One simple message at a time

Rating: 7/10 (13 June 2008)

As a Shyamalan fan I have an almost automatic bias. I love all his films including the infamous Lady in the Water. The reason is that he always brings something unique to the able. I believe what messes up the perception of his films are the way that they are marketed. All of his films are simple dramas covered with a touch of science fiction.
With that said I disagree with most critics when they say the first half was the better of the film. The first 20 minutes have cringe worthy dialogue but some cool deaths. Things that detract from this film are some badly rendered sound affects(the gun shots), and the odd score(though it improves at the end.)
Now onto the things that are good, I am a drama person and I know where nights coming from. Though I am an atheist I appreciate nights religious and spiritual overtones because there in total context with the situations. Wahlberg is sometimes stiff but he has his moments, especially towards the end. Zooey seems kind of odd but too lovable to hate. But the my favorite person in the film is Leguizamo, who brings a very likable nature to his character and I wish he had been in the rest of the film.
This film is a kind of throwback to twilight zone and old school b-movie horror films but it has shyamalans in it everywhere. The throwback redeems the score up to a point though I wish it had been toned down. There are some unique ways people kill themselves. But what I appreciate most is that the situation is a kind of scientific possibility and I think thats what makes the film. Never have grass and trees seemed more threatening then when wind is just blowing.
People are gonna hate this film but they are gonna turn to another mind numbing super- hero movie (The Hulk) and love it to death, (Don't get me wrong I wanna see Dark Knight badly, but at least its actually has some roots grounded in reality and suspense). But what I love about Nights films is that they always have a reason to exist, and this one does too.