Absolutely Terrible (from a huge M. Night fan)

Rating: 2/10 (14 June 2008)

I won't go in depth, and I'm not going to say "Boycott This Film" because thats up to you, but hear me when I say that The Happening is a truly awful movie. Like everyone else, I was intrigued after I saw the rather creepy trailers for the movie. Besides Lady In The Water, I have loved and understood M Night's films. I think he is a wonderful director, who has incredible ideas. The idea part is where The Happening messes up completely. I read someplace that M Night thought of the idea on his way home from work and thought "What if nature suddenly turned on us?" A very disturbing and interesting premise that did not gel as a movie. It's like he had this original idea, but added lame characters instead of any explanation and believability to back up what could have been a terrifying movie.
The acting here is the worst part of the film. Rumors say that the lead role was written with Mark Wahlberg in mind, which I find hard to believe since he is wooden and totally wrong for the part just like the annoying Zooey Deschanel and a little girl that cannot act or cry. The script is mostly to blame as the dialogue doesn't flow and seems strained. There are unintentional funny moments, and the lines that are supposed to be humorous, just turn out pointless. The wind effect to make the plants look menacing, was stupid and added laughter instead of terror. I really like the themes in The Happening, but the characters ruin every ounce of suspense we could have felt.
Overall, The Happening scores points for another incredible James Newton Howard score and some (just a few) genuinely spooky scenes, like the opening scene in Central Park. But besides that I highly suggest that you don't see this movie and wait for a movie where the main character doesn't talk to houseplants and tells it that he isn't a threat. As for the R rating, some blood here and there just to add shocks to this dull and lifeless disappointment!