Even if it's Shyamalan's worst yet, it's still excellent.

Rating: 7/10 (20 June 2008)

M. Night Shyamalan. A man with a unique mind and an amazing talent for film-making. Many reviews of "The Happening" disagree with the aforementioned statement, so let me take a moment to attempt to solidify it.
First, Shyamalan's movies are thought-provoking. The movie world in 2008 is not the same as it was when his "The Sixth Sense" was in theaters. Audiences have different expectations for movies, with all of the banal action-packed superhero movies being make left and right, especially in the summer. You cannot go into "The Happening" expecting it to be something it is not. There is no Hulk smashing buildings, nor are there high-speed car chases or tragically predictable love stories. I truly believe that mindset is the most important thing to enjoying a movie.
With that said, I had extremely high expectations for this movie, especially after the disappointment of "Lady in the Water." In many cases, "The Happening" fulfilled these expectations, while in a few other ways, it did not.
The script and the pace make this film outstanding. When watching "The Happening," just place yourself in the role of the main characters. How would you react to the events taking place? How each of the characters reacts is extremely realistic, showing just how frightening the truth can be. The fact that this movie takes place over such a short period of time really captures its moments well. Even faced with much larger concerns, the characters do not forget about their personal lives and problems.
Now what is wrong with this movie is the direction--namely its casting of Mark Wahlberg. His character shows far less emotion than he should, and his acting seems so forced it is almost pathetic. The easiest way to put this is that Wahlberg's character says the right things, but in the wrong manner. Throughout the whole movie, as I watched, I pictured Mel Gibson with his masterful and moving performance in "Signs" in Wahlberg's place. With Gibson, the movie definitely would have been at least an 8/10.
On a final note, I would like to add that Shyamalan again manages to bring about real world concerns in a fantastical scenario, bringing at least some enlightenment and concern to those who care to listen. Do not go in expecting a gigantic twist; do not go in expecting a little boy to see dead people; "The Happening" is a very solid movie. People who appreciated "Signs" will almost definitely enjoy Shyamalan's latest installment.