I'm going back-and this time with a notepad

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2004)

**POSSIBLE VAGUE SPOILERS**
I have studied creative writing for 8 years now and never in that time have I ever wished that an author could go back, make some changes and re-release a film that has already opened. But this film begs for a re-write.
Let me start off by saying that I think Night is a superb talent, with a great deal to say about our culture, with distinct reference to religion and spirituality. This film does not fall short of that standard. It's ideas on the things we as humans will do in the cusp of fear (i.e. giving away your life savings to a televangelist so that you don't go to "HELL")are the dreams of coffeehouse conversationalists. The theme of this movie has/had the overwhelming potential to affect social change, BUT, Night seems to have dropped the ball halfway through the screenplay.
Don't get me wrong. I am completely willing to go along with the idea that there are these rustic, menacing hogs-head type creatures in red robes threatening the safety of an obscure village--just so long as the characters follow through with that same fear. The problem is, simply put, there is just not enough at stake for ANY of these people, except Ivy's character. And that just doesn't make it a fair fight. If I lived in "The Village," the first things I would ask myself are:
1. ARE YOU FOR REAL?
Has anyone actually SEEN these things kill before? And how do we know there is an "agreement" between them and us? Do they speak English? I want to speak to a supervisor.
2. CAN WE KILL THESE THINGS?
Why is this not a matter of simple pest control? Why convince yourself you're beaten before you've begun. We know they have knives and reference is made to the advent of a handgun, let's bring it on!
3. WHY DO WE STILL LIVE HERE?
If these creatures are "Unbreakable," I wouldn't want them in my backyard, would you? Yeah, let's leave. This issue is addressed briefly in the film, but the manner in which the characters deal with it makes me not believe they want to live there at all. If The Village is the BEST alternative for them to live in, they should be willing to risk their lives and/or KILL in order to preserve such a way of life. They simply aren't. If they were my elders, I would have skipped town a long time ago.
The way in which these questions are fielded in the script leaves much frustration. We, as the audience, are just asked to go along with far too much. NO!! As an audience member, I feel myself as though I am a resident of that Village and as a resident of that Village, I say it's mutiny time. But no one in the movie was mutinous.
Can a sequel fix this?