throwing themselves from a building do have an impact to it but once it's revealed what the cause of the mass suicide is then it quickly falls apart . The plants are releasing toxins driving humans insane . So why does the outbreak seem to start off in a city ? I'm just sort of guessing there's considerably less plant life in an urban setting than a rural one . Of course a city will have news media outlets that will report this as breaking news but it's never insinuated that the outbreak has started anywhere else than in the city
There's also a lack of imagination involving the victims . Construction workers throw themselves off buildings . Fair enough but if someone shoots themselves then someone else will pick up their gun and either shoot themselves with it or shoot other people . The symptoms of this toxin poisoning borders on an almost gestaltic effect . Everyone seems to get poisoned at exactly the same point in time and display the exact same symptoms which damages any credibility . If we all had food poisoning wouldn't we all be affected to a different degree in a slightly different time frame ?
Actually this leads to the film's main failing . No matter what happens to unnamed / minor characters the main protagonists Elliot Moore and his family remain unaffected even though they travel through the plant strewn countryside . Not only that but if there's any plot contrivance or exposition needed then they'll always make contact or be contacted or meet someone unaffected along with the fact characters come to conclusions that they almost certainly would have no knowledge of . Hands up who noticed that Elliot Moore is always in the right place at the right time when there's a plot turn explained ? One is continually reminded that you're watching a film when this happens and not a very good one either . By the time we get to the cop out ending you'll be beyond caring
I wouldn't say THE HAPPENING is Shymalan's worst film and it's better than LADY IN THE WATER and THE VILLAGE but only slightly better . One can't help thinking the film would have worked far better if there'd have been a bit more violence and nihilism along with common sense involved and you're left thinking that this writer/director had some good ideas throughout his career but continually shoots himself in the foot by thinking he's making a Walt Disney movie . And a bad one at that